History, Theology, Eschatology, Soteriology, English, Ministry, Hamartiology, Anthropology, Angelology, Culture, Counseling, Biology, and Public Speaking. These are just some broad categories of studies my brain has processed in the last few years. Whether an organization formally recognizes you as a student or not, you too have interacted with these subjects as well, and likely, many more. No, it may not have been in a structured 15-week-course, provided with official lectures, instructors, and research, but since you apparently can read and have internet access, I suspect your brain has had to manage the infusion of raw information as well. So, how do you handle it?
Crude oil in its current state has no real beneficial properties, yet after refining, it could become almost anything: from gasoline, crayons, or the cloths on your back, its variety of applications are almost limitless. Yet, knowledge, like petroleum, needs refined. Possessing information is useless unless you develop and refine it to make it useful.
What makes information useful?
Solomon laments, “I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit” (Eccl 1:17). How could the Bible, a book that encourages wisdom, speak negatively about it? Moreover, how could a man given knowledge call it madness, folly, and vexation of spirit? Because Solomon sought to know wisdom, but he did not seek to know God.
There is a type of intelligence whose insightful properties make it desirable, but who’s end concludes in godlessness.
Is God reasonable?
In defense of his apostleship, Paul comments, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor 10:5). That word “imagination” I once thought was like that of the sinful thoughts found in Gen 6:5, yet Strong’s defines the Greek word logismos as meaning, “computation (mathematical calculation)” and “reasoning.” I began to realize that our human reason and seemingly “infallible computations” often rise against the knowledge of God, like the moon blocking the sun in a solar eclipse.
If we could but speculate on as much as 0.5% of all the knowledge in the universe, our finite minds in which human reasoning operates would pale in comparison to the 99.5% we don’t know, as well the 100% which is perfectly understood by our Lord.
What is Godly knowledge?
James 3:13-16 outlines that the characteristics of man’s knowledge are earthly, sensual, and devilish which produces envy, strife confusion, and every evil work.
However, Godly knowledge (17-18) is pure, peaceable, gentle, full of mercy, producing good fruits, unbiased, without hypocrisy and produces peace.
Which one of these sounds more like the wisdom prevalent in society? Which sounds more like the wisdom spread on social media? Which sounds more like the wisdom possessed in many churches and religious circles? Which one of these sounds more like the wisdom being processed in your mind and life?
Is knowing God something you’re trying to work up or something you’re trying to pray down?
How should we prevent mental anguish and heartache?
Peter desired “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.”
It has become ever apparent that our society and life has been impinged by a large population of Christians who do not know Christ. Thus, the foolishness of Solomon continues, yet it is a foolishness I myself am more than susceptible to.
In knowing Jesus, there is peace. In knowing Christ, there is grace. Yet approaching the Bible with a desire to learn more about self than God leads one to nothing more than chaos and confusion.
Conclusion
Take Peter’s admonishment to add to your faith virtue, then knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, kindness, and charity (2 Pet. 1:5-11). Major on charity! “Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth” (1 Cor 8:1). Examine where your pursuits are leading you.
The peace provided in the abundant and marvelous riches in the realization of Christ can never compare to the inter destruction brought about by perusing the insatiable fallacy of human reasoning. My worldview is changing. I no longer look at study as an opportunity to make sense of my unknown, but an occasion to greater appreciate the Lord who is the light in all darkness. I hope we, as “students” can learn to love Jesus as we study in this life-long class! May we study to please Him.
He is worth it!