Tree of Knowledge
We are at Goondiwindi on the Macintyre River which marks the border of Queensland and New South Wales. This town is at the headwaters of the famous Murray-Darling river system which is so important to Australia’s food bowl. Goondiwindi is a town that has had its fair share of natural disasters over the years with floods and bushfires. Today we passed by a large section that had been devastated by the recent fires as we made our way towards Goondiwindi this morning.
In years gone by, people would gather under the famous “Tree of Knowledge” by the river day and night and discuss the rising river height the state of the river upstream, and whether it would flood or not. Now there is an 8-mile levee bank protecting the town. The town’s accumulated “knowledge” over 150 years of regular floods eventually caused them to do something about it.
Correct knowledge will stop you from perishing
Knowledge is so important! It gets us out of trouble. The prophet Hosea said, “My people perish for a lack of knowledge.”1 The context was the Israelites who faced impending destruction. They would be taken away by the Assyrians. The problem was that they were listening to false prophets and corrupt priests who were leading them into superstition and idolatry. There is an important application for us today as well. We better make sure we are not listening to false teachers and corrupt religious leaders who are telling us everything is okay. Everything is not okay! Just like for the Israelites in the eighth century BC, we are faced with impending danger. The solution?
Get the correct knowledge. It will save you from perishing. Don’t just sit under a proverbial old tree and talk and talk and watch the river as it rises. We all need to build the levee bank and get ready for the Lord’s return. Don’t be like the five foolish virgins who thought they had plenty of time. Be like the five wise virgins who had the oil already in their lamps before the bridegroom arrived. The key is knowledge, humility, and preparation. As Jesus said, “I have told you ahead of time before it happens so that when it does happen you may believe.”2
One Response
I so enjoy your beautiful, succinct and eloquent messages!
What a blessing that even your trip to W.A can be used for material for analogies , and life lessons!
God bless you, Steve and Cathi.
We miss and love you both. X