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By Rev Don Rivers
As we continue our Winter Bible Study we continue to look at the second part of our passage; “and know”. As I said, knowledge is a curious endeavor. Plato is credited with saying, I am the smartest man in the world because I know one thing, I know nothing. He actually borrowed that from his teacher Socrates. What do we really know? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
Welcome back to our study. The passage we are using this year is short but contains so much for us to reflect on. We are looking at three areas; Be still, Know, and God. Let’s continue as we challenge ourselves to learn how to be still and know God
Psalm 46:10a; NLT; Be still, and know that I am God.
I once saw a driver inspecting another driver’s car with a fine-tooth comb. He was a veteran driver and I wondered what he was looking for. I walked up and asked, “What’s so interesting about this rookie’s car?” He looked at me and said, “nothing, absolutely nothing.”
Curious, I pursued my line of questioning. His response was insightful; he was making sure everything was as it should be. He was protecting himself and the field. He was verifying that nothing was out of order.
Sometimes rookies can have issues they don’t even know about because they haven’t acquired that knowledge yet. The experienced driver/car builder knows what a safe car looks like and that knowledge caused him to act. He made sure the car wasn’t dangerous and wouldn’t fall apart and endanger the others in the race, especially Him.
How much do we really know? I contend that true or complete knowledge moves us to action. When we know and understand we must act. Knowing God intimately, a personal relationship, requires response.
As I mentioned earlier Plato said, “I am the smartest man in the world because I know one thing, I know nothing.” The phrase “all I know is that I know nothing” isn’t directly from Plato but is attributed to his teacher, Socrates. It signifies profound philosophical humility, meaning true wisdom begins with recognizing the limits of one’s own understanding, which prompts a lifelong quest for knowledge. This is unlike those who believe they know everything and shut themselves off from learning. Socrates concluded he was wisest because he acknowledged his ignorance, while others falsely claimed knowledge.
Because this passage is about a personal relationship with God, let’s examine knowledge as it relates to a relationship. Knowledge comes in progression; First is superficial knowledge, I know you enough to recognize your looks. Then we start learning about someone and our knowledge progresses to knowledge about you. We progress from there to initiate a relationship, and our knowledge goes to recognition of behaviors, we know someone by what they do. From there our knowledge grows to the point that it manifests itself in our actions. We do things or engage in activities because we know someone so well.
Knowing someone is so much more than being able to recognize them. I know about you. I know who you are and how you think. I know how I will respond to what I know about you. We know God, but do we have an understanding of God? And does He know us? We need to know God enough to recognize how he does things and join Him in those efforts.
Matthew 7:21-23; NLT; Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’”
Pastor Matthew Larson writes, “What if you’re not actually saved? Not because you don’t believe; because you don’t actually know Him. Jesus warned this would happen to many (who think they know God). People who prayed every night. People who served in ministry. People who tithed, volunteered, led worship, taught Sunday school. People who were so sure they were going to Heaven… they never even questioned it. And on Judgment Day? “I never knew you. Depart from me.”
He points out religious activity doesn’t take the place of knowledge. The challenge comes moving beyond the superficial and digging deep into God’s word and knowing God. Let’s start at a beginning point, Can we explain the necessity for Christ’s death and resurrection, The Gospel. Why was it necessary? Why did he come as a baby? Why did he let man kill Him? The beginning of knowing God begins with understanding why God did the things He did. What does John 3:16-17 mean? Do we know?
In John’s Gospel Jesus took the time to sit down with one of the Jewish leaders/teachers Nicodemus. You might think being a Jewish leader and teacher you would know God. He didn’t and Jesus wanted to try and help him understand. Jesus said you must be Born Again, Born Anew, a Spiritual Birth without that you cannot see the Kingdom of God.
Nicodemus didn’t understand, he knew God, but he didn’t know God. He didn’t take the time to develop a personal relationship with Him
John 3:9-12; NLT; “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.
Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
John 3:16-17; NLT; “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
Here’s a question to ask yourself if you’re not sure where you stand. Do I have more religious habits than real understanding? Do I actually know Him? Or do I just think I do.
Isaiah 55:6; NLT; Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
Run the race in such a way as to win, throw off everything that hinders and focus on Jesus. Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.
