Lucid, but not deseperate

Friday June 18, 2021

Lucid, but not desperate

I had decided not to know anything among you other than Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ crucified. 1 Corinthians 2.2

Regarding the human condition, Blaise Pascal (17th century French mathematician, inventor, philosopher and theologian) states: “Knowledge of God without knowledge of his misery is pride. The knowledge of one's misery without that of God creates despair. Knowledge of Jesus Christ forms the middle, because there we find both God and our misery” (Pensées, Blaise Pascal, pocket edition, p.41).

In a few words, Pascal describes two excesses and a healthy attitude.

- The excess of being imbued with our "knowledge of God".

It can be pride to only talk about the gospel, without going through with its radical message about human nature.

- The excess of remaining on the contrary with our eyes riveted on our poverty.

We wonder, if we are really lucid, if some hope is possible. How can we hope for the future if, after death, there is nothing but nothingness, if the only future is terrestrial...

- It is beneficial to get to know Jesus Christ.

Fully man and fully God, he came to earth to make us know God in his holiness, but also to help us out of our great misery. He had to die, he righteous, for us unjust (1 Peter 1:19), so that we could have real life.

Yes, in Jesus alone is our hope.

Jean-Louis Theron

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Proposed reading : 1st letter of Peter, chapter 2, verses 21 to 25.

Source (Live Today)