The other day in Bible class, a wise woman brought up some questions about the "knowledge of God." An interesting discussion ensued, with cross-references to many passages besides the Hosea one which instigated the topic. She had good things to say; Pastor had helpful points to add. But there was one little thing that bothered me: we were discussing whether it's too narrow to define the 'knowledge of God' as the cross of Jesus and His blood-bought forgiveness.
No, it's not too narrow. That's the right definition. To know God is to know and trust and rely upon that atonement.
But ... "narrow"?
I kept wondering whether the cross of Jesus can in any way be considered a narrow definition of anything. It is everything. The cross of Jesus is why Pharaoh's armies were drowned in the Red Sea. The cross of Jesus is why all those thousands (millions?) of lambs were sacrificed in the tabernacle and temple for centuries upon centuries. The cross of Jesus is why the universe holds together and the earth continues to produce fruit (Col 1:14-21). The cross of Jesus is our justification and our sanctification, our wisdom, our life and salvation.
Do you know what the TARDIS is? Doctor Who's home/spaceship looks like a telephone booth on the outside, but it's humongous on the inside.
Or think of the Weasleys' tent when they went camping at the World Quidditch Cup. It was bigger on the inside than on the outside. Hermione's bag in Deathly Hallows was the same way.
How much equipment is in that narrow police box known as the TARDIS? How much clothing and books and stuff could Hermione carry around in her bag? How many rooms and how much furniture fit into the Weasleys' tiny little tent?
Isn't Jesus' cross like that? Only more so? And real!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I am reminded of Woodstock's birdhouse--I think it's in "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown." On the outside it looks like a regular birdhouse, but on the inside it's a much larger luxury bachelor pad!
ReplyDelete