Pre-November

Psalm 37:30 “The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.”

At a local restaurant called “Food For Thought,” I was recently reminded that I have two great friends who have always provided me the Psalm 37-like kind of fret-not food for my thought. These two have uttered wisdom and spoken what is just on more occasions than I can count. They have been the voice of conscience. They have been counselors in challenging ministries. They have been godly in perspective and sober in speaking truth, even when I wasn’t listening.

About wisdom worth waiting for, the Passion Translation of Proverbs 8:32-36 says, “So listen, my sons and daughters to everything I tell you, so nothing will bring you more joy than following My ways. Listen to My counsel, for My instruction will enlighten you. You’ll be wise not to ignore it. If you wait at wisdom’s doorway, longing to hear a word for every day, joy will break forth within you as you listen for what I’ll say. For the fountain of life pours into you every time that you find Me, and this is the secret of growing in the delight and the favor of the Lord. But those who stumble and miss Me will be sorry they did! For ignoring what I have to say will bring harm to your own soul. Those who hate Me are simply flirting with death!”

While meandering through conversation over lunch, the three of us briefly discussed the eschatological viewpoints of the endtimes and the return of Christ. These viewpoints for interpreting the Millennium include postmillennialism, premillennialism, amillennialism, all the “isms” – no, we didn’t figure it out. But, I treasure the many conversations we have had over the years about anything from raising children to raising the bar to raising conscience to raising money to raising the Name of Jesus Christ.

Wisdom is a true gift. Usually it is backed up by increasing years of age. The three of us are all getting “up there” so to speak, so thankfully, wisdom is increasing among us. We agreed that stating positions unapologetically is a good thing. Courageously discussing viewpoints is part of the path of wisdom. Seeking to study and gain understanding, rather than bury it. One wise friend said – take a position, yes. Be bold, yes. Care deeply about it, yes. Discuss it openly and gently, yes. Care deeply.

Now, as one of these dear friends will soon face nine weeks of cancer treatments, a wonderful interpretation of the Millennium for him and the rest of us would be Pre-November. Jesus is needed now, in a big way, we all agree. The Lord’s appearance Pre-November would be excellent. Before cancer treatments start would be great. But, kidding aside, we agree that hope is only found in the Lord, no matter when He has planned to return. Together, we know this and speak this often. The three of us simply wish Jesus would hurry up and return now. Pre-November!

Waiting for our Savior has never been easy, not even for the disciples. The cumulative effects of sin are simply devastating. The brokenness that infiltrates the Church and Christian ministries is heartbreaking. The patterns of disease and disaster continually cry out for a Divine Fixer. The tattering of partnerships and the hurts of wrongful paths have taken their toll on us. But thankfully, wisdom is setting in.

Jesus is not willing that any should perish. Surely this is why the Lord tarries. 2 Chronicles 7:14-15 says, “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.” This is wisdom. It just needs to be applied.

We also share a Pre-November prayer for our country. We pray that voters will become prayer warriors. We pray that America will discontinue its spiral toward being an unparalleled unchurched nation. We pray that believing friends will increase in their utterance of wisdom and their speaking of what is just. For Christ’s sake. For God’s glory.

I am grateful for righteous friends that utter wisdom and speak what is just. And I pray that God will preserve my two “Food For Thought” friends until Jesus returns to make all things right and new, and to eradicate cancer, for one thing. If it will be Pre-November, we are ready.