Pioneer Christian Monthly - September, 1978

"Being In Christ: - A Motif of St. Paul
Richard Westra

PART I - OUR FINAL REPORT CARD

A young student confesses, "I don't want to go back to school. They only teach spelling, reading, geography and all that stuff. Why don't they do something exciting". Another student takes the opposite opinion, "I can hardly wit till school starts again. I love to learn how to read and write." Two students with two different reactions to learning the basics in school. This continues even to the college level where one student enjoys his work while another prefers to get finished with the course work so that he can get a job. But whether we are in a formal setting such as a school or an informal setting such as playing hockey with some friends, we are always learning. We are taking in information about our world. There is that constant seeking after knowledge.

But the Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of man, to see if there are any that act wisely, that seek after God." (Psalm 14:2.) The Psalmist links knowledge with action, and associates both with a seeking after God. We often think of knowledge as the accumulation of information in the file cards of our memories. On these file cards is data which we will be able to pull out when the need arises and we will use them either in our work, or in the home, or on the basketball court. A knowledgeable person is one who is able to tell you a lot about a certain subject. He gets A's on his final report card. This is how we often think. God, however, sees it differently.

Knowledge and Action

The average person is not blind to the reality that knowledge is somehow linked with action. "Actions speak louder than words," it is often said. There is nothing more irritating than to talk to someone who gives the impression that he knows a lot but obviously from his actions knows very little. We are sometimes that way ourselves. In our conversation with others we know a lot about the political situation when in fact our participation in the political process shows that we know very little. For example, we know how the economy should be run and we know the kind of wages everybody else should be getting but we ourselves want as much as we can possibly get. We say one thing, but do another. It is not enough then, to know what must be done, We must do something about it.

Therefore, wise is the student who continues to submit himself to learning in the hope of being able to put that knowledge into action. Even wiser is the student who sits in the council of the Most High God and is able to out his learning into the context of a wider purpose. It is good to be able to know how to operate a computer and to be able to do the actual operation, but it is quite another to see how this fits into the purpose and plan of God. It is much more rewarding to see that our work at the computer brings more than a personal satisfaction: that through that job we can get to know other people; that we can bring home money to support our family and the church; and that others can be helped because of the information we receive from the computer.

On the human level knowledge means putting into practice what we learn so that it has value in the every-day lives of people. But its real value is not appreciated unless we "seek after God" and learn to know what he does, both in our individual lives and in the lives of others. Without that knowledge all our work and seeking is a striving after wind. Where there is "no knowledge of God in the land .... the land mourns and all who dwell in it languish." (Hosea 4: 2, 3)

Knowledge of God's Purpose

It might be expected at this point to say that knowledge of God's purpose is received from the study of the Bible. However, when we turn to the Bible we find differently. We are told that knowledge does not come from much study, but is given to us from God himself. According to Ephesians, knowledge of God is not a system of thought which we learn, but is always a gift which we must ask for and which we can receive from God alone. "For He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which He set forth in Christ" (1:9). A little further on Paul tells his congregation that he is praying that they might receive the "Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge" of God and so assures his readers that they can know the purpose of God for their lives only through God himself.

This is very important for us to realize. Often times when we are having difficulty in our lives, or in our homes, or in the church, we may be tempted to seek for wisdom from another source outside of God. For example, educational programming is often seen by a great many as the way to improve our social sicknesses. Often the comment is made, "People just need to be educated". The Lord knows that education in itself will do very little good. It may be part of his plan for us to seek him but we will only see this if He reveals it to us.

At university I learned a great deal in sociology and psychology about the sorts of things that make up human behaviour. I learned what makes people do the sorts of things they do. A science has been made out of studying the human being. But in most of the discussions, there was no talk about God and what He had to say about the human situation. What the scientist taught me was how we Were living but he failed to teach me how to live.

The Bible teaches us that we learn how to live according to God's purpose through insights which are given to us through his Spirit. The mystery of Christ, which is God's purpose for us, was made known to us by the Spirit (Eph. 3: 5). Jesus said to his followers, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.,, (Matt. 13: 11). When talking about the things which were to come, Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to babes." (Matt. 11: 25). Knowledge is not our possession; it is a gift which we seek with all meekness, lowliness, and patience from God who fills us with his Spirit, and makes himself known to us through his Son.

Recognition of this sort is hard to find these days. The land is filled with people who are proud of their own insights and who rely upon their own understanding for life. As a result they know nothing about the secret of life. This secret was made known to Peter when he confessed, about Jesus of Nazareth, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matt. 16: 16). And Jesus responded, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar:Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven."

To know Christ, then, is that which gives purpose to all other knowledge. This can only happen through the power of his Spirit on the final day of reckoning, God's judgment of our life will be made. This final report card will not show how much we have known, but whom we have known.

(In the next article we will review what it means to know Jesus Christ.)

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