What to Get and Where to Go
Over the years it’s truly been a blessing working with students of all ages. One of the many benefits is having many wonderful class discussions. Sometimes those discussions lead to simple and helpful sayings that can then be used as beneficial navigation tools. Over the years, some of these little phrases have helped keep things simple, clearing through some of the clutter that we call today’s Christianity.
It’s easy to get lost in the weeds of opinions and commentaries, stuck in the latest fads and Christian social media trends. Much of this noise, although seemingly useless, can serve as a powerful purpose for the enemy of our souls. As with all distractions, the noise can cause us to forget what we actually need to remember. And tragically, over time, it can get us so off course that we wittingly, or perhaps unwittingly, turn away from the life-giving food we so desperately need.
It’s my desire that these little sayings stick, almost like a commercial jingle from the 80’s to help solidify Scriptural truth in our hearts and minds, leading us back to God’s Word as our one and only source of Life and Godliness. (2 Peter 1:3) In this article, I’d like to share one recent example and pray it’s a blessing and benefit to all.
For context, let me share a little about what’s been happening over the last couple weeks in the classroom. This month, the students have been given the theme of “understanding” for Bible. Throughout each day, we’ve been focusing on the importance of growing, not only in knowledge, but in the understanding of the Lord. There is truly much to be said on the eternal topic!
Students have been assigned four sections of Scripture to memorize this month. The first verse was 1 John 5:20. This was not a random choice. This verse is arguably the foundation for everything. And when I say everything, I mean everything. This one verse encapsulates why God created, why we are here, and why Jesus died and rose from the grave. Of course, there is more to the story, but this verse is truly foundational to everything else.
“And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life” 1 John 5:20.
In the classroom, this is our overarching focus throughout the year but emphasized in January. And this year, our discussions led to a little phrase that will hopefully serve as a helpful reminder and navigator. It came about through this week’s discussion of Proverbs 4:5 and 7.
“Get wisdom and get understanding. Do not forget nor turn aside from the words of my mouth. Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom. And with all your getting, get understanding.”
As we began our “dig” through this section of Scripture, I had the students write down in their notebooks the very first word in verse 5, “Get”. We then talked about the importance of this simple, three letter word. “Get” here is an imperative. It is also an invitation. God sincerely desires us to “get”. He lovingly commands us to “get”. “Get” also often implies a bit of effort. To “get”, we need to go or search. There’s intentionality and perhaps some diligence involved.
Have you ever considered how many systems within your body are needed to “go” to the refrigerator and “get” everything needed to make a sandwich? It seems so simple, so mundane, and yet the necessary parts of our body are so complex, they could never come through accidental, random chance processes from something like evolution. You would need your fine and gross motor skills produced through a plethora of nerves, muscles, and electrical signals all communicated at just the right places and times. You need your eyes, so intricately designed. You need your sense of touch. Then you need your rational and orderly thinking skills… and so much more! All to simply “get” what’s needed to make a sandwich.
“Get”, because it’s an imperative, also has an implied subject. In almost every command sentence “You”, the reader or hearer, is the implied subject. To start this verse with “Get” implies that any who read this verse can receive what’s offered in this invitational command. This is not simply for some elect group of readers. This is for any and all who desire to “get” what God has to give.
It also implies the “getting” is not only possible but guaranteed. God faithfully promises if we wholeheartedly desire to get, and then, actually go and get what He is offering, that we will receive what He freely and fully offers. Consider God’s invitation in Jeremiah 29:13.
“And you shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart.”
The getting isn’t simply stuff from the Bible, but Jesus, Himself. Jesus didn’t just come to die on a cross and raise from the grave so we could be with Him “someday”. The cross was simply, tragically, and amazingly the one and only key that would open the door to eternal life. This door, however, is not a “what” but a “who”, specifically, Jesus Christ.
Jesus didn’t just come from Heaven to Earth to forgive us of our sins. That was not His endgame. That was only the beginning. And sadly, it seems many genuine, born-again believers are quite content to stop there. How tragic! We are certainly called to something much more beautiful than that. Consider someone handing you the keys to a brand-new house or car. You gladly receive the key only to open the door and merely take one step in, never going any further. How strange!
Earthly speaking, it seems many enjoy the pursuit, but once that pursuit is attained, the enjoyment soon fades, and a new pursuit must begin. We tend to toss ourselves to and fro for nothing more than staying distracted and disconnected from our Lord. And yet, when it comes to God, the pursuit should never fade. Afterall, eternal life will never end. God has designed for us to eternally be growing in the deep and Spirit-filled understanding of our Wonderful Creator, Savior, and soon returning King. Eternal life is not a location as much as it is our connection, our humble and heartfelt adoration and submission to our Savior, Jesus Christ.
This is why Scripture repeatedly speaks so clearly of God’s design and desire.
In Jeremiah 9:23-24, the Lord through Jeremiah wrote, “Thus says the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me.”
If we are going to get, we must understand what we really need. We need more Jesus and to truly grow in the knowledge of the Lord, we must get His wisdom and understanding!
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen” 2 Peter 3:18.
From there our class discussion went from what to get to where to go. As Christians, we must know what to get. We must get Jesus. This is our foundational pursuit. If we are not taught what to properly pursue, the world is all too ready and willing to give us counterfeits. Sadly, even within much of today’s church, we are given many distorted and distracting pursuits that will lead us empty in the end. We must know what to get.
But to simply know what to get is not enough. We must know were to go. I asked the students, “If you’re thirsty but out of water, where do you go?” The students knew right away where many of the school’s water sources are located. Then I posed a question. “What if I told you there was a muddy puddle of water right outside the classroom door? Would you get water from there?” Of course, they all said no.
But Satan is so much more subtle that that. He offers spiritual drinks that are so colorful and tasty, but in the end, his tasty treats will leave us dissatisfied and longing for more of his poison. His venues offer spiritual products that will at best dull our spiritual taste buds and turn us away from the food we really need. This is why Jesus answered the devil,
“It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” Matthew 4:4.
So, according to Proverbs 4:5, we are not to forget or turn aside from… God’s Word. In other words, we must always remember where to go. Go to God’s Word!
To get Jesus we must get God’s wisdom and understanding.
And to do this, we must go to His Word.
This is how God has designed it.
So, as we wrapped up our morning discussion and notetaking, one simple phrase came to mind, one that I wanted to leave with the students and myself, and now with you…
“Know what to get, and know where to go.”
May we intentionally and diligently choose to not grow distracted with the noise of this world’s almost endless arena of opinions. Instead, let us simply and solely pursue getting more of Jesus by humbly and lovingly going to God’s Word!
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” Philippians 3:7-14.