Do We Properly Use Our Knowledge?
Man, from the beginning of time has been desirous of knowledge. This is evident in the first inspired record of man. In his desire for “earthly” knowledge he found his own downfall. In Genesis 3:1-3, it is obvious that the serpent was aware that the woman already had some knowledge as given by God to mankind. Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Satan got the woman to affirm what she knew to be true, as he would begin with what the woman knew, undermine it, and separate the woman, and ultimately her husband from God. In Genesis 3:4-6, the lie was told and the seed planted which would bring forth fruit for the devil. He tempted Eve to “desire to know more” than God had told her. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. After the temptation was presented, Genesis 3:6, shows how they submitted to their lustful desires. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Satan had knowledge, and so did the man and woman. The key is to use our knowledge correctly. Satan used knowledge of what God had directed man to do, against man. He knew the power of knowledge. Do we? If so, do we use it properly? Do we have knowledge of our spiritual status as it is described in the Word of God?
The wise man of Proverbs 1:7, through inspiration wrote: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. We are told in 2Chronicles 1:10 that Solomon, facing the great task before him, petitioned God. His request was not for earthly riches, wealth, or honor. He asked: Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? At the time, Solomon understood the power of knowledge but still, in his later years allowed himself to be drawn away from God.
Jeremiah 29:18- 19 shows why God’s Old Testament people would be persecuted “with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach”. 19 Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the LORD. Hosea 4:6 affirms this. My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Even though Israel largely rejected God, His plan for Salvation, formed before the foundation of the world would still come to fruition, and we can benefit from that knowledge. We are told this in Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. This plan was carried out by God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, and the message (Word of God) was delivered by the Holy Spirit so we could have that knowledge. In John 1:12 we are told how this provides power so one can be saved. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
The knowledge of the power of the Word is shown in Roman 1:16 as the Spirit had Paul write. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. The gospel is that New Testament Word of God. In James 1:21 the brethren “scattered abroad” were reminded what the gospel had done for them and why they must continue in it. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. This is the same thing in Acts 2:40-41 those “unsaved” Jews were told on the day of Pentecost when the gospel was first preached in N.T. times. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
In James 4:17, the Spirit had this brother of the Lord pen the Words Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Eve knew it was good to “not eat” of the forbidden fruit, yet she sinned and did not use her knowledge to follow God’s Commandments. You now have knowledge. Will you apply the power of God (the gospel) and your knowledge of it to become His child today, or if already one, to remain faithful? You know to do so is “good”. Or will you remain in sin?
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
