Why We Need to Know All That (2)
We’ve been looking at why knowledge is essential to the life and experience of the believer. The spiritual-intellectual development enabled by biblical and related knowledge provides stability and direction in a world of uncertainties, promotes spiritual regeneration and maturation, and empowers engagement in effective and worthwhile Christian service. However, as I noted in closing my previous article, there are other more consequential reasons for a Christian to seek robust knowledge.
The “blessed hope” of believers is the “glorious appearing” of Jesus Christ, sometimes referred to as the Second Coming (Titus 2:13; also Philippians 3:20–21; Hebrews 9:28). The dynamics of the event as it impacts believers is described as a “mystery” (1 Corinthians 15:51–53; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). This means that, while we may have some basic understanding of it, we will have to wait to see exactly how it will happen. It will be the ultimate vindication of the Christian faith, and no disciple of Christ would want to be caught on its wrong side.
Although no one knows exactly when the glorious appearing will occur, Christ said of the days leading up to it, “So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors” (Matthew 24:33). In the preceding verses, he had spoken about diverse significant global events, which are to alert believers to the nearness of his return. The apostle Paul made similar remarks: “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:4–6).
The question now is: How will we know what to watch for, and how will we know when they are happening?
It requires intentional reading and diligent study, including to keep abreast of global events. It requires a single-minded quest for knowledge and a proper understanding of what’s happening in the world, including against efforts at misrepresentation (e.g., Daniel 9:2–3, 10:12–14).
This is one reason why some previous claims about the soon return of the Lord fell flat. While some who made such claims were innocently mistaken, lacking access to the fuller body of knowledge and better understanding we have today, others simply failed to do diligent study, engaging in irresponsible flippancy. And while some critics attempt to use such errors to discredit Christianity, the truth remains that such past mistakenness has characterized practically every area of human knowledge. The path of divine enlightenment that the Word helps us to walk “is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18). Which is to say that the enlightenment is progressive.
Reading just one Scripture passage, perhaps Matthew 24, is grossly insufficient for a proper appreciation of the events that will immediately precede the return of Christ. Besides, there is a level of understanding of Scripture that requires extensive “extrabiblical” study. Unfortunately, previous failed predictions have caused some believers to lose interest and stop teaching about the Second Coming. But that will not change the biblical facts about the subject nor its significance to the fortunes of the believer (e.g., Matthew 24:45–51; Luke 19:11–27).
The importance of the kind of broad and reliable knowledge needed to put this highly consequential event of the return of Christ in proper perspective is underscored by the Lord’s Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1–13). Each virgin in the parable had a lamp, which echoes Paul’s words that believers do not live in darkness. The lamp symbolizes the Word, or Scripture (Psalm 119:105). However, there was a critical distinction among the virgins: the amount of oil they had.
Oil is what enables a lamp to give light. In other words, it is not just about owning, carrying, or having access to a Bible, but more about the Spirit-enabled knowledge, understanding, and enlightenment we obtain from it. The “foolish” among the virgins had just enough oil for some basic and immediate needs. But when the implications of following Christ began to gather momentum, they were caught flat-footed. They did not possess the kind of biblical knowledge or insight needed to keep pace when the stakes of Christian engagement were raised, as Scripture warns they would. Jesus said about the consequences of such inadequacy, “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:29). This is a serious issue and an urgent reason for us to step up our Christian education now.
Robust and reliable biblical knowledge is especially important in our present day, considering the prevalence of false teaching, misinformation, manipulation, and deception, all of which will increase as the return of our Lord draws nearer. As Paul warned, “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Thessalonians 2:9–12).
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