The Bigger Picture By Rayola Kelley

God’s Word makes it clear that we know in part. The great conflict is that for the most part we think we know what we need to know to be right in a matter, when in reality we know very little. There are those who perceive they have the proper knowledge to make sound judgments in all matters, and yet there are so many matters to consider that are unknown to us. We end up falling into the categories of ignorance by assuming a matter is so while becoming blind to truth by presuming that a falsehood is truth according to the prejudices of our arrogance. It is easy to become buried under endless details that not only change the picture but keeps one confused as to what is true (Matthew 13:22; 1 Corinthians 13:9).

There are the “experts” who can’t imagine someone knowing more than they do, and there are the “know-it-alls” that can’t be told anything at ALL. They are experts on all matters and if you don’t believe them, just give them a couple of minutes on the platform or bandwagon and they will tell you what you don’t know and what you need to know because they are quite impressed with what they think they know. (See 1 Corinthians 1:17-29). Are you confused yet by all of the “KNOWS” when it comes to the present insanity that is confronting us in our communities, as well as on a national and international level?

Sometimes I shake my head at the human race. Take me for example. There are things I know but for the most part I know very little about what I do know. Due to my limitations to know all things, I am aware that I possess a small measure of knowledge. That knowledge is only enlarged in a beneficial way when I use it in a constructive way. Through the years I have learned much about some things, but I have concluded that what I know is simply the tip of the iceberg. (See Romans 12:3, 16; 1 Corinthians 8:2, 10:12; and Galatians 6:3.)

God is all-knowing; therefore, knowledge of all things is endless to humanity and can lead into a black hole that consumes everything they thought they knew. Without some temperance such as love, it will puff up a person, keeping them from gaining any real wisdom to discern which knowledge is viable, reliable, and realistic to deal with the matters at hand (1 Corinthians 8:1).

Knowledge about things based on our ability to deduct matters proves to be limited at best. Regardless of what we know, godly wisdom reveals that we are void of having and knowing the bigger picture of a matter. What we can see is very little compared to what is underneath everything that keeps it functioning. Keep in mind that all we see is held together by what we can’t see (Romans 1:20; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Hebrews 11:1). What you know often proves to be surface and what you need to know is very restricted by what you can comprehend about it. It seems that in some cases, there must be some kind of gift or inherent ability to understand the formulas, mechanics, technicalities, and functions of such matters in order to operate in a particular field.

The other challenge when it comes to knowledge is that it can lack practical application. If you can’t apply the knowledge to ensure a matter comes out in a productive way, why have it? Knowledge without being put into practice is useless. Productive knowledge that ceases to remain in some nice intellectual compartment is very useful when it comes to properly executing something in a beneficial way.

When you consider the “geniuses” of this world, you realize that they had some great gaps in areas such as communication, manners, or the ability to socialize with others. They give the impression that they are single in focus and are divorced from other aspects of reality. I am reminded of a story about Einstein.

His outward appearance greatly suffered because his mind was always on formulas. On one occasion when he was about to meet with important people, his wife chided him about his appearance. His statement was that the dignitaries were not coming to see his clothes, but him. Clearly, the “geniuses” teach us if we are going to excel in an area of knowledge, we must become almost singular in our focus. Our pursuit in that area must center on reaching into depths of that subject that no other person has yet explored.

When you fail to execute knowledge, it becomes a smorgasbord of bits and pieces that begin to clutter up the mind with non-essential issues. Man is inundated by so much trivia that his head swims, his emotions swing, and his mind become muddled. What we see today is man’s head being filled to overflowing with non-essential information that is unable to lead him to clarity as to what it means to be saved and please God. His attraction to religion is often sentimental. He may swing high with his emotions, but he falls short of ever being a spiritual man that knows his Lord. And, with all of his knowledge about God that comes from various sources, his understanding of God has been muddied.

He ends up not knowing where to turn and what information is valid or applicable, leaving him juggling the complicated mess of what often proves to be nothing. The preacher throughout the book of Ecclesiastes had to admit that the world with its ways is empty, while man in his ways and activities prove in the end that all such involvement is nothing more than vanity. Both amount to nothing and will not leave any lasting impact.

This causes man to lament the essence of his life. Many times, man takes a bit of the world’s ways, traditions, and understanding along with the carnal way of deduction to try to figure out the ways of God to bring some semblance and purpose for his existence on planet earth without any avail. In doing so, he at best tacks God on, uses religion like a garment to cover up the war taking place in his spirit, and tries to act pious while being very much attracted to the world and its ways.

In God’s kingdom, knowledge is necessary, but it must have focus. We are living in the time that we have been warned about in Daniel 12:4 that knowledge would increase, but as Paul stated in 2 Timothy 2:7, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Knowledge from above will lead you to truth and wisdom from above will enable you to discern what is the truth.

