By Local Pastor
Dave Holland
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Proverbs 1:7
As Destin Life celebrates its first anniversary, let’s take a moment to reflect on the kind of foundation that produces greatness – whether it be in a newspaper or in life.
Great people are not so different from you or me. They are certainly tempted to do bad things. They are not necessarily smarter or more beautiful. But they have little, daily habits that are like building blocks developing into grand buildings. Let’s look at some heart attitudes that produces personal and spiritual greatness.
Exceptional people almost always have searching minds. They hunger to learn, to know more. They are motivated to hear, see and do new things. Whether they are a mechanic solving an engine problem or a scholar studying fresh research–great people have a fundamental curiosity.
Vincent Van Gogh studied the heavens and saw God in the starry night he would later paint. Albert Einstein investigated the intricacies of the universe and said something to the effect, “how could there not be a God?” What are you doing this year to feed your natural curiosity? Eugene Peterson’s translation of Proverbs 1:7 in The Message: adds insight for us:
Start with GOD — the first step in learning is bowing down to GOD; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.
Peterson understands that “fear” is better understood by the word “awe” or as many translations of the Bible put it “reverence.” To be in awe of God is to bow to His wisdom, greatness and glory. Although it includes the idea of worship, it does not end there. It radiates out from our adoration and devotion to our everyday conduct that sees each moment as the Lord’s time, each relationship as the Lord’s opportunity, each duty as the Lord’s command, and each blessing as the Lord’s gift. Your mind and thoughts thrive when you have an attitude of humble awe that leads to action.
The search for knowledge stretches the molecules of your mind. Learning is for the soul what aerobics is for the heart–motivating, strengthening and empowering. Somehow, you end up enlarged in mind and spirit. By the investigation of God’s wisdom your spiritual house is built. If you search for God and truth with your whole heart ,you will find them.
Recently I was in Ogallala, Nebraska, observing the bald eagles that perch in the trees beside the Platte River. They sat motionless for hours watching for fish to pass by in the river below. At just the right moment, like a heat-seeking missile, an eagle swept down with one powerful wave of his wings and snatched a fish from the river. Eagles are born to fish but it was his patient precision that struck me. Darting down and piercing his prey the eagle swooped back up to his perch in one seamless motion. It was breathtaking.
I was reminded of Isaiah the prophet who said, “But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles…” If you have an inquiring mind and are willing to wait on the Lord’s wisdom you can mount up with wings as eagles and soar. Your mind has a tremendous capacity for learning and growing. You can accomplish that which you were born to do. Every woman has a purpose she is called to. Every man has a destiny waiting to be discovered. It’s there for those who inquire and search for it with all of their heart.
