“Do you remember,” Stan asked me one morning, “when we talked about two trinities that differ from the Holy Trinity, the Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?”
“I do,” I responded. “First, there is the trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Then you mentioned the trinity of me, myself, and I.” [Note to Reader: See Posting Number 64, “Two Other Trinities”.]
“Exactly, my friend,” Stan replied. “This morning, I have another one to add to that list.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“In the first chapter of the Book of Proverbs,” Stan said, “where wisdom is speaking, there is mention of the naive who love simplicity, the scoffers who scoff, and the fools who hate knowledge.”
“That’s quite a trinity,” I replied. “The naive, the scoffers, and the fools. Describe anyone you know?”
“Someone I know very well,” Stan responded. “Me, before I chose to have Christ come into and be the focus my life.”
Continuing, he said, “Before I became a Christian, the Proverbs trinity and I fit together perfectly. As well, if I am not careful, that trinity, along with the other two, can still overshadow the Holy Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.”
“In what way?” I asked.
“First of all,” Stan replied, “I was certainly naive in the sense of loving the simplicity of focusing on self. Secondly, I often would scoff at the notion of believing in God. Finally, there was the whole aspect of being foolish in not wanting to pursue knowing God.”
Continuing, he said, “I am eternally thankful that God moved some of His people to come along side of me to bring me to the truth of life eternally with Him when it’s time, along with the eternal life that is available on this side of eternity, the eternal life of knowing God the Father and His Son.”
“So,” I asked, “do you think you have overcome this trinity that you saw in Proverbs?”
“Yes and no,” Stan replied. “Yes, in the big sense of being all set for when I step into eternity. No longer a naive foolish scoffer. But, on the other hand, during the time I have left on this side of eternity there is always the clear and present danger of listening to the voice that leads me to wander away from all that God has for me in and through the Holy Trinity.”
“What happens when you realize that you have wandered away?” I asked.
“If I am wise and not foolish,” Stan replied, “I will confess, repent, and get back on the right path of complete focus on the trinity God has and intends for me.”
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How long, O naive ones, will you love simplicity? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge? Proverbs 1:22.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the truth of all of your provision for both sides of eternity. Thank you for your people who brought me to that truth so I can look forward to spending eternity in your presence when it is time. Thank you, too, for leaving me on this side of eternity so I can pursue the eternal life of knowing you and Jesus as well as is humanly possible. Thank you for removing from me the tendency to be a naive foolish scoffer. I confess that too often I wander back into being one or all of that. Please forgive me. And please help me in following every step of your lead into an ever closer relationship so I am only who and what you intend. Please help me in helping others to not be naive foolish scoffers. Thank you I can and do bring all of these prayer before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: What about the other “trinities” that are mentioned here? Do you recognize yourself in any of them? What would it look like for that not to be the case? How can you focus completely on the Holy Trinity? What is to be done when you find yourself as part of one or more of these other “trinities”?
Waiting for the Train 