Knowledge is power, goes the old saying. If then this is so, only our imagination can limit what our experience is to be, when in possession of it. knowledge is information or awareness acquired through experience or education. Since it is acquired, the kind of knowledge we seek and receive is then crucial. Not all knowledge is useful, leading us to the question; what power comes with the knowledge we acquire? Is it constructive or destructive? Then, is the knowledge beneficial to us and others? Even though acquiring certain knowledge can be destructive, the lack of the right kind of knowledge is also dreadful. For the human being, the knowledge of God, the fallen state of man, the cause of the fall and the redemptive plan of God is most important to grasp and comprehend.
Hosea 4:6 AMP
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge [of My law where I reveal My will]. Because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.
Let’s briefly highlight some important things which we all need to know;
The beginning
Some of us can clearly state our lineage from generation to generation back to our ancestors. This being important, knowing our ancestors’ ancestors and their ancestors! Is equally important in explaining why certain things happen, happened or are happening in our lineage and possibly finding solutions to these matters. The Bible states that the first human beings were created by God in His own image and likeness (Gen 1:26,27)this meant that man reflected the character of God. What is God like? In (Psalms 104:2)we are told that God is covered with light as a garment. So, when Adam and Eve were made, they were covered with God's light as clothing! What is the purpose of light? The purpose of light is to make something known/seen/manifest (Eph 5:13). Light was designed to make known God's righteousness (Micah 7:9).” Commit thy way unto the Lord…And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.”(Ps 37:5,6). Therefore, when man was created, he was covered with God's righteousness. This explains why both Adam and Eve were naked and not ashamed (Gen 2:25). Adam and Eve were given dominion over all of God’s wonderful creation on earth (Gen 1:26). They had communion with their creator and from Him they received instructions on the way of conduct in the garden of Eden (Gen 2:16,17). Everything was nice and perfect in the very beginning.
The fall
When God created man in His image and likeness, all was well for man until one day when something dramatic happened. Satan tricked Eve to partake of fruit from the tree which God had cautioned them against claiming that their eyes will be opened and they will be like God knowing the difference between good and evil. When Eve saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise and insightful, she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate. Then their eyes were opened [that is, their awareness increased], and they knew that they were naked (Gen 3:1-7) (without the covering of God, His righteousness) so they hid from His presence (Gen 3:8). In the Bible both nakedness and shame go together see (Isaiah 47:1-3) ‘…thy nakednessshall be uncovered thy shame shall be seen.’ Also, see (Rev 3:14-18). Everything changes for man after their act of rebellion, they receive punishment for their actions and are even sent away from the garden of Eden (Gen 3:8-24). When Adam had lived a hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth (Gen 5:1-3). This image and likeness is the fallen man. For this reason, we were brought into this world carrying Adam's image and likeness (the fallen man). We by nature have a natural weakness towards sin/temptation. Is there any hope for a fallen people? Is there any chance of getting back to the place of communion with God?
The hope
In about 4 B.C, something remarkable and historic happened. The story is told of a baby born in a town called Bethlehem by a virgin maiden (Luke 2:1-20). They name Him Immanuel an event that fulfills prophecy (Isaiah 7:14). His birth which came about at the appointed time (Gal 4:4), is so significant for humankind. This is so because of two important things; He is the Son of God (Jn 3:16; Matt 3:17, 17:5) and He came for a special mission which was to restore the ruined communion between man and God (Luke 19:10). Remember in the very beginning God Had warned man against eating fruit from the forbidden tree lest they die (Gen 2:17), this meant a separation from God which is spiritual death and also physical death (Gen 3:19). Who would save mankind from such a penalty? In (Isaiah 53:4-6,11) we read, the Messiah (Jesus) would bear our sins and suffer in our place. One who walked perfectly and in accordance to God’s will was made sin (2 Cor 5:21), crucified with thieves (Matt 27:38), shed His blood on a cross (Col 1:20, Jn 19:34) and died for mankind’s sake (Matt 27:50), not only did He die but also rose from the dead (Mark 16:6; Luke 24:6-7) and ascended back to heaven to intercede for man before God (Rom 8:34). Why is this so important? It brought about the forgiveness of man’s sin (Heb 9:22; Eph 1:7), the cleansing of consciences of man (Heb 9:14),the purification of man (1 Jn 1:7; Heb 13:12), the freedom from sin (Rev 1:5), justification and salvation from God’s wrath (Rom 5:9) and restoration of a personal communion with God (Heb 10:19).
The plan
God’s desire is to have communion with man. So, from the beginning He makes a restoration plan (Isaiah46:10).The first thing that God created was light through the spoken Word Which is Christ (John 1:1) the Light of the world (John 8:12) this was symbolic (see our article on Light and darkness 1 & 2). When man was naked in Eden, God clothed them with skin (Gen 3:21) to symbolize the covering of man’s nakedness and restoration of righteousness, for Christ is our righteousness (1 Cor 1:30). It is the will of God that all be saved from the bondage of sin and destruction there by (2 Pet 3:9). Consider what Revelation 21 tells us about Gods wonderful plan:
21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Imagine a world without all the pain and suffering, a world of peace without any evil and the struggle with a sinful nature.
The way
Even though all this is good news, it can only be a reality to those who believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God; Who came on earth to bear man’s sins, died, was buried and on the third day He resurrected (Jn 3:16). To those who acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior, this is indeed good news. Note what the Bible tells humankind concerning their relationship with God (Isaiah 55:7) Let the wicked leave (behind) his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion (mercy) on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. The question is but how can this be possible? John 14:6 AMP 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. Jesus is the only way back to God.
The commissioning
Unfortunately, there are many living in the world who know nothing about all that we have just highlighted. They face life with a lot of hopelessness while trying to seek help, meaning and satisfaction in all the wrong places. But who will tell them about the hope that we have in Christ, the love that God Has for us and His wonderful plan?
Matt 28:19-10 AMP
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”
It is we the followers of Jesus Christ who have the responsibility of sharing this message with the World.
John 8:32 AMP 32 And you will know the truth [regarding salvation], and the truth will set you free [from the penalty of sin].”
Remember knowledge is power. The question is which knowledge and what power?
Amen to that
ردحذفImportant things people need to know
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