Is Knowledge really Power?

Genesis 2:14 Then the Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it. He told him, “You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad. You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do, you will die the same day.”

Genesis 3:4 The snake replied, “That’s not true; you will not die. God said that because He knows that when you eat it, you will be like God and know what is good and what is bad.”

What did Adam and Eve do? They wanted to be like God and so they ate the forbidden fruit. Who was telling them the truth? Of course, it was God Who Is the Truth. They were given everything, and still they yearned for more. Man turned away from God’s truth and innocence. The sad part is that thousands of years later, nothing has changed.

The forbidden fruit today is everywhere. Knowledge is at our fingertips like never before. As technology and man’s knowledge of this world advance, dependence on our God and His Truth decline.

Think about it; what does all this knowledge really do for us? Are we using this knowledge to guide us in the path towards God’s Kingdom?

I will give one example of a technological advancement that has brought about good, but also much evil; something as simple as an ultrasound. Ultrasounds have great medical value. It gives doctors eyes into our bodies. They are able to diagnose, treat, and heal with greater accuracy and less evasiveness.

I had my first ultrasound when I was expecting my second child. (My first child was born two years earlier and at that time ultrasounds were only used during pregnancy if the doctor suspected a problem.) My husband and I were thrilled to find out we were expecting our first boy during this first ultrasound, and that he was healthy. Unfortunately not all parents receive that kind of news.

Waiting for Eli and Eli’s Reach are two wonderful books written by Eli’s father, Chad Judice. The two books chronicle the story of Chad and Ashley and their second son, Eli, who was diagnosed with spina bifida while still in the womb. Although 80% of children diagnosed with spina bifida in the womb are aborted, Chad and Ashley chose to trust in God and His plan. Today their son Eli is a blossoming six-year-old, who does have medical problems, but also has above average intelligence and the hearts of everyone who meets him! Chad Judice is active in the pro-life movement as a public speaker and has changed many lives with the story of Eli.

How many Eli’s are never given a chance to live? Most parents with the KNOWLEGE that their child will be born with major medical issues and possible disability; choose to bite that forbidden fruit. They think they have the POWER of God, and can decide whether or not a child should be born. Too often they decide that their child’s life would have little value. How could anything God creates be of little value?

Adam and Eve sinned against God and brought death upon man. Jesus and Mary said yes to God. They asked for His Will to be done. This brought about new life for man. It saddens me to think how much Jesus suffered for our sins. He was abandoned, betrayed, tortured, and crucified. He left this world with no possessions. His mother had to watch in horror the treatment of her Lord and Son. What mother has suffered more?

When will we learn that there is no knowledge outside God’s Truth?

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and He will show you the right way. Never let yourself think that you are wiser than you are; simply obey the Lord and refuse to do wrong. If you do, it will be like good medicine, healing your wounds and easing your pains.”