Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge

Happy Sabbath!

It is another week and I trust that God has been gracious to you in the last week.

This week we look at distractions that keep God's people from obtaining a saving knowledge of Him.

Just before his crucifixion, Jesus spoke with the disciples about the last day events.

In His speech was repeated the warning about deception. In Matthew 24, the subject of deception has been mentioned four times.

“4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

“11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”

“23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

25 Behold, I have told you before.” Matthew 24:4,5 11, 23-25.

In the last days, deception shall be the trademark of the devil. His goal shall be to deceive even the very elect. We are living in the last days. 

Prophet Daniel predicted that in the last days shall be tribulations, and knowledge shall increase:

“1And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

“4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Daniel 12:1, 4.

Thus we have two elements of the last days. One is that many shall be deceived, even the very elect. The other is that knowledge shall be increased. How contradicting are these conditions?

Indeed we live in an era of information explosion. Man has increased in knowledge, inventions in industry, medicine, and space exploration, in transportation and agriculture. We see developments that have improved the quality of life for many people.

Especially in the area of communication man can span the globe in a very short time. Knowledge has indeed been increased. The advent of the Internet has greatly increased the accessibility of information in nearly every subject, and has enabled people to easily interact across thousands of miles. Social media has changed the way people relate to each other removing the barriers of distance.

In addition many books including the Bible and Spirit of prophecy have been digitized and are easily available online. Sermons can now be recorded and stored for later listening; the electronic media makes it possible to watch sermons in real-time at the convenience of your home or smart phone.

Has this led to an increase in the knowledge of God and higher spiritual experience?

Sadly the words of prophet Hosea ring even louder:

“Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. 2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

“6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:1,2, 6.

Hosea was describing conditions in Israel similar to the conditions in the last days. Amid all the evil we see around and inspite of the increase in knowledge spoken of by Prophet Daniel, yet God’s people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. How can it be that in an age of advanced technology and many innovations, yet people are destroyed for lack of knowledge?

The devil is not sleeping. For while the Gospel is being preached to every nation for a witness, and the Holy Scriptures once scarce due to persecution are now prevalent in almost every language, yet the devil is keeping the people of the last days busy that they are virtually ignorant of the them.

As the word of God is being preached, the devil has increased the number of distractions. 

- Corrupted Bible translations

- False doctrines

- Social media

- TV and Radio entertainments

- Magazines

- Sports and games

- Social functions and gatherings

- Drugs 

Corrupted Translations 

Without getting familiar with reading the Bible on your own, slowly you loose the habit of private Bible study. In addition, you may not be able to notice the corruptions in the numerous translations available today.

Since the turn of the 20th century there have arose numerous Bible Translations. Prior to this period Christians have always had one Bible translated from the Received Text. The Bible was translated to different languages by the Waldenses, the early Reformers like Martin Luther and Tyndale . For English speaking countries they have used King James Version of 1611. But in 1881 there was set up a Review Committee which came up with a revised Greek Text but which was essentially the work of two Oxford Professors, Westcott and Hort. This text was based from a collection of corrupted manuscripts, the Alexandrian, Vaticanus and Sinaticus texts, all of which even though claimed to be ancient, had been rejected by early Christians because of their corruptions. All new translations with the exception of King James and New King James Version are based on this revised New  Greek Text.

Unfortunately this Revised New Greek Text omits many words from the original text and promotes New Age doctrines. We covered some of these materials last year but for the sake of those who did not attend, I will just give two examples. We shall hopefully return to this subject in detail in another discussion later this year.

An example is a verse we encountered in the current Collegiate Quarter 1 lesson 7 Sunday February 9th 2014, the author quotes Mark 2:14

“17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” New International Version.

But in the King James version Jesus is talking about repentance for sinners.

“17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” King James Version.

Similarly the Adult Lesson Quarter 1, Thursday February 9th 2014, refers to Matthew 9:13:

“13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” New International Version.

The King James Version states:

“13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” King James Version.

The words “to repentance” are clearly left out in nearly all translations except King James Version. Yet these words change the whole meaning and thrust of Jesus’s message. Repentance is defined as a sorrow for sin and a turning away from it. Without repentance, we are preaching cheap grace and salvation in your sins. The early gospel call by the apostles was “repent and be baptized”. You would not notice such errors if you do not read the Bible for yourself and have the correct version with you.

