“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves.…Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”– 2 Timothy 3:1, 2a, 7, KJV
Paul the apostle penned these words in his second epistle to Timothy. And I believe we are living in those days today. That is, many people are ever learning but failing to come to know the truth.
These days, we are experiencing an explosion of knowledge about God and His works. Archeological findings shed valuable light on cultures dating back to biblical times. Through our many Bible colleges and seminaries, we can obtain advanced degrees in religious studies and theology.
But as I read the Bible, it seems as if men such as Moses, Abraham and David were more attuned to God than we are today. And they did not have access to the vast amount of knowledge we have.
So, against the backdrop of our explosion of knowledge, we seem to be moving increasingly farther from God. Scientists can find their way to Mars, but many faithful churchgoers can’t find their way to God. We can look in a dictionary or encyclopedia and learn the definition of nearly any imaginable term. But even some religious leaders find themselves struggling with the biblical definition of a family.
For many today, they are ever learning but failing to know the truth.
How We Come to Know the Truth
“If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free,” Jesus says (John 8:31-32, NASB). These words hold the key to how we come to know the truth.
To continue in His Word, we must do more than simply learn the Word of God. We must abide in those truths we learn until we experience them firsthand.
For instance, it’s one thing to know that the Bible says we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Or more accurately, Paul says that concerning himself (Philippians 4:13). But it’s another thing to embrace and apply what Paul says to your own life until you personally experience the reality of that truth.
The point is that learning upon learning of biblical facts is not how you come to know the truth. Rather, you must apply those truths by making them a part of your daily life.
I know that some of the greatest biblical truths that have come to light for me were obtainable only through the ministry challenges I experienced. As my faith was tested, I was forced to trust God and continue in His Word.
The mistake many churchgoers make is they regard Christianity as merely a religion when it is in fact a way of life. As such, the goal is not to study the Bible or listen to a sermon just to become more religiously informed. Rather, to believe and live out the Word so you will know the truth of it. In turn, “the truth will make you free.”
The Bible advises us to be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only (James 1:22). But many choose to do the latter. These are they who are “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Copyright © 2024 by Frank King. All rights reserved.