One line at a time ∙∙

One line at a time ∙∙

He tells us everything over and over – one line at a time – Isaiah 28:10

Isaiah 28:9-10

9 To whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message?
10 For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.

How do we discover new things?

Robert Jastrow famously wrote, “For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance, he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries” (Robert Jastrow, God and the Astronomers).

Jastrow’s words challenge the idea that modern science has all the answers. He suggests that while science is excellent at uncovering the mysteries of the universe, it has its limitations. Often, at its zenith, science faces questions that theologians and philosophers have long explored. His statement implies that science and theology are not mutually exclusive; instead, they are different perspectives through which humanity seeks to understand the universe.

How do we learn and acquire knowledge?

There are three main methods through which we learn and acquire knowledge. The first is through human reason, using intellect and trial and error to figure things out—this method is known as rationalism. The second is through experience—learning by doing, through observation and practice. This method is known as empiricism.

Revelation is another way to gain knowledge, a capability that exceeds human ability. For centuries, the Father has lovingly revealed truths that humanity could never uncover through reason or experience alone—truths regarding the nature of sin, the need for salvation, the origin of all that is, and the life and teachings of Christ.

To access this divine revelation, we must immerse ourselves in the Word of God, meditating on Scripture, studying, and listening for the Father’s voice. Without this, we cannot fully grasp the profound wisdom that He offers freely to the children of the King.

Sadly, many in our modern age reject the existence of God and dismiss the Bible as a source of valuable information and understanding. To them, it is merely literature, just a collection of stories, myths, and poetry. They fail to recognize its divine origin and life-giving wisdom.

Into this post-Christian, nontheistic age, we have been born. And until we are born again, we are the doomed, gloomy byproducts of our times. When the rulers of our age turned away from the Father and the Word of God, they lost the wisdom that comes only from the Father.

This loss of spiritual truth has profound consequences. Without the Father, humanity is left to rely on the wisdom of the world. James 3:15 warns, “This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.”

The term “earthly” translates the Greek term epigeous, from epi + ge, literally “on earth.” Such wisdom has its source in things that are “confined to the earth.” We are familiar with the concept of thinking “outside the box.” Earthly thinking is “inside the box.” It is extremely limited. Providing outcomes that are entirely earthly and worldly.

The Greek word psychike, translated as “natural,” speaks to an “instinctual, unspiritual way of reasoning.” William Barclay describes it as the kind of wisdom that makes an animal snap and snarl with no other thought than that of prey or personal survival, devoid of deeper purpose or morality.

Finally, the term daimoniodes, translated as “demonic,” points to the wisdom that originates not from God but from the evil one and his minions.

When humanity rejects the Father, it descends into a bleak and hopeless state. The prophet Isaiah captures this tragedy vividly in Isaiah 59:9-11: “There is no justice among us, and we know nothing about right living. We look for light but find only darkness. We look for bright skies but walk in gloom. We grope like the blind along a wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. Even at the brightest noontime, we stumble as though it were dark. Among the living, we are like the dead.”

The result is a world filled with darkness, resulting in aimless wandering without light or hope. Yet even in this bleakness, the Father offers a promise of salvation. Isaiah 9:2 proclaims, “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.” This light is the Lord Jesus Christ, Who dispels the gloom and leads us into truth.

REFLECT & PRAY

Life can be like a massive and delightful treasure hunt. Every day offers an opportunity to seek the Father’s truths and grow in understanding. Revelation is His gift, moving us beyond the limits of earthly knowledge and into the depths of divine wisdom.

Father, thank You for desiring to teach me directly and personally. Lead me in Your truth as I listen and grow in Your Word.

INSIGHT

Shadows and Reality

Without the Father’s guidance, our perception of reality is skewed. What we think and have come to “know” as real dictates what we believe can be real. We are shaped by our own limitations. Plato’s “Allegory of The Cave” illustrates this perfectly.

The story describes prisoners confined to a dark cave since childhood. They see only shadows flickering across the walls and accept these shadows as the entirety of reality. The cave represents the world in which many people live, mistaking shadows for reality and partial truths for the fullness of truth.

When one prisoner is freed, he observes the shadows and realizes they are merely two-dimensional reflections of real objects. Venturing out of the cave, he encounters the real world for the first time and recognizes how limited his understanding has been. Though now enlightened, if he were to return to the cave, his fellow prisoners would likely see him as confused or even deranged, unable to comprehend his new reality.

The Apostle Paul captures this idea in 1 Corinthians 13:12, saying, “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”

This passage challenges us to reflect on our own lives. Is our reality limited to darkness, shadows, and partial truths? Or do we live in the reality of the light of life? To borrow a line from X-files, “The truth is out there.”

The Truth That Frees Us

True freedom begins with recognizing the flaws in our perception of reality. John 8:32 proclaims, “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” To step into this freedom, we must first confront the limitations of our thinking and become discontent with darkness. Only then can we pursue the fullness of truth found in the Father.

Paul addresses the internal struggle for clarity and freedom in Romans 8:5-8. He writes, “Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So, letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.”

The grip of the sinful nature blinds us to true reality. Living in shadows, bound to worldly desires and selfish ambitions, leads to spiritual death. But the Spirit invites us to live in the light—a reality filled with life and peace, where we begin to see things rightly.

Stepping Into the Light

To move forward, we must recognize that our own understanding is limited and shaped by earthly and flawed perspectives. The Father calls us to step out of the cave and trust the Spirit to guide us.

The truth is not just “out there”—it is revealed through the Word of God, the teachings of Christ, and the Spirit’s work in our lives. Freedom comes when we seek the light and allow the Father to reshape our understanding. Only then can we shed the shadows of this world and live fully in the truth.

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© Dr. H 2025