Wisdom lifts up her voice. Do we hear her: "Many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first." She is greater than fine diamonds. Have we desired her: "He brings low the mighty and exalts the lowly." By her judges rule and kings reign. Have we discovered her: "He must increase, but I must decrease." Consider wisdom:
It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting and sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. Eccl 7:2-4
Wisdom? A heart is improved by the sadness of the countenance? The house of mourning is more desirable than the house of feasting? But isn't Christian salvation all about this wonderful, happy plan that God has for our lives? Why all this sadness, sorrow and mourning? Doesn't the writer understand the ways of God? Surely he's misguided - or is he? Is it possible that it is us moderns who are misguided regarding the ways of God?
Solomon understood the often overlooked and misunderstood truth that "unless a seed falls to the ground and dies it abides alone, but if it dies it bears much fruit." He knew that "weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (John 12:24). Solomon understood that without crucifixion there can be no resurrection. Friend, is the modern Christian church greater than its Master?
Consider a baker preparing bread: he meticulously adds the water, sugar, salt, yeast and flour. He mixes and punches until the consistency is perfect. His guests are clamoring for the bread, but he knows he must be patient - he cannot rush the rising. To do so would ruin the bread. He could concede to the guest's desires for faster, yeast-free bread. After all, it might taste similar to bread. It might even resemble bread. In the end, however, it would never actually be bread at all.
From instant oatmeal to gourmet microwave dinners, if you want faster and easier, you've got it. Drive-through banks, drive-through restaurants, seeker friendly churches - it's OK, leave the yeast out! We want fortune without work and Christian conversion without contrition - it takes too long to rise! Contrition? Contrition is the yeast in the bread of conversion. Contrition is the house of mourning. It is the sadness of the countenance. Contrition is the death of the seed - the weeping in the night. Contrition is the crucifixion of self-righteousness, self-sufficiency, excuses and arrogance. Contrition is the sackcloth and ashes of the heart.
Without contrition genuine gospel salvation and revival are impossible. Please, don't misunderstand. We can still play church (even mega-church) without contrition. We might have thousands at our crusades (and probably will) without contrition. Sinners can even recite rote prayers without contrition. We cannot, however, get one self-obsessed soul to repent and be genuinely saved without contrition.
Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before me, and did rend your clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard you, says the Lord (2 Chron 34:27-28).
The sacrifice of a rent garment is useless without the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart. Likewise, the sacrifices of church attendance, giving, and other spiritual activities are useless without a contrite heart. Without this inner contrition the Lord doesn't hear. We can hire professional singers and professional preachers heralding revival, but without contrition - God does not hear and revival will not come. Without the yeast the bread won't rise.
Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death (2 Cor 7:9-10). - 15437
It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting and sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. Eccl 7:2-4
Wisdom? A heart is improved by the sadness of the countenance? The house of mourning is more desirable than the house of feasting? But isn't Christian salvation all about this wonderful, happy plan that God has for our lives? Why all this sadness, sorrow and mourning? Doesn't the writer understand the ways of God? Surely he's misguided - or is he? Is it possible that it is us moderns who are misguided regarding the ways of God?
Solomon understood the often overlooked and misunderstood truth that "unless a seed falls to the ground and dies it abides alone, but if it dies it bears much fruit." He knew that "weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (John 12:24). Solomon understood that without crucifixion there can be no resurrection. Friend, is the modern Christian church greater than its Master?
Consider a baker preparing bread: he meticulously adds the water, sugar, salt, yeast and flour. He mixes and punches until the consistency is perfect. His guests are clamoring for the bread, but he knows he must be patient - he cannot rush the rising. To do so would ruin the bread. He could concede to the guest's desires for faster, yeast-free bread. After all, it might taste similar to bread. It might even resemble bread. In the end, however, it would never actually be bread at all.
From instant oatmeal to gourmet microwave dinners, if you want faster and easier, you've got it. Drive-through banks, drive-through restaurants, seeker friendly churches - it's OK, leave the yeast out! We want fortune without work and Christian conversion without contrition - it takes too long to rise! Contrition? Contrition is the yeast in the bread of conversion. Contrition is the house of mourning. It is the sadness of the countenance. Contrition is the death of the seed - the weeping in the night. Contrition is the crucifixion of self-righteousness, self-sufficiency, excuses and arrogance. Contrition is the sackcloth and ashes of the heart.
Without contrition genuine gospel salvation and revival are impossible. Please, don't misunderstand. We can still play church (even mega-church) without contrition. We might have thousands at our crusades (and probably will) without contrition. Sinners can even recite rote prayers without contrition. We cannot, however, get one self-obsessed soul to repent and be genuinely saved without contrition.
Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before me, and did rend your clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard you, says the Lord (2 Chron 34:27-28).
The sacrifice of a rent garment is useless without the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart. Likewise, the sacrifices of church attendance, giving, and other spiritual activities are useless without a contrite heart. Without this inner contrition the Lord doesn't hear. We can hire professional singers and professional preachers heralding revival, but without contrition - God does not hear and revival will not come. Without the yeast the bread won't rise.
Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death (2 Cor 7:9-10). - 15437
About the Author:
LaLond's book, The Lying Promise, examines pivotal discrepancies between popular "friendship evangelism" and the methods of men like Wesley and Finney who were instrumental in lasting revival.
