No one is established by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous will never be moved.
Proverbs 12:3
Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
Proverbs 12:12
We talked about the absolute righteousness we have only through Christ and His finished work. Christ is our righteousness, and because Christ lives forever, so our righteousness is forever; an absolute certainty that prevails, and is seen especially in this uncertain reality.
As we seen in these two verses, this righteousness is as a root, and just as trees stand on and by their roots, so it is on the righteousness we have in Christ that we stand. We recently sang that Christ is the solid Rock on whom we stand, but apparently, He is also the Root on whom we stand as well. And because this is an absolute guarantee, so we are able to make the claim that, indeed, we shall never be moved.
But is that really the case? I’m the one who declared that this year was a year of Movement. And in our going deeper into that theme, I’m the first one who’s been complaining; and actually, I’ve been complaining a whole lot more these recent days about how there isn’t just movement we initiate – sure, we move, but it’s not like the world, nor this reality isn’t moving along with us.
…No, I believe that this can be reconciled by our properly acknowledging the movements from within and towards our being in this world; acknowledging them, that is, in the light of the fact that we have not only been established but made to stand firm with eternal certainty, beyond this reality bound by time and space. In other words, we may be moved to and fro in this world, but it shall never impact the Truth, the reality we’ve been brought into through Christ, that is, the reality that we will never be moved.
Not sure I’m making any sense here but I’m just clarifying my mind and my being as I go along. By the way, if you’re still patiently going through all this, I thank you. All I’m saying is that nothing can really fully shake us in this world, because of Christ, who is our firm Foundation, in whom we are rooted.
But it doesn’t stop there, because as you can see, not only are we always firm, but we also bear fruit. While the rest of the world is struggling to even stand, or stay standing, we enjoy our being on solid ground with Christ… and also, while the rest of the world is struggling to accumulate riches and wealth, going so far as to hate on others for their own spoils, well, we are able to rest, knowing that we bear fruit. Just as we have been established on solid ground, it also entails that we have been established on the banks of a river, effortlessly bearing fruit.
The righteousness we have in Christ allows us not only to survive (stand), but to thrive (bear fruit), in this sin-tainted reality. All that we would project the goodness of our God, for the world to see, and to be led to repentance.
An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
but the righteous escapes from trouble.
Proverbs 12:13
No ill befalls the righteous,
but the wicked are filled with trouble.
Proverbs 12:21
The righteousness we have in Christ also implies that we are never in any eternal danger – we have been saved and proclaimed righteous unto eternal Life, after all. It’s not to say that we will never be in trouble – oh, in this lifetime, with all the randomness and the chaos that is present, we can’t say that there are no troubles for us who believe in Christ. We’re in this reality just as much as anyone else is… but the two differences we have, the two things that indicate how we have been set apart are the Truths (1) that again, we are never at risk of eternal rejection, and (2) if we do find ourselves in trouble in this reality, we are able to escape them, by the grace of God.
Also, take a second to look at what befalls the wicked, without righteousness – verse 21 states that the wicked are filled with trouble; I imagine, down to the depths of their heart, they are filled with trouble… and therefore, out of the overflow of their hearts, their mouths and lips speak, and they speak as they are filled – filled with transgression, they speak transgression, and as they speak transgression, so they bring more trouble upon themselves.
We see this sorry state of one doomed to oblivion, and take in the opposite for those of us who have been made righteous by Christ – and it appears that not only have we been proclaimed as absolutely righteous, but this also implies that we have been filled with righteousness… and as such, we speak righteousness, and as we speak righteousness, so we bring life upon ourselves and, God willing, upon all within the sound of our voice.
Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
but a false witness utters deceit.
Proverbs 12:17
The thoughts of the righteous are just;
the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
Proverbs 12:5
And apparently, it goes even further – for, see, we do speak righteousness because of our being made righteous and being filled with righteousness; but since Christ is our righteousness, I feel as if it can be said that we are not only as close to Christ as we could ever be, but also filled with Christ, who is our Life. Now, therefore, if we speak righteousness because we are filled with righteousness, then it also implies that we speak Christ as we are filled with Christ – and because Christ is not only our Life, but our Truth, so we who have been made righteous do not only speak righteousness, but Life, and Truth. We speak the Truth – and as to how it is honest evidence, well, I believe this is just our speaking Truth – that is, our observations and statements laced by Christ (who is faithful to make all things work for the good) – into every situation we face and handle.
