"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." –Proverbs 1:7
Adam and Eve walked with the Lord. They spoke to him in person, in the flesh. They did not need to read His instructions and question if they were reading them with accuracy. They heard for themselves and had full knowledge of what the guidelines for life were: "You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden or you will die." Seems pretty straightforward. Instructions with the consequence clearly laid out.
So what happened??? The truth got "muddled". Muddled truth is a term I use often. It's what happens when the opposing world's views mix in with the clear truth of God's word (his instructions). You get something that still looks like the truth, sounds so very similar to the truth, but it fits into our world with greater ease, not making any waves that can often times feel uncomfortable to our self pleasing natures. For Eve, an outside voice began to muddle the truth and knowledge she had. Even though she knew very well what the LORD, her creator, had said she allowed her ears to be tickled, tempted by something that sounded similar but offered more, offered a possible deeper explanation of the simple instruction she and Adam had gotten from the LORD. What harm could really come of something that sounded so innocent: "You will not surely die, for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." A partial truth (muddled truth-which really isn't truth at all) that caused Eve to turn away from the knowledge of the truth she had lived with and to abandon the discipline she and her husband had shown by previously obeying God's instructions. It wasn't till after they bought into the lie and partook of the muddle truth that they learned the full consequence of their actions, not just on their lives but on all humanity.
So what does this have to do with us? How can this help us as we start our journey into reading the bible in a year? I believe it shows us the great importance of reading God's word and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, knowing the unspoiled truths and instructions that the word holds for us. As I said, Adam and Eve walked and talked with the Lord. His full power and glory were on display for them in a way no other human has every known. Their knowledge of the Lord, their fearful understanding of His power is unmatched. From the LORD's mouth to their ears, there was no doubt in them. They lived in disciplined obedience to the one they knew intimately yet one simple moment, one small lie from the enemy in the world muddied the waters of truth and caused them to sip from it and fall. That same enemy whom the word calls "crafty" still crawls about with the same desire and motives as that first deceptive lie. I dare say that he has had much practice in muddling the truth, in dirtying it in such a way that we can and often are caught up in its deception and stumble. Not just those who call ourselves children of faith but the world as a whole.
Why is it so important for us to read God's word daily and to mediate on it, to discuss it, to let it soak into our hearts and mind? It is our best defense in being able to recognize the muddled truth that is growing in the world and to speak against it. Our knowledge and fear of the LORD, our wisdom and discipline of God's word is not something for us to hoard for ourselves but to share with a world who drinks of the muddled truth that the enemy so eagerly desires it to consume.
Today is day two of our journey towards wisdom through the discipline of reading God's world every single day. Let us encourage each other in doing so and help us grow stronger in the pure truth of the word.
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