Our Limited Capacity
“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them at the present time.”
~John 16:12, NASB
Our inability to comprehend something like infinity does not prove that it is unreal; sometimes it simply proves that our minds are too small to take it in.
~Ya’akov
A devotion by William Whittaker stired my mind. Jesus disciple misunderstood much of what Jesus said and there were things that He did not attempt to teach them because they lacked the capacity to take it in. Don’t you find it strange that Satan used knowledge as bait to tempt eve. He was probably appealing more to her desire to be autonomous {independent} than her deep curiosity. Eve didn’t want anyone telling her what to do and that didn’t just mean Adam. She did not want to live under God’s rule. She and Adam knew how to worship, they knew that certain things were wrong. They possessed a limited knowledge but not enough to satisfy Eve’s lust for more. God told them specifically what to do and what not to do. He also told them what would happen if they disobeyed. So two points of interest: they did have some knowledge and knowledge itself is not sin. The sin is man’s desire to acquire knowledge a part from God. Eve wanted to know more than God had revealed. She was convinced there were things He was not telling them. Satan talked her into pursuing knowledge a part from Christ and it is true that her eyes were opened, but to what? They were opened to evil, guilt, sin, shame, suffering, death and even worse, separation from God Himself. Now you tell me, wouldn’t she have been happier not knowing about these things. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.
I am not going to list them all but I will give references; there are passages in the Bible that warn us about trying to know too much. We equate knowledge with success—the more you know, the higher you go—but knowledge can also create misery. Folks there are certain things I do not want to know. I never look at the comments on the blog. They are at my disposal but I never click on them. I imagine most of them are positive but one scathing review can distract me for days and so I don’t read them. I don’t eavesdrop and I kindly rebuke those who do. As Solomon warned, you are going to hear something that will hurt you. Why do you want to know what people are saying about you. Are you not better off not knowing. I have had, more than once, people come up to me and say, “Bro. Jack, you know So-in-So, they hate your guts.” What an encouragement, did you really have to share that info? Could you not have kept that to yourself? How does a comment like that encourage me?
David had a good perspective on this subject: he said in Psalm 131…Lord, my heart is not proud;
my eyes are not haughty. I don’t concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. This is good advice for all of us. Whittaker believes that are souls are expanding and that there will be huge jump when we are glorified. We will never know all that God knows but we will know much more than we know now. Paul said, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part but then I will know fully, just as I am known.”
Scripture reference to this subject: Deuteronomy 29:29 may be the strongest: “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us…” others are: Romans 11:33-34,Job 11:7-8, Eccl. 8:17,11:15.
- Bill Southern is still in Decatur Morgan but he has been moved to room 302.
- Mens Breakfast this Saturday at 8:00 am @ Libby’s in Priceville
- I don’t look for any rain this weekend. I think we will get clouds, wind and nothing more; probably not a drop of rain. I am predicting a dry weekend for the Forest Chapel area. Now let’s see who is right, James to for to Span or Bro. Jack who has never been to meteorology school.
Have a Tremendous Thursday and thanks for reading the blog!!!!
