IQ - Intelligence Quotient, a measure of a person’s intelligence as indicated by an intelligence test.
A person with IQ over 130 is considered to be a smart person. Someone with IQ150 and over are considered a genius. Einstein’s IQ was over 230. There are a lot of things men accomplished with their intelligence. Somehow that accomplishment got into our heads.
One day, a group of scientists got together and decided that it is the time to settle a score with God once and for all. So they contacted God and told Him that they want to have a chat with Him. Being gracious and merciful that He is, God granted their audience with Him. So the group of the prideful scientists stood before God’s throne and challenged Him, "God, we know that you created human from dirt. But we as human, we can create human from dirt, too. So let’s see who can do better job in creating a perfect human." With a twinkle in His eyes and a smile on His lips, God cheerfully accepted their challenge. He said, "OK, let’s do it." At this, these scientists scooped down and grabbed a handful of dirt from the ground. But God said, "Oh, no, no, no! You get your own dirt."
People have created every false conception of God imaginable. Not only have they worked to make their deities compatible to the human mind, but they have set up their intellects–since their gods cannot think or move by themselves. In my opinion, if they don’t have the power to create and secure our future, that kinds of gods should not be called as a god.
One famous atheist Ayn Rand, says, "And now I see the face of god, and I raise this god over the earth, this god whom men have sought since men came into being, this god who will grant them joy and peace and pride. "This god, this one word: I."
Ps. 14:1 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God."
Representing New Age thought, actress Shirley MacLaine also allies herself with the losing side: "We already know everything. The knowingness of our divinity is the highest intelligence. And to be what we already know is the free will. Free will is simply the enactment of the realization you are God, a realization that you are divine."
So many of people on the earth think that they are a part of godhood. It is no wonder why the world is chaos. If Shirley MacLaine is correct, I am OK, since I am a god. But if the Bible is correct, she is in deep trouble. And she is for sure on the wrong side of God.
In 1 Corinthians, we find the believers at Corinth playing for the wrong side.
The Corinthian Christians were an arrogant bunch. They tucked their thumbs under their spiritual suspenders and bragged about incidental things like who baptized them. They didn’t realize that the baptizer didn’t mean anything to God, but only to them. It only fanned their ego.
This pseudointellectualism had to be stopped and replaced with the wisdom of God. They needed to come face-to-face with the meaning of the cross.
A. THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS - SELFLESS LIVING
1Cor. 1:18 For 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.
Christ’s death is central to salvation-a process that begins with justification, advances by sanctification, and climaxes in glorification. Here Paul speaks directly to the second phase-progressive sanctification, where we are delivered from sin’s power through the life of cross-bearing.
The words "being saved" indicate a process – a daily death to self.
B. A WORD ABOUT DYING TO SELF
Dying to self does not bring up a unclear insecurity. Actually, those who have truly died to themselves depend solely on God. They no longer have to rely on their own plans and intellect to see them through. They are the most secure people on earth.
In Luke 9:23-24, Jesus defines the meaning of dying to self for us:
Luke 9:23-24 Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
In the Roman Empire, people sentenced to die by crucifixion had to carry at least a section of their cross through the city to their place of execution. This practice demonstrated to all observers that the condemned rebels had finally submitted to the state.
In submission to the Father, Jesus carried His cross to Golgotha and was crucified on our behalf. Following Him requires a similar crucifixion – the death of our stubborn wills and selfish desires. Are you shouldering your personal cross? If not, friend, pick it up. Carry it daily. Nail your selfish desires to that cross. Only then will you experience a truly resurrected life.
C. THE HUMAN INTELLECT - RIVAL OF CROSS BEARING
1Cor. 1:19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
Apostle Paul is quoting Isaiah 29:14. He shows that in spiritual matters, God opposes the wisdom of man. He will destroy the wisdom of the wise, not bow down before it.
