For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 1 Corinthians 1:26
The Gospel of Matthew records the account of wise men who travelled from the east to worship the newly born King of the Jews. They based their expedition on their correct interpretation of the evidence of a star. Most of the people in their day had also seen the star, but they did not come to the same conclusion as the Magi; in fact, those wise men may well have been mocked as they prepared for their journey . So-called wise men would have laughed at them, just as the so-called wise people of our world mock the Christians for our faith in our God. The wise of the world were wrong at Christ’s nativity and they are wrong today. That is why so few who consider themselves wise ever find true wisdom.
Experts tell us that the three most difficult words to say are ‘I am wrong’. And yet, nobody ever receives God’s salvation without making that confession. People who think they know there is no God don’t want to admit they are wrong. People who don’t want to accept that they are guilty sinners before a holy God don’t want to admit they are wrong. People who rebel against God’s principles of morality , respect, and compassion don’t want to admit they are wrong. People who live their lives in total disregard for any concept of having to give an account for their misbehaviour don’t want to admit they are wrong. People who challenge the truths of the Bible and mock those who believe it don’t want to admit they are wrong. So they set themselves up as being wise, and in their conceit they deceive many others into thinking like they do. And so, few who see themselves as wise, or who are seen by others as wise, are ever saved. Only at the Great White Throne will they utter those words ‘I was wrong’.
God’s salvation is also unavailable to many of those who are mighty. Just as proud people don’t want to admit they are wrong, they also don’t want to admit they are weak. Remember how Paul told the Romans that when we were yet without strength, Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6). The religions of the world, including the so-called Christian religion, insist on the need for religious and good works to merit God’s favour. But all these people are relying on a belief that they have the power within themselves to satisfy God’s requirements. And so, because they refuse to admit they are without strength, not many mighty are ever saved. The same goes for those who consider themselves noble enough to obtain God’s favour. They ignore the condemnation that God records of humanity in Romans 3:12 – They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. This verse reminds us that none of us is good enough or important enough to be placed on the reservation list for Glory, regardless of what we believe to be our worth.
We have been saved by the grace of God, and not because of any wisdom, work, or worth of our own. -Jim MacIntosh