In a time when we are told that the "body of knowledge" is increasing with every giant step forward, we must be brought back to our senses and recognize that only God is omniscient. We must remember and acknowledge Romans 11:33-36,
"0 the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things; to whom be glory forever. Amen"
One of the ways man has tried to extend his natural knowledge is to delve into the human mind. Things psychological have taken on added interest and popularity. Something for all of us to keep in mind is that,
The Lord Knoweth the Thoughts of Man
Psalms 94: 11 reads, "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity." It is interesting and enlightening to see this Scripture given prominence by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 3 :20, where it reads, "The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." It has just been stated previously that, "the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness." We ask ourselves the penetrating question, What will we learn if we can read the mind and thoughts of mortal man? No doubt, a lot of foolish and vain information. People today speak of "brain-washing," "programming and deprogramming the mind," "blowing the mind" and "psychological readings" through dream or ink blot interpretation. Even if this became a "science," what would we learn? That man's thoughts are vain, that they are foolish, that they are deceitful, and that they are confused.
Yet, through it all, the gracious Lord, knowing our thoughts, can straighten and stretch our minds with the wonderful wisdom of the Word. If we would earnestly heed Philippians 4:5-9, we would have a first class spiritual lesson on how to think. In any event, we should guard our thinking habits carefully, knowing that the Lord knoweth our thoughts.
We should also be consciously aware of the truth that,
The Lord Knoweth the Ways of Man
It was Job of old who said inspiringly, "But he knoweth the way that I take; when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10). In fact, in 34:21, it is stated, "For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings." If one would attempt to trace and study all the references to this tremendous truth found in Job and Psalms, it would take a lifetime.
We should all be familiar with the statement in Proverbs 14:12, ''There is a way which seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." An example of this is called in Jude 11, "the way of Cain." God looked upon the offering of Cain and rejected it. Why? Because it was the work or effort of sinful man to try to gain God's favor. This erroneous effort by Cain has become the basis for most of the religious dogma that has arisen through the centuries to the present. Man has tried in every age to work for his salvation, but God knowing man's thoughts and man's ways, has rejected them. We must ever keep in front of our minds and hearts. that our Lord Jesus said,
"I am the way, the truth, and the life; No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. " (John 14:6)
The Lord Knweth Our Days
In Psalms 37:18, David was led to say,
"The Lord knoweth the days of the upright; and their inheritance shall be forever."
Yes, it must be true that the Lord knows how long we will live here on this present planet. But of more importance is how we live while here. In other words, the quality of our days is more important than the quantity of our days.
The days of our life are described in many vivid and interesting ways in Scripture. For instance in Psalms 90:9, it remorsefully remarks, "For all our days are passed away in thy wrath; we spend our years as a tale that is told." And another that is even more representative of our lesson is found in Psalms 144:4, "Man is like to vanity; his days are as a shadow that passeth away."
Yet, though all this seeming gloom and despair, God, who knoweth our days, can take the days of our lives and make them meaningful and useful for His glory! Every day can be a day of gladness and glory if we let Him have his way in our day!
Then, to the believing sinner, there is no more comforting and heartwarming truth than that.
The Them That are His Lord Knoweth
In II Timothy 2: 19, we read,
"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are His, and let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
The Lord doesn't just "know" us as so many names in a book, or numbers in a computer. No, he knows us in a personal, loving way. No man will ever really know how God knows! However, we can appreciate a few of these ways. For instance, Jesus said to His disciples in Luke 12:29-30, "And seek ye not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of a doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after; and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things." 0f course, He went on to say, "But rather seek ye first the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you." The gracious Lord knows that we need first spiritual things and then material things. Paul said, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).
The Lord knows that our lives are full of trials and testings. Surely, we have all felt sometimes, as if there was no way out of difficulties that beset us. But, we can take courage in the truth that,
The Lord Knoweth How to Delive
I Corinthians 10:13, reads,
"There hath no temptation (trial) taken you but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."
Deliverance is a continuous process with God. Paul in writing to Corinthian believers, shows the three-fold tense of God's deliverance. He wrote,
"Who delivered (past) us from so great a death, and doth deliver (present); in whom we trust that he will yet deliver (future) us."
Yes, the Lord knows everything about everything. He also knows everything about everyone! But how ignorant man is in all his natural knowledge. The following dialogue will humorously illustrate.
A preacher, while driving through the country stopped and said to a farmer by the road, "Are you a Christian?" The farmer said "No, I am a Jones, Christian lives down the road about a mile and to the left about a quarter mile." "No, you don't understand," said the preacher. "Are you lost?" "Nope," replied the farmer, "I've lived here going on 43 years, and know every nook and cranny hereabouts." The preacher scratching his head, said, "Are you ready for the judgment?" Jones answered, "No, when is it?" Disgusted, the preacher finally said, "For you, it may be Tuesday or Wednesday. "Good," said the farmer Jones, "I'll tell my wife, she will want to go both days !"
Ignorance is not always bliss, as some say, but is serious business in regards to one's destiny. Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour? He knows your heart, He knows your thoughts, He knows your ways.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. Lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." (Prov. 3:5-6)
Mp3 Studies By Pastor Gregg Bing
Ephesians
- 06 - The Fullness of the Times
Grace Bible Church (Click Here)
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God Saves Men
Believing
Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
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