IF there are men who vainly boast of knowing nothing, there are nevertheless those who can, as taught by the word and Spirit of God, say—and this not vauntingly— “We know.” But what is it that these know? They know that once they were walking in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that was in them. But out of this darkness and ignorance they have been brought, through belief in the Saviour who has come—who came to seek and to save the lost. “We know,” says the apostle John— “WE KNOW that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding that we may know him, that is true; and we are in him, that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life (1 John 5:2020And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)). “And as He, the sent one of the Father, is eternal life,” so also is it true, as He himself declares, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou didst send.”
It is not the knowledge of the world that gives happiness or satisfaction. A hundred and fifty years ago there lived a distinguished nobleman of brilliant accomplishments. Advantaged in every way—by birth, education, travel, position and wealth—he acquired a knowledge of the world, for he drank deeply of its fascinating but poisonous pleasures. And he brought up his son to know the same. But the world failed to satisfy. This is his own testimony: “I have seen,” said he, “the silly rounds of business and of pleasure, and have done with them all. I have enjoyed all the pleasures of the world, and consequently know their futility, and do not regret their loss. I appraise them at their real value, which is, in truth, very low. Whereas, those that have not experienced always overrate them. They only see the gay outside, and are dazzled at the glare. But I have been behind the scenes. I have seen all the coarse pullies and dirty ropes which exhibit and move the gaudy machines, and I have seen and smelt the tallow candles which illuminated the, whole decoration to the astonishment of the ignorant audience. When I reflect on what I have seen, what I have heard, and what I have done, I can hardly persuade myself that all that frivolous hurry of bustle and pleasure of the world had any reality. But I look upon all that is past as one of those romantic dreams, which opium commonly occasions; and I do by no means desire to repeat the nauseous dose, for the sake of the fugitive dream. Shall I tell you that I bear this melancholy situation with that meritorious constancy and resignation which most people boast of? No, for I really cannot help it. I bear it, because I must bear it, whether I will or no! I think of nothing but killing time the best way I can, now that he has become my enemy. It is my resolution to sleep in the carriage during the remainder of my journey.” “Truly the way of transgressors is hard.”
Fifty years later there lived another who tried the world, and wrote these words: “He that knows a little of the world will admire it enough to fall down and worship it; but he that knows it most will most despise it.” And this professed gamester, who in the short space of two years had gained as much as £25,000 came to blow out his brains, although he had written— “The gamester, if he die a martyr to his profession, is doubly ruined. He adds his soul to every other loss, and by the act of suicide renounces earth to forfeit heaven.”
“What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” is the soul-searching question of the Lord Jesus. Will you not be warned before it is too late? Despise not His warning, I pray you; but bow to His word and judgment against yourself, and receive God’s gift of eternal life.
Over the portico of the Delphian shrine of Apollo were once written in Greek, in golden letters, the oft-quoted words, “Know thyself.” This is a wiser precept of man than to know the world. But, my friend, you cannot truly know yourself until you know God. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the holy (or, holy things) is understanding.” “Acquaint,” then, “thyself WITH HIM, and be at peace; thereby good shall come unto thee.”