Nearly all translations have truncated the Lord’s prayer of Mathew 6:9-13. They omit the last part: “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

There are many countless changes in the new translations that deny the deity of Jesus Christ, the Atonement, the judgment, and some even promote vile practices, which God calls abominations.

The safest option is to obtain a copy of the original King James Version. Jesus said: “It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Luke 4:4.

False Doctrines

Without diligent Bible study, one may not be able to detect false doctrines being pushed into our churches. 

One of the common erroneous doctrines is that the commandments are no longer valid, especially the fourth commandment which instructs us to “Remember the Sabbath day to Keep it Holy”.

In Revelation 22:14 we are told: “14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

The Law of God is immutable and Jesus says that not one jot or tittle shall pass from the law, even if the heavens and earth pass away.

“17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:18.

Jesus told his disciples that if we love God, we must keep his commands. 

“15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” John 14:15-17.

Total obedience to God’s law is evidence of the faith that is accompanied with works. Jesus lived a sinless life to show us that we can do the same with the power of His Holy Spirit. To teach that obedience to God’s law is not possible is to believe Satan’s accusation that God’s law cannot be kept. Jesus’s victorious life debunked this error and testified to the whole universe that man can obey the commandments of God. 

We are therefore called to follow after Jesus Christ in total obedience to the commandments through faith in His power to keep us from falling.

As we daily connect with him in prayer and Bible study, our character will be molded after His and we shall grow to be more and more like him till the perfect day.

Other worldly distractions

With current technological distractions, the tantalizing political innuendos, constant streams of gossip and tale-telling called news channels, we have been kept so engrossed that spiritual matters of eternal significance pass us easily. 

Sports with the latest premier league matches keep many people glued to their TV sets. How many times have youth instead of coming back for afternoon AYS gone to the stadiums to watch the latest soccer matches, or are glued to their TV sets watching the English Premieur legue?

Social Media

Social media with endless chatting and exchange of messages and photos keep the youth permanently on their phones online. When they are not online, their ears are plugged with the latest rock music, feeding their brains with doctrines of the devil. 

The appetite for studying the word of God is lost and Church service is boring. In the process many are ignorant of truth in the midst of increased knowledge.

Prophecy is thus fulfilled that in the last days the devil shall deceive if possible the very elect.

As the remnant church, we have been entrusted with the Gospel truth to preach to a dying world. Should the Lord come and find us napping like the foolish virgins? Should we follow the pattern of the modern world, fixated with its distractions and entertainments when we should be burning the mid-night lamp studying the word of God ready to share it to a starving soul? Should we be busy with facebook, twitter, Whatsup sharing vanities and sweet nothings, worshiping self, stars and other idols when we should be reading the book Great Controversy to see how the last day events are being fulfilled and how we should be getting ready for the final confrontation?

As the devil keeps us busy, time is matching on. Probation is closing. Jesus Christ is in the Most Holy place performing the last work of atonement. We should be fasting and afflicting our souls that our sins should be forgiven and cleansed. When He leaves the Sanctuary the call will sound:

“11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Rev 22:11,12.

“34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

What surely is it that one can give in exchange for his soul? The things of this world will come to pass. The vanities and pursuits of this evil world are for a moment. But Jesus Christ has purchased for us Eternal life, at the cost of his death of the cross. How can we despise such a great gift, and exchange it for the temporal vanities of this world? How can we trade off such great treasure for the folly of this world?

Dear friend re-consider your life. What really counts? Is it to gain the whole world and loose your soul in eternal death, or is it loose this world in exchange for a life with God forever?

Heaven is real. The devil’s third temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, he still presents to us today. All the kingdoms of this world he will give us, if only we bow down and worship him. Shall we continue worshipping in the devil’s altar in exchange for the kingdoms and things of this world?

Should not the remnant say with the Hebrew boys that we shall worship only the true God, the real owner of all things?

Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve. But more importantly serve the living God. Meditate upon His word day and night. Spend time reading the Testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of Prophecy. Prayerfully think trough the last day events and see how prophecy is fast fulfilling. Share it with your brother, sister, workmate classmate. Wouldn’t you like them to be with you in eternity?

May God’s power guide you to avoid the modern distractions of the devil and spend your precious time on that which really matters, the salvation of your soul and that of others. For this really is the commission given by our savior Jesus Christ.

Have a blessed week.

Sammy Buruchara

Nairobi Central SDA Church