Want to be Wise?

As a follow up to my last blog perhaps we should look at that really dreadful tree….  “The Tree of the Knowledge and Good and Evil”.  It wasn’t the tree itself of course, but man’s willfulness in disobedience.

The infinite mind of God knows all.  He has created all that is and ever has been. While God knows all and sees all, He is quite generous with His wisdom to mankind.  Why then did He prohibit Adam and Eve from eating of that particular tree? 

Knowledge was not off limits to Adam and Eve.  This tree and its fruit represented the illegitimate acquisition of knowledge that was obtained through pride as well as lack of obedience to their Creator !  Only God knows the hidden things of the heart…….the motives, biases, fabrications, and future repercussions that would accompany their knowledge.  Humans cannot achieve knowledge through disobedience.  We can never be perfect in our knowledge…..simply because humankind isn’t perfect. Therefore the serpent was the great Deceiver.

We are introduced to our enemy….the fallen one……..or as we call him, Lucifer (aka Satan).  Now mankind must contend with him.  Because of Adam’s choice to ignore God’s instructions, the gift of the earth was forfeited to the Deceiver, along with the endowment of ruling over it. But with God’s great love and compassion for us, in His mercy and foresight, He had a plan for our redemption and restoration. 

We are created in God’s image but not in His knowledge.  We are created with the capacity to learn, ability to choose, and with an innate spiritual hunger which man seeks in order to regain that which separates us from God. 

The second Adam, that is Jesus, who in His perfection replaced the imperfect first Adam, has given us a second chance to be regenerated into the likeness of the Perfect One.  The Bible tells us that when we are born anew then His spirit lives in us and we are made alive in him (Ephesians 2:5).  This is not understood by those who are worldly minded.

Gaining knowledge is a God given desire within the heart of man and provides a purpose to expand God’s kingdom until Jesus returns again.  Although, we are unable to ever know the mind of God nor His infinite knowledge and wisdom, we humans can gain knowledge through our study of Biblical wisdom. Wisdom, in turn, grants us knowledge for the benefit of others.  Faith and wisdom produce knowledge.  Therefore in doing good works and disciplining others in the Faith, we gain in knowledge.  Awesome!

Knowledge is power.  The acquisition of knowledge that produces understanding leads to wisdom.  Wisdom in turn enables us to rightly discern God’s word.  Therefore study is the highest form of worship! For it is the subjection of our human will to believe and act upon what God has said. “Therefore be diligent to present yourself approved to as a workman who does not need to be ashamed…….handling accurately the word of truth”….(2 Timothy:2:15)

           Knowledge and wisdom keep company with love and God is Love.