The start of a new year is a good time to take personal stock: especially a new year bringing as many spiritual dangers as this one. It's what Christians are commanded to do: check ourselves to make sure we are "in the faith" (II Corinthians 13:5), and that our works show it (Galatians 6:4).
So what do I really know in 2017 ?
I know this much: God is sovereign. He rules over all things. I don't have a quick verse of scripture that says exactly that...all scripture says exactly that. All creation says exactly that. All experience says exactly that.
God's sovereignty grounds all creation and experience in its definitive and defining relationship: all things in heaven and earth are subject to Him. God's supreme and unchanging I AM opens to us what reality truly IS. So I understand Psalm 111:10, that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
The first wisdom we learn is how infinitely little we know. How could we not, when God is the Teacher ? But we have His promise we only need ask Him, trusting He is "in charge" (James 1:5,6).
Trusting too in His goodness. Wisdom is more than what we know; wisdom is a moral quantity, "good" in the likeness of the One Who created it. He is good to "give to all generously," life as well as wisdom. "Good" would hardly seem a strong enough word: but it's the word Jesus attested describes God, and God Alone (Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19).
God alone is good. God alone is wise. God alone rules, in goodness and wisdom. He is absolute and entire (the Biblical word for which is "perfect"), nothing less nor other than Who He IS. Everything He touches, shows it: and everything shows more than His "touch:" everything shows the infinitely wise and good craft of it's Maker.
