Revealed

Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

Isaiah 56:1 Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.

Now suppose someone painted a painting and gave it to you. You took the painting and measured it's height and width and weight, then examined the surface with a microscope to discover the intricate brush strokes, analyzed the pigments to discover the type of paint used. You would know a lot about that painting, but the one thing that all that investigation would never show you is, Why? Why did the person that gave me this painting paint it to begin with? Why did they give it to me? The only way you can answer those types of questions is to ask the painter. In other words, they have to reveal that knowledge to you.

There are two types of knowledge. There is empirical knowledge that you gain through your senses. It is objective, and can be shown to be the same for everyone. The other type of knowledge is revealed knowledge. As my example shows, both types of knowledge are valid. However, most people in the world concentrate on the first and ignore the second. We are told over and over that only the first type of knowledge is good. Revealed knowledge, if accepted at all, is considered uncertain, unverifiable, and not as important. This is another difference between those of the world and those who are children of God.

Those of the world assume that all knowledge is objective and empirical. Anything that is other than that is just opinion or imagination. It's not real. Well, I beg to differ. The revelation of the painter of his intent is just as real as any measurements of the painting I can make. The objection that is raised is that the empirical knowledge is verifiable whereas the revealed knowledge is not. Well, let's see about that.

To begin with, empirical knowledge is only as good as the measuring instrument you use. It is always an approximation. The more accurate the measuring instrument, the better the result. However, there is always a limit to how small or large of a thing we can measure and there seems there is never an end to it. Just when someone thinks they have gotten to the smallest particle, they discover that can be divided also. So, on and on it goes to infinitely smaller things.

In addition, there is the problem of when you are taking the measurement and where you are looking to make the measurement. Say you are sitting in a room where someone is flipping the light on and off. Every time the light comes on you see a white ball sitting in front of you. Of course, when the light is off, you can't see it at all. Now, here's the interesting thing. Is the ball still there when the light is off? Is it always the same color? Does it stay in one place or does it move around when the light is off? You see the problem? So empirical knowledge has its limits. What the person studying the ball has to do is apply some assumed universal law. For example, we say that an object at rest remains at rest unless acted on. Since there doesn't appear to be anything in the room to act on the ball, we assume it didn't move or change. But, that's only an assumption.

Now what about revealed knowledge of intent? Because of the nature of revelation, it must be true unless the person revealing that knowledge is attempting to deceive you. You see, only the painter really knows why he painted the painting. If he wants to lie and deceive me I have no way of knowing for sure. Other than that, I must treat it as the truth. If we could find a source of revelation that never lies, then whatever that source reveals to us can be acted on with total confidence. There is no empirical knowledge of the world that can match that. Get the picture?

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

All the empirical knowledge in the world will never tell you anything about why there is a world and why you are here in it. You have only two choices here. Either you can just make up your own reason, or, the one who created it all can reveal it to you. All the complex arguments about Jesus that the world wants to make are useless unless there is revealed knowledge from the one who never lies.

Matthew 16:15-17 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 11:25-27 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

We, as children of the Living God have no need to apologize to the world for the knowledge we have been given. This is the way it is for Lambs and the world does not, nor will it ever understand. Those of the world will attempt to confuse and disorient the children of God with all their ideas. The "revelations" of men are not to be trusted. Men lie, cheat, and steal in order to gain some material advantage. Be on your guard against their lies. But, just remember that the revelation of Father through Jesus, His Son, is more true and more accurate and more powerful than anything in this world. We can trust that word, and that trust in His Word is what we call "faith." It is not blind belief or wishful thinking, but sure knowledge. When God says, "IT IS SO" we can act without hesitation because of the truth of His revealed Word.