“PERHAPS HE KNOWS TOO MUCH,” so suggests one of the animated pirates on The Pirate’s of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland. The travelers had “seen the cursed treasure,” and now had to pay dearly for the knowledge they possessed. Yep, too much knowledge is not good for you, or at least too much of the wrong kind of knowledge.
Knowledge got Adam and Eve in trouble…and that trouble has been passed on throughout the ages. But it’s not just any kind of knowledge that gets us in deep water, it is the knowledge we seek so that we can “be as God.” It was this promised knowledge that Satan promised to the first couple, and it is the same knowledge that tempts us today.
Throughout the history of humankind we have sought knowledge that would some how push beyond our need to humbly confess our dependence upon God. Be it in the arenas of science, medicine, finance or psychology, we believe that we can really know enough so we can take care of ourselves. Even in the spiritual arenas of our lives we hope to find just the right knowledge so to have all the questions of faith answered. History is replete with groups, like the Gnostics, who were always looking for that “special knowledge” that would answer all the questions, and move them closer to God, or in the worse sense, be like God.
Not all knowledge is wrong. In fact, to not know the truth about God is harmful. The issue before us is gathering the correct knowledge, and with the wisdom to know best how to apply that knowledge to our lives. It’s one thing to know what the buried treasure consists of and where it can be found, it’s quite another thing to be able to acquire the treasure and put it to good use.
I believe it is a great time, at the start of this new year, to head out on that treasure hunt. We know what the treasure is (to know God) and we know where it can be found (in His Word) all we need do know is start digging.
Grab a shovel and let’s get to it!