“THEY DID NOT KNOW”

That phrase stands out to me as I evangelize to a world that knows what isn’t so. “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and KNOWEST NOT that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev 3:17; emph mine seb).

While reading Ezekiel recently I was struck by the frequency of another phrase. “Then SHALL THEY KNOW that I am the LORD their God” (emph seb). Seventy-Six times throughout Ezekiel, God makes this statement at the heals of impending judgment, restoration, or prophetic statements about Christ. It’s spoken to people who have rejected, ignored, or otherwise “DO NOT KNOW,” but ought to have known, God.

The problem remains today. Many do not know, but think they know. What they know aint so. That’s why we preach. Here are just a few things we should KNOW.

We need to Know that Christ is KING and is reigning now. “Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1Tim 6:15; cf Acts 2:34-36).

We need to Know NOT to love the world. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God” (Jas 4:4)?

We need to Know to OBEY His commandments. “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say” (Luke 6:46-49)? “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2Thess 1:8).

We need to Know how to WALK as Jesus WALKED. “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (1John 2:6).

Knowledge is power, but the right knowledge is the Power of God. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom 1:16).

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

Spencer