–2 Corinthians 1:17-18(HCSB)
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I have often read through things in the past without really looking at them.  Some of this is due to my lack of diligence is searching out what was being said, some of it was that it might have been hidden from me until just now.  I am so thankful for those who study the Word of God and pass on their knowledge for it often causes me to take a second, or third, of fifteenth look at Scripture.  In saying all of that, I am indebted to some thoughts from Alistair Begg’s devotion.
       Here is a verse I have often read over quickly without doing proper contemplation.  “To whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3, NKJV)  Why did Jesus linger on earth for forty days after the resurrection?  Yes, the simple and right answer is to be a witness of Himself, to leave a testimony of His resurrection.  Begg points out that it was for more than that.  He says that it was to “open their minds.”  To what?  “To better understand the Old Testament Scriptures and to prepare them for the coming of the Holy Spirit.”  Jesus chided them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!” (Luke 24:25, NKJV)  Then later, Luke writes, “And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:45, NKJV)
       If Jesus had immediately gone to heaven after the resurrection, what would have happened to Thomas?  Would he have stayed in his unbelief and lack of faith?  Peter?  Would he have remained discouraged and stayed in the fishing business if the Lord had not spoken with him?  Luke writes that “they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy” (Luke 24:52, NKJV)  Who were the “they”?  Most likely it was those who would be in the upper room waiting for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
       Think for a moment.  The scene before Mary, the last thing she sees of her son is His ascension.  Far cry from the desecrated body hanging on the cross.  Did Jesus appear and speak with His brothers and sisters during these forty days?  Most likely.  James and Jude became leaders in the Church, but I have often wondered what happened to Joseph and Simon.  Were they still in unbelief if He spoke to them, or did they become leaders in the Church just not as visible as James and Jude?  I believe that Jesus would have done his utmost to persuade them all.  
       One more thing to consider.  When Jesus was in the grave, they were all in despair.  They were in fear not knowing what to do, or what would happen to them.  Jesus, their Master was gone, in the tomb, dead.  But now!  He has walked and talked with them for forty days.  He has now ascended to His Father–note, that He is no longer with them, but what is their reaction now?  “And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.” (Luke 24:52-53, NKJV).  They obeyed and waited until the Promise of the Father came to them and were filled with the Holy Spirit.  They knew for certain that Jesus was alive and still working in their lives.

                    –Elmer Kelton  (The Day the Cowboys Quit)

       “The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.”

                    –Proverbs 14:8 (NKJV)
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Ho-hum, that’s good enough.  That’s enough work for the day; it will satisfy the boss.  A life of mediocrity, it is one that is to be shunned!  When I was teaching it would drive me to frustration (if I let it) to see kids just get by.  I often told them the problem is that I want you to make it, to succeed, more than you do.  They would give me an apathetic look, they were yawning in their minds knowing that the “spirit of slap” might come upon me if they did it openly.
       Ecclesiastes 10 deals with the mediocre person–who is actually a fool.  I did a study years ago which I shared on these pages, “How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World.”  That is the world in which we are living.  Look and contemplate, remember we are not only to see with our eyes, but also to engage our brains and spirit when we read, at Ecclesiastes 10:1-3 (NKJV)

          1 — Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.
          2 — A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
          3 — Even when a fool walks along the way, he lacks wisdom, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.

Sometime, when you want to improve your reading, try out Erasmus’ “In Praise of Folly.”  In it he points out the foolishness of the many things that people do and believe.  Folly is a lack of good sense; a lack of foresight; the failure to realize the consequences of a stupid act before it occurs.  A little folly, a little foolishness, can cast a shadow over a once honorable life.  A wise man will go God’s way, will seek His direction, but a fool will do what is right in his own eyes.  
       Have you, as a parent, or as a supervisor/boss every shown someone how to do something or instructed them in how something should be done and then they go back and do it the way they want?  They do not heed your advice or instruction–that person is a fool.  Get this:  fools don’t learn, because fools don’t listen!  Look at verse 3, it is easy to identify a fool.  They don’t think of the consequences before they act or speak.  In fact, they act upon impulse not looking at the whole situation.  They practice what so many of our politicians do and those of the woke crowd–they practice SYI (Share Your Ignorance).  What was it I read from Fox News?  “White House celebrates ‘Lesbian visibility week’ declares Biden.”  Then accuses the Republicans of “legislating acts of violence.”  Doesn’t that just give you the “spirit of slap”?  Fools rushing to folly.
       In closing this morning, I want to end with a couple more words regarding a fool.

               “A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.”  –Proverbs 18:2 (NKJV)
               “A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for blows.”  –Proverbs 18:6 (NKJV)

See right there, in verse 6, the fool actually calls for the “spirit of slap” to rain down upon him.  Don’t be a fool, don’t add an act of folly to your life’s resume.  Walk in the way of the Lord, follow His direction and guidance into the way everlasting.

                     –Lou Bradshaw  (Buffalo Hump’s Totem)

       “You ran well.  Who hindered you from obeying the truth?”

                    –Galatians 5:7 (NKJV)
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I came across a quotation that made me stop and ponder a spell:  “We are all going through life for the first time.”  I had to stop and ponder what the person might have meant.  Was it that we don’t know what we are doing?  We don’t know where we’re going?  I took as it mostly being used for an excuse for our actions, words, and thoughts.  Don’t blame me, so to speak, this is my first time through life.
       I know that the writer of Ecclesiastes says that all will end up the same.  The rich, the poor; the famous and the infamous; the powerful and the weak; the sick, lame, and diseased along with the healthy–all will end up in the grave.  Yes, there is a difference now since the cross for the righteous will go to be with the Lord, the ungodly will go to the place of the dead where all went before the crucifixion of Jesus and His resurrection.
       Yes, we are going through life for the first time.  Oh, the Cosmic Humanists (New Agers) and Hindus might disagree, but it’s true.  But also note, that we only live this life once, and we only die once.  There are no second chances as far as life is concerned.  Therefore, as Paul writes, we need “to walk worthy of the calling…” (Ephesians 4:1, NKJV)  Yes, the calling–the calling that you heard when you became a Christian; the calling you accepted when you turned your life over to Christ.  One life to live so, “do not be conformed to this world, but be trans-formed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2, NKJV)
       If this is the first, and only, time we go through life it would behoove us to get it right this time.  No time to delay.  Quit making excuses and accept the Lord if you haven’t done so; if you have, then follow His will, His commands, His directions for life.  If you don’t know where you are going that is a shame, for I’m on my way to heaven…  There is a resting place for the saints over on the other side of the veil of death and this world is to prepare him for it.
       Listen, we have a living hope.  We have direction, even though this is the “first time” we know where we are going and we know how to get there.  We have a hope that does use “first time” as an excuse, one that is not based upon wishful thinking–we have a hope on the reality of Jesus Christ.  Jack Graham said, “This living hope means we can persevere through trials, rough spots, and even pain.  This living hope means we may stumble and fall, but we will not falter completely because we are in Jesus Christ.  And this living hope means we have a future that is sure and that we aren’t alone today.”
       “This is my first time through life–give me a break.  Life is so confusing and chaotic, and I’ve never experienced it before.”  Then turn to the One who can be your Guide through the rough spots in life, the One who knows the way for He lived it Himself.  Turn to Him and don’t make excuses.