LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE (4)

“And you shall KNOW the TRUTH, and the truth shall make you free” – John 8:32

The LIGHT of KNOWLEDGE is a major Key to enjoying Liberty in Life: “if you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall KNOW the TRUTH, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8: 31-32). In the context of this scripture, it is not just the Truth, but the KNOWLEDGE of the Truth that makes free. It is the Truth that we’ve grown to know that makes the difference. We acquire knowledge in the process of learning. Knowledge is the sum of what we have perceived, discovered, become aware of or learned. Learning culminates in Knowledge. And the more we abide with a person and absorb his or her words, the more we get to know the person.

We’re referring in this case, to the Person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God – “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (Jh.14:6). So, to be a disciple or follower of Jesus means to abide in His Word. That infers that His Word fills us; our lives revolve around His Word. His Word is Truth (Jh.17:17). And we all want to base our lives on truth, not on lies. Nobody wants to build a false or faulty foundation for life. It takes knowing the Truth to live in true freedom and liberty. Of course, freedom does not mean simply choosing to do whatever we want to do irrespective of its consequences. That would be slavery to sin and to self. The Lord Jesus came to give us freedom from sin, self, and Satan.

God wants us to abide in His Word because He loves us and KNOWS better than us what is best for our lives. He wants us to live in freedom which is found in hearing and abiding in His Word, living according to the Word, and experiencing life according to His perfect design. He’ll help us to learn and see abiding in His Word, not just as a discipline we must do, but as the key to experiencing freedom, and walking in the life that we’re created and called to walk in. God will help us to meditate on His word day and night, read, study, obey, and walk in the Word. As we do, we’ll live, not based on the pattern of the world, but on truth from God’s Word. That’s what guarantees real freedom and liberty.

Adam and Eve did not know what was best for their lives. They believed a lie and it sent them into slavery to sin, fear, and shame. Everyone wants freedom, but few realize the place of Knowing the Truth. All of Jesus’ Words point to Him. We know Him through His Word; hence He concluded: “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (v.36). Our personal knowledge of Jesus goes deeper and deeper, always through His Word. We see His Face most clearly through His Word (2Cor.4:6).