If we’re going to navigate the nuances of this life we will need wisdom and understanding.
Daniel prophesied that knowledge would increase in the later days and we’re certainly seeing this (Dan12:4). The next revolution will be artificial intelligence. It’s already here.
In reality it is human intelligence, compacted, digitised, speeded up and released on an unsuspecting world. We really won’t know what hit us if our focus is merely worldly.
Knowing how to discern good from evil will be a huge necessity moving forward, but only those who are in touch with the Creator through His Word will have any real chance of grasping what is happening around us. We need to be in the Word and Spirit.
The political, social and psychological changes we are seeing will not slow down. They will increase. The Word tells us that gross darkness will come upon the earth as we near the end (Is.60:2).
Not that believers should fear this or be concerned unduly. We are safe when our trust is totally in the Lord.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
God’s words give light
The Psalmist gave us a wonderful phrase when recognising the importance of God’s Word to all of us.
The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.Psalm 119:130
God’s words illuminate us. Their entrance give light. Only those who are constantly and consistently in the Word of God will know and receive this light, and develop the necessary understanding to cope with what is around us.
That light is the glory of the Lord, and it has arisen upon us. It will cut through the darkness of the world. It will be seen upon us.
We are also told to arise and shine for the light will be upon us, that is, those who are of the family of God.
Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the LORD will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.Isaiah 60:1-3
That darkness will be cover the lost world, but those who have Christ will also have the light. We will not only be able to see but will be a shining and guiding light to those who are blind, to lead them out of the darkness.
We need the light. The whole world needs the light. God’s Word gives us light. When we read it, hear it, study it and live it we will have an amazing advantage. We will have our lives illuminated. We will know what is good and what is not.
Knowledge of good and evil
You remember what happened in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit (Gen.3:6). Their eyes were opened, but not in a beneficial way (Gen.3:4). They suddenly understood things that only deity should have to deal with. Their innocence was violated by overwhelming responsibilities and options they were not equipped to handle.
They saw their own nakedness and vulnerability for the very first time (Gen.3:7). They were exposed. Previously, they had no prejudice or bias. They dwelt harmoniously in perfection. Now they had the crushing knowledge of choices between good and evil. Knowing good is one thing, but being confronted by the potential of evil is deadly, as it so proved.
Only God can justly judge the world, knowing the difference between right and wrong. In our minds and in our hands justice and judgement can go awfully wrong. Law can be a minefield of interpretation and consequence.
Having our eyes open to all worldly potential gives us many options, avails us to corrupting influences, because evil lurks in every crevice waiting to lead us from the light. Innocence was lost in the Garden.
Only the Word and Spirit of God are pure and true. We need the light of His will and ways to lead us through the fog of this age.
We can arise. We can shine, but only with the light of God’s Word and Spirit to guide us.
There is a dynamic to the Word of God that permeates our being when we allow it. We have the power of permission to allow God’s will and ways into our own lives as our guide and leader.
A new birth
This can only begin with the new birth. We will never understand the Word of God without being born again. We will not understand His will without be saved by grace through faith.
Even here the entrance of His Word gives light, because it is through hearing the gospel, the Word of God, that we can be transformed inwardly and placed in a position of being able to respond to the offer of the free gift of salvation.
Darkness clamps down on the unsaved world, but the Word of God is present to illuminate their hearts with truth. The gospel is on the lips of the believer, and our message of hope is freely available to all who will hear and come to the light.