Finally, verse 5 would remind us that we are not only speaking words of righteousness, Truth and Life – but apparently, even our thoughts are laced, established with the same righteousness. As such, our thoughts are also held together in Life and Truth – as Christ is in our thoughts, so our thoughts are just.
In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death.
Proverbs 12:28
We’ve just mentioned how Christ – who is our righteousness, and is also our Way and Truth – is in our thoughts and in our words, just as we are so filled with Him; but to top it all off, we’re recognizing how Christ is the Life present, just as He is the righteousness who is present in and around us in every path we take, ensuring that nothing – not even death – could ever separate us from Him.
Friends, in our pondering on righteousness, it was inevitable for us to also talk about Christ and His finished work. And, we give God the glory, and we thank Him for Christ, because we see through these passages how we are able to enjoy ourselves even in this wicked world… because it’s in all the movement – all that we initiate, and all that happens around us – that we see how Christ is truly our Way, our Truth, and our Life.
Halleluyah, indeed!
And I personally think that all of this realization is important to me right here right now, especially as I’ve said, I’m not exactly aware of just how much movement is actually going on. In fact, if I’m being honest, I’d like to think that there’s been this much movement all along, and all I’m coping with is realizing how real all the movement is, and just how much it impacts me, down to my own personal life.
All I’d like to say now, at this very moment, is that I am thankful. In all the uncertainty that presents itself, and even if I’m probably the only overreacting and calling all of it an increase of movement, I say that I am thankful, because it’s especially during these moments that I see how Christ truly is the Way to go, the Way to take, the Path that not only leads to Life, but is the actual Life in every path we choose to take, or in every path this reality forcibly pushes us into.
At this very moment, I am still so thankful because even if the world is rife with people and entities that claim to have the monopoly on what they define as ‘Truth’, and/or an uncommon possession of increased quantities of what they define as facts, we can still be at peace… We won’t be so easily deceived, nor shall we be se easily shaken, knowing that Christ is the Truth; yes, in this world of fake news, Christ is the Truth that sets us free, and in all aspects necessary.
Finally, I say that I am thankful, because even if our physical bodies may fail us, or even if our hearts literally give in to all the acceleration that goes on, whether ‘good’ or ‘bad’ in our eyes, it’s in all this death that we appreciate Life. It’s in all forms of death that we are able so see more perspectives on the superiority of Life, and Life that only comes through Christ.
There’s a lot been going on. In church, we’ve recently finished Holy Week – and I personally find it ironic, how the rest of the country was able to go out and take time off to rest, and actually taste, hopefully to see that the Lord is good; And here we were, stressing ourselves out to make time-constrained events so grandiose – or, rather, more grand than they should be. I mean, let me rant: I’ve been dragged into the stress that was imposed upon all of us, coming from a directive that was rooted, unfortunately, from people at the top who still don’t know the difference between making it about Christ, and making it about them making it about Christ – obviously there was much more of the latter, considering how absolutely exhausted the majority of us felt after it all.
But it’s not all stuff to complain about – No, just yesterday, when we gathered to pray, I’ve had the pleasure of hearing people asking for prayers as they move: One asked for prayer as she wanted to move to start a new business, and another one asked for prayer as she was preparing to travel (move) to other countries (that’s right, more than one) later this year.
I’ve had the pleasure of hearing people asking for prayers as movement happened to them – well, I’m one of those people. I’ve had movement I’ve seen as fortuitous happen to me and my business partners, and to myself, as I saw a personal opportunity to start a business of my own.
The thing is, I’m sharing all of this, because even if I say that I’m exhausted, and/or my mind is all over the place with regards to coping with all the movement – well, the root remains established. And indeed, I’ve probably been brought or brought myself into trouble, but I didn’t stay in trouble for too long. Finally, I suppose by way of this rambling I’ve projected how Christ dwells in my words and in my thoughts.
That’s right – Christ, who is our Way, our Truth, and our Life – We see Him more than ever, as we move, and as movement happens around us.
For that, I say thank You. For Christ, I am grateful.
May we continue to move, and may we continue to see Christ, and be grateful.
Until the next post, God bless you.
JB's Personal Brain Defragmenter 
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