Tolstoy, after Rousseau, on Knowledge and Wisdom

“Real wisdom is not the knowledge of everything, but the knowledge of which things in life are necessary, which are less necessary, and which are completely unnecessary to know. Among the most necessary knowledge is the knowledge of how to live well, that is, how to produce the least possible evil and the greatest goodness in one’s life. At present, people study useless sciences, but forget to study this, the most important knowledge.”

Jesus Is Our Light

“For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” [2 Cor 4:6 NASB]

“Science” comes from mid-14th Century Latin word (scire) meaning “to know” or “acquire by study.” One reason science is so enjoyable is that human knowledge is always playing catch-up to what God has already said and done. Take for example the surprising results of exploring light.

Science found that light consists of three rays, or groups of wavelengths, and each ray is distinct from the other. There would be no light if any one of these rays or wavelengths were missing as each ray has its own separate function that affects the whole:
  • The first ray, “invisible light” is neither seen nor felt yet this first ray is the origin of light.
  • The third ray or wavelength is also invisible, but is felt as heat.
  • The second ray makes light both seen and felt.
Again, science discovers nothing new. Science only confirms what scripture already teaches:
  • God (immortal, invisible, the only wise) in light inaccessible, hid from our eyes commanded light with a word at creation.
  • He is the same who shines in our dark hearts (we can feel His Spirit move with the heat of conviction) for the purpose of giving us knowledge (“science”) that among other things, the Creator and the Savior are the same person.
  • John affirms with the eyewitnesses Jesus as being both seen and felt as He lived here on earth! He is not the one who brings light--He is the light.
Jesus, The Church Builder, does not have us groping about in darkness trying to figure things out about spiritual matters, nor does He leave us groping about the in which we live. The Master Builder installed LIGHT, so we can see what is plainly before us! Nothing is hidden, secret when it comes to Him.

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