The Fools Of Yesterday Are The Wise Men Of Today

BY ELDER JAMES HENG

The recent much publicised global Corona virus 2019 outbreak (also known as Covid-19) has suddenly brought about a high intensity of interest in hygiene. This is needed to prevent the spread of the outbreak. Among the many recommended “dos and don’ts” was the emphasis on regular washing of hands. It is widely accepted by both the scientific and medical communities to prevent the spread today.

This was not the case way back in Europe in the 1840s. A period when women would fall ill and die shortly after giving birth. A Hungarian physician, Ignaz Semmelweis (Dr. IS) was intrigued by the mysterious problem and sought to seek out its origins. He was an early pioneer of antiseptic procedures but was ridiculed for his work linking handwashing to better medical care. Dr. IS investigated and tested a number of hypotheses but ruled them out. By removing the variables of the hypotheses, he found the ‘culprit’ – cadavers (dead bodies). Doctors who had assisted their students with autopsies as part of medical training had then assisted in examining patients and delivering babies. Dr. IS hypothesized that “cadaverous particles” were being transferred from dead bodies to new mothers by doctors and their students. Physicians (doctors) did not scrub their hands in between patient visits to remove what is known today as “pathogens” (germs, bacteria & viruses). In 1847, Dr. IS implemented mandatory hand-washing among students and doctors with a chlorinated lime solution to totally remove the smell of decay and decomposition on doctors’ hands. The rest is history.

There are many other examples that could be given for the same truth– the fools of yesterday are the wise men of today. Dr Jenner the discoverer of vaccination against smallpox was ridiculed and excommunicated by the medical profession is another example. George Stephenson, the inventor of the locomotive engine was first laughed at as a foolish crank, Jules Verne, who wrote in his novels in the middle of the 19th century the coming of submarine and the airship was thought to be a writer of fairy tales for children. Socrates, the Greek philosopher is another good illustration of the truth of this statement. He was regarded by the Athenians as either a fool or a nuisance and was accused of undermining religion and corrupting the youth of Athens. So strong was the feeling that he was eventually condemned to death and forced to drink the fatal hemlock poison.

Our Lord, Jesus Christ, is Himself a good illustration of this proverb. During His time, he was regarded as an imposter or a madman by all except a handful of followers and was at last hounded to death by His own people. He was never really fully appreciated by His contemporaries. Today He is recognized and acknowledged by millions of Christians throughout the world as the all wise God and the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24, 30; Col. 2:3)

Likewise, it should not surprise those of us who follow our Lord and live by His wisdom – to be ridiculed, scorned and labelled a fool by the world (1 Cor. 1:18, 4:10a). At some point of time (if it has not already happened), someone may question our belief in God. We may look foolish for trusting in a God who seem unable to do a thing about the pestilence and disease that is ravaging the earth, such as the COVID-19.

We may not be wise in the eyes of the world, but we are certainly wise in the eyes of God when we trust in Him and live only to please Him! And best of all, the Day will come when the world shall see Jesus as He really is!

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. (REVELATION 1:7)