When we meet as professionals, often times we talk about the weather, sports, vacation experiences and sometimes family. It always amazes me how we talk about everything under the sun, but we never talk about things to do with eternity. Why is this the reality?
It appears to me that this is because different people have different understanding of what eternity entails. Personally, I desire to change the narrative and the focus of our talk when we meet. There is a need to check each other out and where we stand regarding eternity. For me the best people to begin with are my fellow intellectuals, academics, and corporate CEOs. I have a particular interest in these people because they are the ones I have related to during much of my life.
Did you know that we, who are highly educated need to work extra hard to discover Jesus Christ, his plan of salvation and what he accomplished in order to save humanity? You cannot, by reason of being educated, think that you will easily understand the plan of salvation. The reality is that the most educated amongst us risk being ignorant of the gospel and the teachings of Jesus Christ, and therefore, risk being doomed. Listen to what Jesus said,
“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Matthew 11:25).
By design the gospel is hid from those who consider themselves wise and prudent, those who are very educated and think they cannot be advised by a Bible teacher. Therefore, for the highly educated you need to apply extra effort to understand the gospel and the plan of salvation. That may mean diligently studying the Bible in secret if you are not bold enough and proud to carry the Bible in public.
The man Nicodemus represents all those who are highly educated and too proud to openly confess the man of Galilee Jesus Christ. Listen to John’s account!
“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
“Nicodemus saith unto him, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
“Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.”
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:1-16).
Generally, the less educated and poor people gravitate naturally to God without much reasoning. To them God is their only hope. This is so, because the educated and rich mistreated, or had no respect, or abused the poor. So, when Christ came, he identified himself more with the poor. But his aim was to save humanity comprising both the poor and the rich. Whereas there seems to be no barrier between the poor and Jesus Christ, much education and wealth seems to be a barrier between the educated and wealthy and Jesus Christ. Listen! the highly educated and the wealthy have to humble themselves in order to find and get to Jesus Christ. Here is James’ admonition, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." James 4:10.
There is nothing wrong about a highly educated person or CEO of a billion dollar corporation or president of a country going to work and humming the hymn Give Me the Bible:
"Give me the Bible,
all my steps enlighten,
Teach me the danger of these realms below,
That lamp of safety,
o’er the gloom shall brighten,
That light alone the path of peace can show."
In as much as all our knowledge gained through much education will pass away, the admonition about God's word is:
“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” Isaiah 40:8
In life, education becomes real when it leads to clear understanding of the word of God. Today, discover and cling on to that which will last forever. Something that will remain relevant even after your retirement. As your fellow learned scholar, I commend to you the word of God!!!
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth,” 2 Timothy 2:15.
My dear TwCN reader connect yourself to God by personally studying His word. Discover for yourself what the Bible says. Experience the power of God’s word by doing what it says. I invite you to study the awesome themes of the books of Daniel and Revelation.
Particularly investigate:
• The Great Statue of Daniel 2
• The Four Beasts of Daniel 6 And 7
• The 2300 Days of Daniel 8
• The Seven Churches of Revelation 2 And 3
• The Seven Seals of Revelation 6
• The Angelic War in Heaven of Revelation 12
• The Two Beasts of Revelation 13
• The Three Angels Messages of Revelation 14
• The Fate of the Dragon, the Beast and the False Prophet of Revelation 19
• The Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20
Make sure you grasp these great themes of Bible prophecy before you start despising God’s word to your own destruction. Much love! TwCN.
