by Phil Sanders

Helena Modjeska (1844-1909) was a popular actress with great emotional style and superb ability. She demonstrated this ability by giving a dramatic reading in Polish, her native tongue, at a dinner party. Her listeners, who didn’t understand the language, were in tears by the time she had finished. If they had known what she said, they would not have been so impressed. She had just recited the Polish alphabet.

Paul said some people are “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7). They may know a lot about religion, they may even know a lot about Christianity, but they are never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Paul said of his kinsman, the Jews, “that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness” (Rom. 10:2-3). It matters whether or not we know the things God teaches and whether we are willing to submit to it. We can never assume that because people know the truth they are willing to obey it.

The best thing we can do for others is to teach the truth, live honorable lives, love others, and be unafraid to speak out when we have opportunity. Give your friend a tract or a tape. Invite them to church. Say a good word about Jesus now and then. Never give up on them. There may be some event or some problem open their eyes to look for heavenly help, and you may be able to talk to them. Pray for God’s wisdom and God’s help.

We can live our lives in total commitment to the Lord. Paul told Timothy, “evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it” (2 Tim. 3:13-14). Though the whole world be ignorant, let us live as people who know and love God.