Wisdom Calling
I don’t always like keeping up with developments in the news, because there are so often too many terrible and infuriating things being said and done. Yesterday, a bill that legislated protections for babies who survive abortions and are birthed normally, as well as severe repercussions for any doctor who refuse to give regular medical help, was brought up (again) in Colorado. There was nothing in this bill that explicitly banned abortion, but it prevented “late-term” abortion and simply asked that babies who are born and survive, against all odds, are afforded the same protections as any other baby.
The opposing party shut it down. Again. Because it dared to even remotely mention a possible defense of babies, and a teeny tiny limit on the ravage of abortion. It was gunned down as unnecessary and even called malicious in its intent. Protecting beautiful, innocent babies taking their first breaths of air outside the womb, and government leaders say “Don’t be absurd, we can’t do that!”
That is something that happens all the time. It’s infuriating, it is maddening. It’s enough to make you want to quit, pack up, and go tell Jesus that you’re ready to go home, now.
The book of Proverbs, specifically chapter 8, paints a different kind of response to stubborn human foolishness. Lady Wisdom (that’s what I’ll call her, as the author paints wisdom as a woman with great wealth and godly truths to espouse) stands in the highest place in the city, or where the roads cross, or right at the entry gate. She takes a deep breath and shouts at the top of her lungs:
“To you, O people, I call out
I raise my voice to all mankind.
You who are simple,
you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.
Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.” (Proverbs 8:4–6)
She delivers this incredible and poetic monologue, explaining the measureless value of wisdom, its ancient roots in creation, in all human government, and the eternal rewards listening to her brings.
In the face of simple-minded, foolish human beings, she does not just try. Many years may pass, even decades, but she won’t look at the failure of humans, and how it looks like nothing is even happening, and quit. She shouts, like a holy protester with a massive megaphone, roaring truth over chaos.
The Lord’s wisdom calls out to all mankind. It is loud and full of authority. It is inviting and glorious, and powerful beyond measure. Those who keep going, keep shouting, are walking in that wisdom. I find myself so frustrated, so heartsick, that I have to stop myself from thinking about it, or else carry it like a cloud. The millions of children butchered for no reason, the destinies and voices robbed of their chance to make the world brighter. I know the rage that seethes is the Holy Spirit within me, and it is a scary thought to think about the white-hot fury that God Himself carries as He sees the wonderfully and fearfully made beings He crafted torn to pieces.
But He keeps shouting: “Listen to me! You who wallow in human stupidity and stubborn pride — you don’t have to live that way anymore! Set your hearts on Me and My wisdom. Listen, because I always say what is right, and my words are always truthful.”
The issue of abortion is a tremendous mountain. It is not the only one; there are many voices that shoot down common sense, that ignore the crystal clear evidences of biology, history and reality. The answer to these voices is not to scream and get angry, or to be burdened with sadness, or to walk away in heartache and disappointment. Wisdom still stands on the rooftops, with her megaphone turned up as loud as it can go, blaring from every loudspeaker, every page, every screen, and every human mouth. We join with that voice, and we never quit. As long as there is an Earth to stand on, Wisdom is calling.
And we had all better listen.
