What Do You Know?

Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. They were all terrified when they saw him. But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!” Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in. [Mark 6.47-52]

In Mark's presentation of this event, it is worth a little attention to consider what he said about Jesus walking on the water. It says "...they were totally amazed, for they still didn't understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in."

The power of God is not likely ever to be understood by mere humans. At least, not here on earth.

Why is that? Well, it seems Mark had some enough understanding of it himself to say, "Their hearts were too hard to take it in."

God's power - His Kingdom - is overwhelming to a hard heart. This is significant. We have trouble believing because our hearts are hard. But what does that mean?

Our hearts become hard when they become steeped in the world. In other words, the more we 'educate' ourselves on the ways of the world, the less we will be able to receive of the Kingdom of God.

Does that mean there is a premium on ignorance? No, not at all. It just means that one must control what knowledge he or she has. Knowledge is absolutely necessary - but what matters is what knowledge one has!

You see, we must KNOW God and His Son, Jesus. We must KNOW the work of the Holy Spirit. This requires education, if you will - it requires the knowledge of God and His Word. It requires understanding of the power and workings of the Holy Spirit. It requires a mindset of the Kingdom of God.

The knowledge of the world tends to "harden" one's ability to receive the knowledge of God. The human heart is flesh and it gravitates toward all that is earthly. The only way to soften the heart is to submit it to the Word of God.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. [Hebrews 4.12]

The innermost thoughts and desires of man dwell in the heart. Unless those innermost thoughts and desires are "treated" if you will by the application of God's Word, then there is little hope of any understanding (let alone activity) of Kingdom proportion (like the miraculous).

So, NO, there is no premium on ignorance! However, ignorance of the world does indeed make way for the knowledge of God and His Word.

Perhaps that is precisely why Jesus said:

Then Jesus called for the children and said to the disciples, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. [Luke 18.16]

Knowledge or no knowledge is really not the point. The point is, is your heart hard? What made it hard? What will soften it?

Knowledge is great. But if it comes at the price of a hard heart, then it is damning. Knowledge of the world is more often than not accompanied by pride, and therein is the real problem. That pride is hardness against God and His knowledge (His knowledge which transcends all the knowledge of the world).

Knowledge of the world says, "if you cannot figure God out, then He must not be real."

Knowledge of God says, "to know God is to know His power over everything in the world."

What do you know?

Father, I want to know You. Even if I have to un-learn what i know of the world, I want to know You and Your power and Your Kingdom!