I don’t know everything. Really, I don’t. Someone asked me the other day what is the capitol of New Hampshire. I said Montpelier. I was wrong; it’s Concord. If they had asked me what the capital of Arizona was, I would tell them, Phoenix. How about Oregon? That would be Salem. You see, I know quite a bit. I just didn’t know Concord was the capital of New Hampshire. Like I said, I don’t know everything.
And I certainly don’t know everything about computers. A couple of weeks ago I was having trouble with my computer, and I had to ask for help. Now the fella was very nice, and very patient with me, but it still was awkward asking someone for help, especially when that someone is one of your students who happens to be in your second-grade class. (Okay, now that you are done laughing….). So, I thanked him, and I moved onto the next subject: coding! Knowledge… what a wonderful thing.
To have knowledge of all 50 states, and computers and coding and anything else our educational system offers, can be very helpful in pursuing your lifetime goals, but there is another kind of knowledge that surpasses all of that, the knowledge of God. Many years ago, J.I. Packer wrote a book called “Knowing God”. In that book he said “What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we set for ourselves in life? To know God. What is the eternal life that Jesus gives? Knowledge of God”. This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God. And Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3).
Knowing God is a personal experience. Just a few short days ago, millions of people celebrated Christmas with parties, gift giving, music and food. Many of them probably knew a general story of how Jesus came to earth as a baby to bring peace and harmony. As a matter of fact, they probably knew where he was born, how he got to the inn, and what kind of bed he was sleeping in. This of course is not what we mean when we ask someone, “Do you know God? Do you know Jesus?” The general set of knowledge pertains to only knowing him as another human being. The best set of knowledge is to know Him as your Savior; to have a personal relationship with Him.
For example, it’s like knowing my dentist and knowing my wife. The one I trust with my teeth, the other I trust with my thoughts, my ideas, my heart. It says in Philippians 3:10 “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings. Becoming like him in his death and so, somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” I don’t know about you, but to me that sounds like you are trusting Someone with much more than your teeth!
So, which is it? Head knowledge or heart knowledge? Does your mind tell you there is a God because you love Christmas and you wouldn’t want it any other way? Or do you know God because the two of you have a personal relationship? Not only do you know that God allowed his son Jesus to die on that awful cross for the sins of the world, but his death was for you so that you wouldn’t have to die on that awful cross. Knowledge is a beautiful thing, it can get you out of a jam when you’re stuck on your computer (assuming you know the right 2nd grader) or it can put you in a relationship that will bring you assurance, love, and a hope for the future.