The Importance of Education

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children Hosea 4:6 KJV.

This passage is one of the saddest from the Bible. It expresses the profound sadness and raw emotion of a Holy God who desires to be known by His people. From the beginning of time, the omnipotent and only God established the importance of education for his chosen ones. Because of this, he strongly recommended to the fathers of old to share with their children the teachings that God desired for them to receive.

WHAT HAS GOD SAID ABOUT EDUCATION?

God said,

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates Deuteronomy 6:7-9 KJV.

Regrettably, God’s recommendation did not prevail in the hearts and minds of Israel. So they suffered the consequences mentioned by God Almighty.

HOW DO WE “KNOW GOD”?

These days, it seems like history is repeating itself. A lot of Christians search to “know God” by shortcuts or frivolous methods that are in abundance and readily available in the Christian market. There are books and articles that offer to know God by reading books of “self-help” or “quick devotionals.” Yet the results can lead to a life of frustration and Christian failure.

The only way to know God is to immerse ourselves thoroughly in His Word. We should search the depths of His Word with effort, sacrifice, and diligence. This will result in a more personal and intimate relationship with our Creator.

LEARN ABOUT THE GOD WE SERVE

For this reason, at Artios Christian College, we strive to teach our students about the Bible and to learn more about the God we serve and to understand their life’s purpose. On one occasion Jesus said, “Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? And not to be set on a candlestick?” Mark 4:21 (KJV). Because of this, one of the purposes of Christian education is to reach the greatest number of servant leaders so that His Word will be shared with responsibility and earnestness. We seek to teach excellence in our classes.

In his book Knowing God, Dr. J.I. Packer established the following paradigm: “Knowing about God is crucially important for the living of our lives.” He continues to say, “so we are cruel to ourselves if we try to live in this world without knowing about the God whose world it is and who runs it. The world becomes a strange, mad, painful place, and life in it a disappointing and unpleasant business, for those who do not know about God” (21). Our God is a personal and relational God; because of this, God is most interested in starting and maintaining a good relationship between Him and His followers. We can only accomplish this with good personal, honest, and thoughtful study habits towards the God we follow and serve.

EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT

This is the premise that education is vastly important. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, established the following as one of his priorities when he came down to earth to fulfill his mission. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” John 17:3 KJV. You will not find an act or sacrifice that is not worth the effort to make a reality Jesus’ mission in our families and churches.

Do we desire as God’s children, to maintain a healthy relationship with our Heavenly Father and not be outcasts? Then we must continue the satisfaction of knowing God and, therefore, have the education to surrender to worship. With that in mind, we can live with the security that the future will be welcomed with the crown of Eternal Life. We should strive to know God and his mercies and sovereignty that He so graciously has shared with us.

Do we want to be the church that God created and intended us to be? Then it’s important to understand that Christian education is vital, and we should promote its value. Christian education is not only for those aspiring to be pastors but also youth, young adults, women, and ushers. It is for those who know the God who saves. It is for those who want a life after God’s heart and want to be a Vibrant 21^st century Church.