We Cannot Remember What We Do Not Know

I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles. [2 Peter 3.2] 

How have we read this for years and not understood what it says? In fact, the New Testament is absolutely full of references to the holy prophets of long ago AND what Jesus said... It is, in fact, God's Word.

What DID the holy prophets say long ago? What DID Jesus command through the apostles? We should know this thoroughly! But most of us only know just enough scriptures to keep us running on devotional emotion, woefully empty of the intentional and manifest power of the Holy Spirit. We cannot remember what we have never learned.

So, what DID the holy prophets say long ago? They consistently warned against IDOLATRY. The question begs to be asked WHY? Why did the holy prophets of long ago say so much about idolatry? Because idolatry was present in the original sin and would, from that time, consistently and continually make people blind and deaf, unable to discern Messiah, before He came to earth, while He was on earth, and, after He came to earth - even to this very day.

Likewise, what DID Jesus teach and even command His disciples and followers? He specifically stated, and in all other ways lived and demonstrated, undivided, singular faith and devotion to God and God alone (through Himself).

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]

It was a misunderstanding of the holy prophets' teachings that caused so many to miss Jesus Christ as the Messiah. These people were, in fact, the fulfillment of the very Scriptures they claimed to know so well:

For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’ [Matthew 13.15]

Jesus was directly quoting the holy prophet Isaiah of long ago:

And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people, ‘Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.’ Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.” [Isaiah 6.9-10] 

Digging deeper into the reason Isaiah wrote his prophecies so long ago... 

Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD! For the LORD has rejected his people, the descendants of Jacob, because they have filled their land with practices from the East and with sorcerers, as the Philistines do. They have made alliances with pagans. Israel is full of silver and gold; there is no end to its treasures. Their land is full of warhorses; there is no end to its chariots. Their land is full of idols; the people worship things they have made with their own hands. [Isaiah 2.5-8] 

And, just as it was a misunderstanding that caused so many to miss Jesus when He walked on earth, so that misunderstanding prevails today. IF we do not see Jesus' demand for idol-free living in giving up our own way - the ways and means of man - the works of our own hands - idols, as declared and decried by the prophets of long ago, take up our cross - manipulated in absolutely no way by fear of death, and follow Him - dependent only upon God in the Holy Spirit's power, THEN we are not remembering, as Peter directed, what the holy prophets said AND we are not remembering what our Lord and Savior commanded.

The holy prophets of long ago taught us to be on constant alert for idols.

Jesus taught us that the contrast to idolatry is to follow Him.

Peter would not be on permanent record of warning us to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded if that warning was not pertinent for all time - even for us today.

But we cannot remember what we do not know...

Father, our ignorance of Your Word is the source of much confusion and misunderstanding in the Church today. For all that I have seen and heard myself - writing incessantly on the topic of idolatry as it impedes our full submission to Christ today, it is of no use - even to those who read what I write - if they remain ignorant of Your Word. May we get serious with Your Word so that we can, in fact, remember what the holy prophets of long ago said AND what Jesus commanded... So be it.