Retained Knowledge: Lights On

In Christendom, a lot of emphasis is placed—rightly so—on knowing God. People are encouraged to go the extra mile in their pursuit of God and the knowledge of Him. One of the common themes used to motivate this pursuit is the idea that knowledge is power. 

However, there’s an important caveat to this notion. 

Not all knowledge is power, except for the knowledge that is retained within us. Think back to those days in the exam room when you faced your examination paper. During that test, it was only the knowledge you had retained that could help you. Any knowledge gathered but forgotten was like a lightbulb that wouldn't turn on in the darkness—useless. 

So, what am I trying to convey?  

I am conveying that it is not enough to simply gather knowledge about God; we must also ensure that we retain what we know and understand about Him. Only that retained knowledge can illuminate our paths. Often, we focus heavily on gathering knowledge without checking the condition of the storehouse where that knowledge is kept. 

Many of these storehouses have issues: leaking roofs, torn walls, gaping holes, rickety doors that won’t close, no windows, and dirty floors. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that no matter how much effort is put into gathering knowledge, if the storehouse is compromised, there’s a problem. The treasures could easily be stolen or lost. In times of trouble, you may find yourself without support because your storehouse will be empty. 

Therefore, measures must be taken to ensure that the storehouse of our heart, mind, soul, and spirit is in good condition to retain what it holds. Regular inspections should be conducted to check for leaks in these faculties. Frequent cleaning should be done to ensure these faculties can preserve and retain the manna stored within them without it corrupting. The screws and bolts holding doors, windows, and roofs should be tightened sufficiently to prevent leaks. In short, these faculties need regular maintenance and care to effectively retain the valuable treasure of the Word of God that leads to the knowledge of God. 

The days are becoming darker. Only retained knowledge can light your path in these times of darkness. The more you retain, the brighter your light; the more you leak, the darker your path will be. 

Shilako Abutaka.