In the Illinois State capital is a seasonal “Snaketivity” display funded by a Satanic church depicting a hand holding an apple with a snake spiraling up to it saying: “Knowledge is the greatest gift.
Honestly I am not so offended by this, nor surprised. We live in a country with freedom of speech for which I am very thankful. And there are non-Jesus followers everywhere and this is clear evidence and a stark indication of the work we all still need to do.
We are called to be a: “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s special possession , so that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” in 1 Pet 2:9. And in Romans 15:16 we are called: “to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles…. so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit”.
I once met a pastor from the underground church in China who was imprisoned and beaten for his faith, and while there his house was ransacked with his wife and young son watching in fear. He told us not to think badly of the authorities who did this because we cannot blame them since they have no moral compass, no Jesus, so we cannot expect them to act morally.
One of the truths of this satanic display is the inaccuracy. Knowledge is not the greatest gift, in fact knowledge got mankind into trouble (Gen 2:17). It is about love and obedience.
Jesus does not care about religiosity (Rom 2:27) he cares about love and the way to love is to obey him (Jn 14:15). Knowledge is not the greatest gift, it is obedience to Jesus Christ because God is love (1 Jn 4: 8) and the best way to love is to obey Jesus (Jn 14:15) because love is the greatest commandment (Mt 22: 37,38).
Let’s love others – especially those who who are far from God and share him with them!
Barnabas Man 