Who's in Charge of a World That Suffers? a Billy Graham DevotionalShembull

The Significance of the Cross

We humans view life from our personal point of time and space, but God views us from His heavenly throne in the light of eternity. We see ourselves as self-sufficient, self-important, and self-sustaining; God sees us as dependent, self-centered, and self-deceived. Our worldly wisdom has made us calloused and hard. Our natural wisdom, as the Scriptures teach, comes not from God, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish (James 3:15). 

There is a difference between wisdom and knowledge. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. All truth is from God, whether it be scientific, psychological, philosophic, or religious. The truth in the Bible points us all to the cross of Jesus Christ. It is there that we find forgiveness of sins and the solution to the dilemmas and problems that face us both nationally and individually. 

The wisdom of this world, encouraged by Satan, is cynical of the cross. The apostle Paul said, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18). It is impossible for the “natural man” (the one who does not know Jesus Christ as his personal Savior) to understand how God, in His grace and mercy, can forgive sinners and transform lives. It is also impossible for the natural man to comprehend how these changed lives can affect society. Those with their worldly wisdom do not understand the workings of God. The Bible teaches that the cross is an “offense” or stumbling block to the unbeliever (1 Cor. 1:23). 

I can preach on almost any subject and most people will accept it. I can speak about social injustice and human suffering and raise money for the poor, refugees or people in distress. But to proclaim Christ crucified is different. Even though the cross of Christ is the power of God unto salvation, it is also an offense to the world—and always will be. There is a tension here. Though the cross repels, it also attracts. It possesses a magnetic quality.

The apostle Paul said, “The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength” (1 Cor. 1:25).

God says there is no hope for the world aside from the cross. For centuries the world has rejected God’s plan of redemption. Now, because of man’s refusal and rebellion, he stands on the threshold of what former Prime Minister Macmillan called “the extinction of civilization itself” (or Armageddon).

Stumbling and fumbling, man thinks that by his own wisdom he can save himself—that somehow he will be able to pull out of this path leading headlong to destruction. God warns that this perverted wisdom of man will lead to judgment.

Respond

In your own words, what is the difference between wisdom and knowledge? 

What does it mean to possess a "fear of the Lord?" 

Why might the cross be a challenge or stumbling block for someone who doesn't believe in God or the Bible?

How does the cross provide hope for a suffering world?