Alex hated tweezers. The four-year-old winced in anticipation as the tiny metal tongs hovered over his index finger. He had tried to hide the splinter from his parents, but they had discovered the sliver of wood underneath his skin and insisted that they pull the splinter out to prevent an infection. He closed his eyes, squinting back the tears as the tweezers pinched the skin in order to pull the splinter free.
The tweezers frightened Alex. He would rather have lived with the dull pain of the splinter than the sharp pinch of the tweezers. He did not understand how much better it would be for him to have the splinter removed.
A grown-up Alex might look the same way at the things God offers. After all, God's plan of salvation sounds foolish and uncomfortable. Deny yourself? Take up your cross? Follow a man who died the death of a criminal? Why not just live with the dull pain caused by a little sin in your life? Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot see that sin is deadly and that the death of Christ on the cross is the only way to salvation. Apart from God, Alex will see only the blood and nails and agony that Jesus experienced. To the human mind, the cross is pure foolishness.
But God is no fool. He opens our eyes to see, not just the cross, but the empty tomb as well. By the Holy Spirit, Alex can see sin for the deadly infection that it is, and he can look forward to the beautiful life that awaits all who place their trust in Christ.
THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You have shown me wisdom where the world sees foolishness. Enable me to follow You, to understand the wisdom in Your commands, and to firmly trust You for the forgiveness You won for me on the cross. Amen.
Written by Pastor Carl Lehenbauer
Trinity Lutheran Church - Freistadt, Wisconsin
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