For Lack of Knowledge

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 17, 1909

"For Lack of Knowledge."

HISTORY repeats itself. Humanity swings in cycles. The same great waves of temptations and iniquity sweep away thousands to destruction as they were swept away centuries agone. The same general conditions which exist now existed in lesser degree ages ago. The same antidote of God for the evil then is practical and effective now. The same solemn warnings then given, the same sad truths then told, are true now. An instance of this is given in the word of the Lord by the son of Beeri to ancient Israel:

"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 also will forget thy children. As they were multiplied, so they sinned against Me: I will change their glory into shame." Hosea 4: 6, 7.

The words are as true to-day as they were seven centuries before Christ. God's people!—those who profess His name,—God's people "destroyed," when all the powers of the universe are enlisted on their behalf!

Infinitely sad, isn't it? Yet God will not compel salvation nor the conditions requisite. He will do infinite things to save men, but He can not save against the human desire, the human choice, the human will.

God's people are destroyed because they will not know the loving God's will, the wise God's power, the mighty God's love. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." They might have known; for He has "made known" His will. The simple may know it; for the simple have learned it in all the ages of the past. The meek may know it; for "the meek will He teach His way." The wise may know it; for "the wise shall understand;" and "the fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom." How deplorably, infinitely sad, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."

That knowledge pertains to His law. "Thou hast forgotten the law of thy God." His law in Christ Jesus is the law of life. Living from God, yet forgetting His law! He spoke it from heaven. He wrote it on two tables of stone. It has been recorded in the Scriptures, and multiplied millions of times. It was written in His Son Jesus Christ. He has written it in the lives of some of His children. Yet have His people forgotten it. And the more they are multiplied and builded up by blessings from God, the more they sin against Him. They are separating God from them. They are hiding Him from their children, they are turning His blessings to curses. He has made the great Christian church His priest to those who know Him not; and "the priest's lips should keep knowledge; and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Jehovah of hosts. But ye are turned aside out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble in the law." Mal. 2: 7, 8.

How true it is! Take the world-wide agitated Sabbath question. The day is commanded of God. Christ Jesus our perfect Example observed it. A knowledge of His will would lead us to the truth of precept and example. How easy would it be for the great Protestant churches to lead the people.

But the churches have forgotten the law, have refused to receive it at God's mouth, and "have caused many to stumble in His law." If God would preserve His truth, what else can He do than to turn aside from such a priest, and ask others to give His message—His last great threefold message of reform. Rev. 14: 6-14.

Yet, brother, sister, Christian soldier, it is so easy if we desire to do God's will as well as know. The willingness to do precedes the knowing. "If any man willeth to do His [the Father's] will, he shall know." Salvation, full, complete, glorious, is ours if we choose.