STRAIGHTEN UP

by Tammy Phillips
December 2, 2021

“[What is] crooked cannot be made straight…”(Ecclesiastes 1:15 NKJV)

When our boys were little and misbehaved, we would direct them to “straighten up.” They might manage for a while and then we would have to issue the instruction again.  They were boys and they were messy.  Straight would last a bit but not for long. 

Solomon said, “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all [is] vanity and grasping for the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 1:14 NKJV).  He saw the world through the eyes of man.  In all his wisdom he saw chaos, disorder, and incompleteness.  He discovered the crooked, perverted, bent, twisted, and bowed down could not simply autocorrect itself.  Adam and Eve bowed down in the garden.  They ignored the voice of wisdom and embraced the lie. When they did this, it messed up the world and they could not fix it.  They could not bring worldly order out of the disorder they had created.

They could not straighten nor mend things up. It was just not in their power. 

When man sinned, he bowed down to the words of Satan and turned his back on God.  Thank God, He had a plan to straighten everything out, Jesus.  Isaiah through faith-washed eyes saw things from God’s perspective. He heard…

“Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:” (Isaiah 40:4 KJV)

“And I will bring the blind by away [that] they knew not; I will lead them in paths [that] they have not known I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.” (Isaiah 42:16 KJV)

“I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:” (Isaiah 45:2 KJV)

Isaiah saw the coming Messiah as a change agent to make the “crooked places straight.”  Solomon realized all the wisdom under the sun was futile, empty, and could not bring the needed eternal straightening. He concluded, “For in much wisdom [is] much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.” (Ecclesiastes 1:18 NKJV).  He was discouraged.  The more he learned, the more he realized he didn’t know. The more knowledge gained about  life under the sun, the greater was his sadness and hopelessness. Turn your back on God and this is where life will lead. 

I encourage you with the words of John recorded by Luke, “Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be made low; the crooked will become straight, the rough ways smooth, and everyone will see the salvation of God.” (Luke 3:6 CSB). God had a plan to “level the playing field.” It was and is the salvation of God!  His name is Jesus.  Can you hear Him calling?  “Straighten up, kids!  I will lead the way and be your example.”  He is the only way.  He is the only wisdom that can clean up the mess that we have made in the world and our lives.  Men cannot autocorrect, but Jesus can and will straighten up the “crooked places” in the world.  It is why He came to straighten the mess man  made.  Don’t be discouraged.  We have hope in Jesus.  Invite Him  and watch him straighten things up.