The Danger of Living on Past Knowledge

The Bible tells us that the Word of God must be the Source that feeds us daily. We must take time to study and apply the Scriptures daily to feed our minds and be daily reminded of what God requires of us. ['Give us this day our daily Bread'].

Failure to be refreshed continuously by the Word of God could lead to lukewarmness and separation from the true Vine which is Christ--John 15:1.

It is a dangerous thing to have a form of godliness but without the knowledge that gives power as it leaves a person in a state of false belief; being right in their own eyes.

The story of Israel after the death of the Judges, where the Bible says in chapter 17:6, "In those days Israel had no king, all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes."

That statement follows the death of Samson, and the story of a man called Micah, who made idols of wood and silver. He then built a shrine in his home, placed the idols and it became a snare to Israel. He paid a young Levite to be his father and priest in his household, a man young enough to be his son.

Later the people of Dan on their way to take possession of the land God promised them went to Micah's home where they found the idols, later on their return removed the idols and took the young priest with them.

On destroying the inhabitants of the land they took possession of, set up the idols to worship with Moses' grandson, Jonathan as the priest.

Looking at this story it breaks one's heart to see how a few years after leaving Egypt, and the death of great leaders such as Moses and Joshua, Israel became idol worshipers when they knew that the reason God destroyed the inhabitants of the lands He gave them was their idolatry. To make matters worse, Jonathan whose grandfather was Moses, agreed to be priest to gods that had no life, could not talk or have power to redeem from sin, ignoring all the instructions God gave through Moses.

#Lesson for our Generation

It is easy for us to believe that once a building is put up, people receive education and are elected to an office, anything done within that body becomes church or temple even if it fails standard ordained by God. Because God will not occupy a place that does not honour Him and will not share His glory with idols.

We must be very careful as we have the tendency to fall for the latest trend [Ai Jesus] ignoring the warnings of the Scripture [Book of Daniel] by studying the word or lacking to study and apply the Word.

It is easy to say the Bible is no longer relevant in the 21st century while at the same time dealing with the same issues people did in the time of Abraham that led to the destruction of kingdoms and nations.

Not to apply knowledge leaves us at the mercy of those who know the truth, but pervert it like the Pharisees of Jesus' day to make people disciples of hell by teaching what the people want to hear.

Judges chapters 17,18, 19; record the confusion that can happen when a people forsake the Living God and make idols choosing to give animal sacrifices to gods that cannot save. God said to Abraham He would provide Himself a sacrifice. He fulfilled it by giving His Son as the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world on the Cross of Calvary. Seeking another way should make us fearful of walking blindly led by those who are blind.

#The Responsibility is Ours

It is our responsibility to diligently search the truth for ourselves, for everyone is accountable to God for themselves. Every person will bear their sin, not that of another.

The Living God speaks by His Spirit as He did in old times and will not leave any to grope in the dark and be lost.

He, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the same God we serve today. He revealed Himself through His Son, the LORD Jesus Christ of whom David wrote many Psalms inspired by the Holy Spirit. We are made in His image, not the image of goats and calf.

Among many of those Psalms is Psalm 2:12 which says, "Submit to God's Royal Son, or He will become angry and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities..." David was not speaking of himself but about the Messiah, the Royal Son of God as the Spirit inspired him.

For Isiah and other prophets wrote detailed accounts of what would happen to Him as the world again remembers His birth at Christmas. Right or wrong the date might be, He came, He died and Resurrected.

He lives and is Coming back as the Judge of all the earth.