Retaining a Knowledge of God

The Apostle Paul describes what happens to us when we fail to retain a knowledge of God. It isn’t pretty. As we push God out of our thoughts, He allows us to act according to our own desires and intentions. As we continue to neglect His ways, we become indifferent to them. Over time, our thinking becomes futile. Our minds are filled with depravity.

The depraved mind is reckless. It is unconcerned with the consequences of poor choices and wanton behavior. It births attitudes and actions that are filled with things like greed, envy, strife, deceit, murder, gossip, arrogance, rudeness, and things that are unnatural. Romans 1:28-31. Laid bare before the standard of God’s Holiness, such things make us worthy of death. And we know it.

How can we escape the grip of indifference? How do we steer clear of depravity’s pull? We must actively pursue a knowledge of God and work diligently to retain it. Pursuing a knowledge of God isn’t difficult as there are two realms in which He is easily found. Nature and Scripture.

Paul tells us that nature openly reveals two of God’s foremost invisible qualities: His eternal power and divine nature. Romans 1:19-20. Indeed, as we examine the complexities and intricacies of life, we learn that God is a being of infinite creativity and wisdom, one that cannot be fully comprehended. All that we see, hear, touch, and tastes speaks of His ingenuity and loving concern for us.

Outside of the physical world, Scripture testifies to God’s character and integrity. It conveys His desires for how He wishes us to live. It delineates how He judges our hearts and actions. Most importantly, it explains the Way of redemption found in His Son, Jesus.

So, as we acquire a knowledge of God by considering nature and studying Scripture, how do we retain it? 1) We recall it. 2) We recount it. 3) We remember it. 4) And we rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to help us do so. At first glance, these actions may seem similar. Yet each is unique in substance and advantage. Let’s take a look!

To recall a knowledge requires that one meditate upon it. Psalm 77:12 states, “I will meditate on all Your work, and on Your deeds with thanksgiving.” Meditation begins when we give the full attention of our minds to the specific knowledge we wish to retain. Shutting out all distractions, we focus on its meaning. Yielding the proper amount of time, we ponder it thoroughly, considering its origins, causes, and effects.

We then recount this knowledge by repeating the substance of it…over and over. As it flows readily from our lips in purposeful fashion, it finds a firm footing in the memory banks of our minds. Should we take the time to write it down, journal about it or share it with others we engage in even deeper, more meaningful recollection. (Science confirms one of the best ways to retain knowledge is to teach it.)

Just how often should we recall and recount the knowledge of God we acquire? Joshua 1:8 offers guidance: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.” According to this passage, any time of day offers a right time to reflect upon what we learn about God. By sunlight, candlelight or no light at all, we can, and should, engage in this process.

This brings us to another action required for retention: remembrance. To remember a specific Truth, one must act in accordance with it or upon it. Some might call this application. Think about the Fourth Commandment. How do we remember the Sabbath? We keep it holy. How do we remember the poor and needy? We give to them. It is in the living out of a specific knowledge about God that we find evidence the same has become a stronghold in our hearts and minds.

Whether we are recalling, recounting or remembering, we should always be relying on the power of the Holy Spirit to help us in our retention efforts. For Jesus promised us that the Spirit, our Advocate and Comforter, would teach us and remind us of all Truth…of everything He taught. John 14:26. Sometimes, a simple prayer “Holy Spirit, please remind me of what I learned” can help you regain the right perspective on an issue. I can say with confidence that He’s always been willing to help me lose my mind in order to gain His!