THE CURE FOR IGNORANCE

John 14:23-2723 If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me will not obey My teaching. These words you hear are not My own; they belong to the Father who sent Me. 25 All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counselor, the HolySpirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

One word that really seems to bother people today is obey. Those who live in democratic societies in particular are turned off by obedience. It smacks of slavery or the rule of some superior over one who is considered less important--perhaps even expendable, like the famous "light brigade" immortalized by the poet Tennyson.

They were a hapless military unit ordered by mistake into the range of heavy artillery. His words speak of their truly care-less obedience: "Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die.

" Freedom to act for oneself is the keystone of democracy. But it's also one of liberty's great limitations: Being free to act while being ignorant of the best way to act is risky. Often it's even fatal.

That's why biblical obedience is a different thing. From the Bible--and from experience--we know how truly ignorant we are of many harsh realities that are beyond our grasp. We're like children who are kept safe by obedience to their parents. Toddlers keep away from fire and stay out of the street, not because they understand the inherent dangers but because they obey their parents. They trust their parents to look out for them and for their interests.

While knowledge is a remedy for some types of ignorance, obedience is the remedy for much spiritual ignorance. We simply cannot know what God knows, and because He has our interests at heart we know we're best served through obedience to His commands.

For children, health and survival is the reward of obedience. But listen to what the Bible says about the reward of our obedience to God: "If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him" (John 14:23).

That's good motivation to obey! --Dean Ohlman

DESTINATION POINTS

* Do I feel a rebellious twinge when I'm told I should "obey"? Doesthat rise more out of my sin nature or out of righteous indignation?
* Why does the Bible so often tell me to obey?

bottom line: Godly obedience overcomes spiritual ignorance.

soul journey