Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.
Nassim Taleb said, “The problem with experts is that they do not know what they do not know.”
Experts can get caught up in believing their own importance and narrowed opinion, even when the evidence begins to dispute their analysis within their field of expertise. Alvin Toffler put it this way, “We need people who can see straight ahead and deep into the problem. Those are the experts. But we also need peripheral vision and experts are generally not very good at providing peripheral vision.”
It has become apparent during this pandemic, that there are too many experts who are not on the same page, causing many conflicting reports that are pounced upon by the fear-mongering news channels. No wonder people find themselves shaking their heads at the whole thing. Mark Twain said, ” There are lies, damned lies, and statistics,” We have sure had our fill of all three on every imaginable platform there is during this pandemic. Prov.14:12 There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.
History will show who made the right calls during this worldwide contagion. It will also show how our officials legislated so many errors in judgment, missed opportunities, and slow responses to problems on all fronts. There will be plenty of blame to go around. This contamination was a new horror that the world had never experienced on such a scale. Luke 21:11a There will be famines and plagues in various places.
There will be those who felt we did not enforce stronger measures in locking down, and those who felt the legislated cures were more destructive than the disease. I tend to lean toward the latter. The experts and government leaders have caused so much damage to our citizens, that the restoration of mental health, physical breakdown, and fiscal bankruptcy will be felt for decades throughout the world.
A friend asked me, “Why are you not afraid of this pandemic? Don’t you believe the virus is real?” I said, “Yes, it is very real and destructive. However, in the same way, that I know Satan exists, I do not acknowledge or put my faith in him because I do not belong to him. I put my faith and confidence in the Lord and I use the commonsense He gave me.” My attitude toward the virus is no different than it is toward any disease available to mankind. I believe the virus is real and dangerous, but I do not give it my continual attention.
I especially do not give much time to the medical and government experts who only focus on the virus all day long. These specialists have come to believe in the essence of the virus which is continually at the forefront of their minds. Their hearts and minds are ruled by it. I focus on the healing word of God, even though the virus is as real as sars, heart-disease, and ebola. My attention belongs to God, and not the virus. Psalm 141:8 But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
If you can trust God to protect you from the devil, who is real and viciously deceptive, then why can we not trust God to protect us from a virus that is just as real? They both exist, but neither have the rule in our lives nor have the authority over us. On the contrary, God’s word says, We have authority over both, the virus and the devil. Luke 10:19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
There have always been experts and they have been involved in every event throughout history. Just because they are experts does not mean they always get it right. In 1876 the experts at Western Union said in an internal memo, “This telephone has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherent of no value to us.” In 1962 the experts at the Decca Recording Company said, “We don’t like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out.” So they declined to sign the Beatles.
The experts in the law were continually trying to trap Jesus in His words. Mark 12:13 Then they sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to Jesus to trap him in his words. These experts had become so narrow-minded they could not hear the Lord because of their biased knowledge and stubborn hearts. They were the experts, after all. They knew better than God. What a crazy thought, but at that time, they actually thought that way.
God is the only expert we can trust. What He says is the only truth we can rely on. Prov. 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Our understanding of any subject can be biased and therefore, we should defer our expertise when God shows us a better way.
God is the only expert we can trust. What He says is the only truth we can rely on. Prov. 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Our understanding of any subject can be biased and therefore, we should defer our expertise when God shows us a better way.
The Lord’s word is the only solid truth we have right now. It can bring peace to our hearts during this worldwide mess. Therefore, read, absorb, and declare God’s living word over your health, life, and direction to take as we go forward in Christ. Pray for the authorities and experts who are trying to get the world back to a semblance of normal, because they sure need all the help they can get. Amen!
Good insight
An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes which can be made, in a narrow field.
They might know a lot about one thing but usually no nothing about everything else.
James 1:5
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally …..
If you ask and believe by faith, then you should act upon wisdom that you have.
True Ian. God's way works.
Thank you Norm for a well balanced observation on the difficult in which we live. There is no substitute for God's way.