Not knowing the purpose of things leads to their abuse and then to suffering and pain

Greetings to you, dear friends! Praise God for this wonderful day that God has given us! Thank God for one more opportunity to be filled with His living word!Yesterday we talked about the Word of God being an immensely deep source of revelation, understanding and light; from him we can draw for ourselves wisdom and understanding for every area of human life. When we learn the truth that is laid out in His Word it makes us free, it gives us wise unto salvation, rejoices our hearts, keeps our feet from evil and makes us intelligent and discerning.Someone once said that not knowing the meaning and purpose of things leads to abuse, and when we misuse or abuse different things it creates various problems in our lives. For example:

• Abuse of food leads to gluttony, excessive weight, heart problems, clotting of arteries and many other illnesses.
• Abuse of different drugs leads and excessive interest in herbs and plants can lead to drug addiction, witchcraft and sorcery.
• Abuse of natural resources (rivers, forests, air, earth) and destroying the balance in nature leads to natural disasters.

So, not knowing the purpose of things leads to their abuse and then to suffering and pain.Besides, we talked about the fact that ignorance feeds lust that gives birth to sin and death. 

«..as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance» (1 Peter, 1: 14).

 This passage of Scripture confirms that lust is fed by ignorance. Addressing believers, Peter says that since they have become obedient they now should not live in compliance to their former lustful habits that they had developed in their ignorance. In order to live right and to make right decisions we need to obtain knowledge and understanding. When a person’s life is filled with knowledge it is like the sun shining in the darkness.Ignorance gives birth to lust, and lust causes suffering.  

«Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying: „Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” For this they wilfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwell. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless» (2 Peter, 3:3-14).

 In this passage of Scripture Apostle Peter talks about the dangers of ignorance and about what ignorance can lead to. People who do not know God and His Word laugh at the warnings that are contained in God’s Word. They do not pay attention to His commandments and His call to moral purity and they find excuses in different human findings and facts. But Peter says that such lifestyle so very often leads to sudden tragedies. Ignorant or inexperienced person will be punished for his ignorance. 

«A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; the simple pass on are punished» (Proverbs, 27:12).

 The Bible calls us to make an effort and to learn the ways and laws of God, because ignorance causes punishment and pain in human life. 

«And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting» (Romans, 1: 28).

 You must choose what people you will be counted with – with the prudent that fill their hearts with wisdom of God and follow it or with the simple whose life is filled with misery and suffering.God bless you!Till tomorrow!Pastor Rufus Ajiboye