“WHAT IS FALSELY CALLED KNOWLEDGE” Christadelphian thoughts based on the daily readings for 24th May2016
Our world is now swamped with inventions, our ancestors would be astounded by the things we humans can now do and possess. What wonderful “knowledge” the world now has.
So few recognise that the Creator put all the ‘foundations’ for these things into place at the beginning. For instance, it was men like Faraday who, because they reasoned that the Creator of all things, as described in the Bible could not have created the air, with nothing in it, that radio waves were first discovered: this ultimately led to the invention of many things, especially the marvel of mobile phones and instant communication around the world.
Our thoughts ‘strayed’ along these lines as we read Paul’s concluding words of warning to Timothy at the end of his first letter to him. “O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the … contradictions of what is falsely called ‘knowledge,’ for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.”
So much “knowledge” is in the world today – that people have a form of “faith” in it – but it is only ‘faith’ for this life! In the end the “knowledge” that matters above all else is, as Paul tells Timothy in his 2nd letter, the “knowledge of the truth” the knowledge that leads to eternal life, which some, although “always learning,” are “never able to arrive at” [3 v.7], – because they do not seek to know the things that eternally matter.
Much of what God inspired Isaiah to write in today’s 14th chapter is a prophecy of how God will ultimately deal with godlessness, and this surely results in the end of so much of “what is falsely called knowledge” – especially the notion that there is no God – that all that exists sort of ‘created’ itself. Isaiah is caused to “take up this taunt against the king of Babylon“
[v.4]
It is fascinating to realize, in checking the original Hebrew – that ‘Babylon’ is the word ‘Babel‘ – and we know the destruction of the original Babel and what it led to! (Genesis 11 v.1-9)!
It is more than 2,500 years since Babylon existed! But the way today’s Isaiah chapter starts with its’ statement that “the LORD will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land” shows this is a prophecy for our days. Look at the words in v.4 and 5! It is at this time “you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon … The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked” We ponder in awe what is said of “Babylon” in Revelation ch. 18! Our world today – is “Babel” in God’s eyes.
Isaiah is also caused to prophecy about Assyria! It is over 2,800+ years since that nation existed – and its’ area is a large part of the present day Syria.. God sees a latter day equivalent! “I will break the Assyrian in my land, and on my mountains trample him underfoot … This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it?”
[v.26,27]
Only God’s word can be “called” true “knowledge” – it is eternally valuable to read some of it every day – this also has value in helping the true intent of prophecy to become increasingly clear to us.
By Bro D.Caudery