1Cor. 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
The Gentile intellectual, The scribe, the debater, the Greek philosopher, they have all one thing in common: They are utterly lost. They don’t have a foggiest idea about their future or eternal destinies. We cannot know anything about future. Human intellect is worthless in changing the destiny of individual future. You may disagree and argue that we as the intelligent human beings, can carry our own destinies. But how do you know that you are going to have another breath in your lung and another heartbeat five minutes from now? You absolutely don’t.
1Cor. 1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Brilliant astronomers chart the orbits and shapes of the planets. But their telescopes never lead them to God. Astronauts, some of the finest specimens of humanity, explore other planets. But they don’t discover God.
At the early stage of space exploration, a Russian astronaut was circling around the orbit of the earth. He sent a message to his base, "I am in the space and I don’t see God anywhere." A Christian in America answered him back later, "Step outside of your spaceship without your spacesuit. You will meet God."
Scientists peer through their microscopes and record the details of a world invisible to human eyes-scrutinizing, analyzing, hypothesizing, theorizing. But their spiritual lenses are also microscopic, so they never see God. Some of intellectual educators decided that there is no God. If there is one, it is less than human.
However, that prideful human cannot do one thing against their doom like the disaster at the World Trade Center on Sept 11th. Where are these intelligent critics of God now? Where are these smart lawyers of ACLU who would sue anyone who talks about God in public? They are keeping their mouths shut while the Congressmen and Senators sang "God bless America" on the steps of the Capital Hill. They are keeping their silence when President Bush prayed in nationwide television. After all, there is no atheist in the foxhole.
D. THE CROSS – SEEMS SO CONFUSING TO THE INTELLECTS
1Cor. 1:22 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
1) The Jews
The Jews ask for signs to verify the Gospel. They demand a victorious Messiah, heralded by miracles, who will conquer their enemies and restore the glories David’s kingdom. Instead, the Jews are presented with a man who refused to give them the signs they sought (Matt. 12:38-41) and, their king, wound up naked on a cross, laid in a borrowed tomb (see Matt. 27). No white horse. No shining lance and armor. How could the Jews believe that this Jesus was their long-awaited Savior?
2) The Greeks
On the other hand, the Greeks "search for wisdom." They look for a proud philosopher-king who will satisfy their intellectual curiosity (Acts 17:18-21). Instead about a divine ruler who humbles Himself to be born a Jew, grows into manhood virtually unrecognized, and spends three years speaking mysterious parables and healing all kinds of illnesses. He ends his brief ministry betrayed by His own people and executed by crucifixion – the most despised form of capital punishment used by the Roman Empire. This whole matter was nothing more than a joke to the Greek mindset.
E. THE CROSS – THE WAY TO SALVATION
1Cor. 1:23-25 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.
What do you think of the cross? Do you trust that Jesus’ death and Resurrection – what appear to be foolishness – are the very power and wisdom of God? Or do you stand with arms folded across your chest, skeptical-demanding a convincing sign, an irrefutable argument, before you’ll consider turning to the cross for salvation? Remember: His foolishness is wiser than our wisdom; and His weakness, stronger than our strength. So lay down your pride, take up your cross and be saved.
Tell me if you can find one religion around the world of which gods died for your sins, so that you may become righteous and spotless at free of charge, without any demand. You cannot add or subtract anything from this simple Gospel message. Because it is too simple, human wants to add their own effort, so that they can be a part of salvation. God doesn’t want you and me to be a part of the way of salvation. It is all about Jesus.
F. THE CROSS AND US
The cross of Christ and our personal crosses are inseparable. But putting this all together is sometimes difficult. Let’s answer two questions raised by this lesson:
1) We may need to abandon some of our expectations, demands, and rationalizations, but we never have to violate sound reason in order to believe.
We must, however, surrender our wills to the Savior and allow His Spirit to transform our minds so we can become fully aligned with God.
2) How do we die to our sinful selves?
By daily turning our backs on our self-centered wills and kneeling before the crucified Messiah, synchronizing our every thought, word, and deed with His will. And since God is life (l John 1:1; 5:11, 20), what have we really got to lose?