Part 3 - The Fall and the Restoration

Loving God With All One's Mind

"Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, ... But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising ... judgment ... in the earth' " (Jer. 9:23-24).

A second exercise of God in which mankind is to glory is His judgment. This word, in practice, has come to mean a judgment of condemnation, but that is not the intended meaning in this passage in Jeremiah. Here, judgment is a judicial verdict, favorable or unfavorable. It is God's understanding of each and every situation, and the appropriate action that should be taken regarding it. This is more positive than negative and reflects God's sovereign rule over His creation, which He guides according "to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will" (Eph. 1:11).

God's judgment is perfect because He is infinite in wisdom and understanding. Man's wisdom is limited, as is his understanding. This frequently results in man making judgments without all the facts and knowledge necessary to make a right judgment. Furthermore, man's judgments are made from a biased and selfish heart apart from the love that considers the good of all. This results in the understanding of man differing from the understanding of God. Isaiah wrote, "Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,' says the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts' " (Isa. 55:7-9).

Giving way to God's mind

Jesus gave the meaning of the Third Commandment with the words, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your mind." This is agape love, where one is to give way to, and give oneself over to, the mind of God rather than one's own mind. It is to glory in God's judgments and understanding rather than one's own. Because man is finite and God is infinite, this requires faith on the part of man. Man's limited wisdom often leads to conclusions that are different from God's judgments. To love God with all one's mind is to give way to Him, exercising faith in Him. Nevertheless, mankind is to pursue the mind of God, to understand and know Him, and to glory in His judgments. The Scripture says, "The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant" (Ps. 25:14).

God's judgment is not just His understanding of matters, but His guidance and direction. This includes His will on the direction of an individual's life. This direction, or the details of it, are often hidden. To walk with God requires an acceptance of His sovereign will and judgment accompanied by faith in Him. God does not require blind faith but He does require a reasonable faith. God has established His faithfulness and love, and has given promises to those who will trust in Him. God has revealed who He is in His name so that one has a reasonable basis for faith and trust in Him (See The Model of Restoration: Commandment Three).

The place of restoration through Jesus Christ is a place of glorying in the wisdom of God, who exercises judgment in all the earth. Mankind fell from fellowship with God when Adam and Eve elevated their own understanding above God's. Jesus brings the redeemed back to a place of faith and trust in the Creator that His understanding and judgment is perfect and right.