God is the bigger picture of all things. Truth begins with Him and ends with Him. Jesus is the truth (John 14:6). Our search for knowledge in God’s kingdom translates into coming to a greater knowledge of Jesus and not coming out with greater theology concerning Him. I appreciate what A.W. Tozer said in his book, When He Is Come, about theology, “God gave us spirit to apprehend Himself, and intellect to apprehend theology—there is a difference.” Theology feeds our understanding of religious matters and often our arrogance, but the Spirit of God is what makes us a humbled spiritual man that can actually interact with God on a spiritual plane. (1 Corinthians 2:12-14; 15:42-50).

We need to know Jesus, not just know about Him or of Him, but we need to know Him for who He is (Philippians 3:7-10; 2 Peter 1:8-9). When we consider that man desires knowledge, but he can miss the truth of it, we must ask ourselves what do we possess? Do we possess just knowledge about Jesus and do we possess Jesus? In fact, the simpler the knowledge of a spiritual truth, the more profound it proves to be, but when it comes to the most intelligent person on earth, they will often miss it. (See 2 Corinthians 11:2-4.)

We are entering December. Right now, we are being inundated by man’s traditions surrounding what we call “Christmas.” History clearly shows us Christmas started out as a pagan holiday, but religion was inserted into the midst of it to try to salvage the profane, justify fleshly attractions and rein in the pagan and profane practices of man. When you have such a mixture, religion often becomes clothed in mere sentiment that now points to a manger scene, while hiding the egregious reality that it is all about the secular worship of money. Keep in mind greed is about what you don’t have, rather than being thankful for what we do have.

It is because of exposing this great idol of mankind at this time that even we Christians miss the bigger picture of matters. We become bogged down with the nonsense and the wasteful activities of it. Our sentiment is often stirred up by what we see and what we hear and not what we know. We can be left overwhelmed by the waste of time, energy and resources we use to keep the tradition alive and justifiable.

The proper consensus is that Jesus was born during the fall feasts and not in December, but I have no problem with people at this time recognizing that Jesus was miraculously conceived in the womb of Mary. In her womb His deity was clothed in humanity, and He was inserted into the human race when He was born in a manger. His birth was declared by heaven, recognized by shepherds who worshipped him, honored by Magi from the east who brought gifts fit for a king, and confirmed by Simeon and Anna upon His dedication in the temple (Matthew 2:1-21; Luke 1:27-39; 2:6-17, 25-38).

However, I believe we must not lose the bigger picture of His coming. We must avoid the intellectual debates over it, the constant rationalizing our position about it, and making it a cause that will not change minds, save anyone, or truly exalt Jesus as the Prince of Peace. Jesus came so He could die on our behalf to bring the peace of reconciliation between us and God. There would be no hope of salvation for any of us if He had not first come in the way He did. That is what is glorious about His coming. His insertion into humanity led to the cross of redemption. Jesus clearly had to come the way He did to fulfill prophecy that confirms that He was/is the Messiah, the Promised, Anointed One of God, the one who would become the Lamb of God. His calling as the Savior was to save us, His mission as Lord of lords and King of kings was to bring us into His household as children and friends and into kingdom as servants and soldiers. He died on the cross but three days later He rose again and now serves as High Priest and Mediator in heaven, ever interceding on our behalf. One day soon He is coming for His Body, the Church (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; Luke 9:56; John 1:29, 36 refer to Hebrews 10:4-21; John 18:36-37; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 12-17; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; 6:17-18; Timothy 2:5; 2 Timothy 2:2-4; Hebrews 2:6-14; 3:4-6; 7:25-27).

My concern at this time of the year remains the same. I try to remember that eternity is void of any obsession with time. It operates in the realm of God’s will being accomplished and His plan being fulfilled according to His timing. As believers we must keep the bigger, eternal picture in mind. This is to keep from drowning in the paganism of different holidays such as Christmas. As believers, we should be celebrating the reality of Jesus coming and Him crucified every day, not just a couple of times a year! We must not settle for tacking on Christ because of some tradition, religious notions and worldly observations. We must keep the truths of God pure by avoiding pagan mixtures. We must flee all idolatry wherever we encounter it. Clearly, we as His saints have the responsibility to keep the message of the Bible pure so that whatever time of the year it is, we can worship our Lord in Spirit and truth; while testifying about and praising Him for the great gifts and work He wrought on our behalf in an attitude of joy because it has been written as being so, and thankfulness because it is so (John 4:23-24; 15:11; 1 Corinthians 2:2; 10:12-14; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; 1 John 1:4; 5:21).