A Life in Exile

The closer we get to the return of our Savior, the clearer we see the works of darkness in our world. This verse from Daniel jumped out at me:

He [the little horn or antichrist] will speak words against the Most High and oppress the holy ones of the Most High. He will intend to change religious festivals and laws, and the holy ones will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half a time.  

Daniel 7:25 CSB (emphasis added)

The move to change religious festivals and laws has been around for centuries, so it’s nothing new, but it is becoming more evident and brings oppression upon those who choose to follow Christ.

Changing RJE to DEI

I’ve been reading through the book of Proverbs, one verse at a time, and I’m amazed at the truths and wisdom I find there and ashamed I haven’t been a better student of this treasure trove for living. Listen to these opening verses:

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:1-7 ESV (emphasis added)

When I first meditated on these verses, three words jumped out at me: righteousness, justice, and equity. I thought, “Wow, that sounds so much like some words we repeatedly hear in our daily news cycle, social media feeds, and work-related trainings.” What are those words? Diversity, equity, and inclusion.

If they sound so similar, why can’t the Christian adopt them as his own? I soon realized why—they were missing righteousness. When we miss the mark of basing all wisdom and our ensuing actions on the righteousness that comes from God, we miss everything. Thus the reason the final verse in that passage says, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” When we take reverence for God out of the picture, we’re left with a rejection of all true wisdom and instruction.

Isn’t that what we’re seeing today? If a person dares to speak in contrast to the DEI narrative, they are scorned and called names. There is no desire to do as God desires, when he says, “Come now, let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18). No, it’s much easier and more effective with the crowd to simply denounce a person for their beliefs and call them racist, transphobe, or some other derogatory name that ignores the issue at hand but attacks the person.

Righteousness leads to right living.

A righteous person is one who is set apart by God and lives accordingly. The Bible is clear that self-righteousness is not the answer, because our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6 and Romans 3:19-23). It is only through faith in the person of Jesus Christ and the redemption he provides through the cross and resurrection that we are awarded the righteousness of God. He removes the curse of sin and opens the way for us to live in line with God’s will.

Solomon knew that it was only in relationship with our Creator that we could understand his ways and live accordingly.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you.

Proverbs 2:6-11 (emphasis added)

As the Lord pours his wisdom on us through the work of the Holy Spirit, we can understand how to live in righteousness, justice, and equity—doing unto others as we would have them do unto us (Matthew 7:12), and showing no partiality, because our God is not partial (Romans 2:11).

RJE guards us from the way of evil.

While DEI can make no such promise, understanding and living by RJE (righteousness, justice, and equity) provides us with a shield of discretion and a guard against evil. Here’s a short list given in Proverbs.

Discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways. So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman.

Proverbs 2:11-16a (emphasis added)

When righteousness, justice, and equity are thrown aside, the way of evil gains control, speech is perverted, crooked and devious ways are exalted, and sexual sins are prevalent. Thankfully, in understanding RJE, we gain understanding and discretion that keeps us from the ways of the world and steadfast in the ways of God.

So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

Proverbs 2:20-21

In which way will you choose to walk today? The way of the good and righteous or of the wicked? When Christ returns it will be clear which will prevail and be rewarded by God.

Grace and Peace

If you missed the last Wednesday Wisdom, click HERE, or check out these other posts on righteousness, justice, and equity: Living for Righteousness, Gems from Genesis: Chapter 6, Lessons from the Mountainside 11, Lessons from the Mountainside 16, Seeing through the Masquerade