“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them” – 2 Timothy 3:14(KJV).
Irrespective of what we are passing through, apostle Paul admonishes us, like Timothy, to continue in the things we have learnt in Christ Jesus. What you have learnt is presumably what you will have knowledge of. In John 8:32(KJV) the bible says: “And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”. So it is the knowledge that you have that determines the extent of your liberty. Apostle Paul was encouraging Timothy that despite the continuous advancement of evil men and evil he (Timothy) should continue in or hold firm to those things that he learnt and has been assured of considering whom he learnt it from. Paul affirm from his own experience that all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. In times of economic, political and religious persecution and difficulties it is your knowledge of God’s word that will make a way for you. The question is what have you learnt and you are assured of? From whom did you learn? Paul began to further expand on what Timothy has learnt in 2 Timothy 3:15(KJV): “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which is able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus”. So knowledge of the holy scriptures produces the wisdom you need to navigate through the very rough terrain of life.
There are very dicey situations and circumstances in life when our academic qualification and money will fail. Under such situations and circumstances we cry out to God, but a situation where you have no knowledge of God, trusting and developing faith in him becomes a herculean task, for the bible says in Hebrew 11:6(KJV): “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”. This is the confidence that comes by knowledge which we gain by studying the word of God. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” – Romans 10:17(KJV). It is the knowledge of the righteous that gives him confidence to face life knowing that “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” – 1 John5:4. This is the faith that comes by studying and meditating on God’s word.
Remember that we are not expected to be victims of the deficiency of the world system considering that we the ambassadors of Christ. We have ambassadorial immunity of the host nation(world), being representatives of a far superior nation (heaven). As ambassadors we must have detail knowledge of our country, our rights and privileges to be able to exert our position on earth.
Conclusively, what you have learnt, been assured of and from whom you learnt it matters a lot. For a genuine Christian, we have learnt the holy scriptures, with its inherent assurances, as taught us by the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Truth. Jesus is the Truth, the Way and the Life. It is my hope that the reader of this meditational piece take out time to read the word of God to discover what Jesus has made available to him in redemption.
Prayer: Father by the Holy Ghost reveal your truth to the reader of this write up so as to adequately prepare him in navigating through the earth’s rough terrain.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo
