Our next Christlike attribute of discussion is knowledge. We can gain knowledge of many subjects and learn several skills throughout our lifetime. We start the learning process soon after we are born. For example, we learn how to breathe and our bodies learn how to perform the functions necessary to keep us alive. We gain an education and obtain talents over several years and use what we learn in our various trades and associations.
All of these types of knowledge are significant, but why exactly IS knowledge an important Christlike attribute? According to the Bible dictionary, “Knowledge of divine and spiritual things is absolutely essential for one’s salvation; hence the gospel is to be taught to every soul. Knowledge is not obtained all at once, even by revelation, but line upon line, precept upon precept.”1 Our Heavenly Father wants us to learn all we can about His gospel and what we need to do to obtain salvation. He wants us to return to live with Him again.
Think about how you use your time every day. How much time do you spend getting ready, going to and from different places, eating, doing household chores, serving others, working, studying, sleeping, using social media? How do you maximize your time to make room for learning about different subjects or developing a talent? Do you leave room to learn about Jesus Christ and His gospel? What can you change in your daily routine so that you can utilize your time to increase your gospel knowledge?
As I was developing the free five day Christlike Attributes Evaluation Challenge, I came across a scripture that truly testifies of the importance of knowledge pertaining to gospel matters.
Isaiah 33:6
And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation…
We live in a time where almost everything seems in disarray. Values are deteriorating day by day, violence is increasing, pride abides in many hearts, the lust for power over others is damaging nations and families, natural disasters continue to rise…the list goes on. Some of you may be facing the most difficult situations of your lives at this very moment. If wisdom and knowledge are to be the stability of our times, then we need to put our efforts into making sure our spirits are incessantly fed. We may not be able to control the situations that revolve around us, but we can control what we want to learn. What gospel topic or book of scripture do you want to study? What are the benefits of choosing and learning about a specific gospel topic? For example, when studying by topic, such as the signs of the times, a benefit could be that you find comfort in knowing that the second coming of Jesus Christ is near and is accompanied by happy events in regards to the restoration of the fullness of His gospel.
Isaiah 33:6 also mentions that wisdom and knowledge provide strength of salvation. As mentioned at the beginning of this post, gaining knowledge of the steps necessary to obtain salvation is essential if we want to live with Heavenly Father again someday. But I believe that we also gain strength as we learn why Jesus Christ died to save us. If you do not think anyone out there loves you, turn to the Savior. You will gain strength in knowing that He loved you so much that He died to make it possible for all the blessings of salvation to be made available for YOU.
It may seem like a lost cause out there in the unstable world we live in, but as individuals come to the realization that there should be more meaning to life, they may turn to you for help. They may view your life as more stable than theirs as they realize something grounds you. Christ is your rock. If Christ is not your rock, then choose today to take all the steps necessary to build upon His rock. When your family, friends, associates, and strangers ask what makes you unmovable when the world seems to be crashing down, be sure to share your beliefs pertaining to Jesus Christ and what His gospel has done in your life.
Isaiah also promises the following,
Isaiah 11:9
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
If the earth is to be full of the knowledge of the Lord, what can we do to help in this process? It IS going to take place, no doubt about it. Jesus Christ will come again and dwell on the earth. Can you imagine living in that time? Allow that vision of a perfect world to give you strength to keep going. Don’t lose hope. Keep learning all you can about His gospel and how you can be ready for His coming.
If you don’t know where to start on your scripture study, why not take the Christlike Attributes Evaluation Challenge? After you sign up, you will receive a worksheet to guide you in this process. I also teach you a method of how you can ponder the scriptures. Click on the image below if you would like to learn more! And please leave a comment on how having a knowledge of the Savior and His gospel have provided you with stability and strength.
More on the Christlike Attributes series:
References
Bible Dictionary. (2017). Retrieved from: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bd/knowledge.html?lang=eng&letter=K