Shawn Thomas once shared the story of how several years ago in Bristow, Oklahoma, there were a series of contests at the halftime of their high school basketball games.  In these contests, people were blindfolded, and when the buzzer sounded, they could run around and try to pick up money which had been scattered around the gym floor.  Most of the contestants did not do very well; they picked up a few random bills, but not many.

Finally one particular man did really well; he went right to the biggest bills and took in quite a haul.  He had been blindfolded; how did he do it?

When asked, he said that he had seen in previous contests how most people just ran around without direction and let the screams of the crowd direct them to go first one way, and then another.  So he decided in advance that he was going to pick out ONE person who could see the money on the floor, and he would listen to the voice of that person who could see what he could not see, and let them direct him to the money – and so he did.  And his plan paid rich dividends!

You and I need to do the same thing.  But to whom should we listen?

God can see what we can’t see.  He has a lot more information than we do.  In fact, God knows everything; He is omniscient, all-knowing.

So if we are wise, we will do well to trust Him and to obey Him.

God knows what we need and He has revealed to us what we need to know in His Word.

He knows… that our greatest need is salvation from sin, for sin condemns us and it will lead to our destruction (Romans 3:23; Matthew 7:13-14).

He knows… that we need someone to come to our rescue, so He did.  God sent His Son into the world “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).  He came to rescue us by dying on the cross for our sins so that we might be forgiven of our sins and receive the gift of eternal life (John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 1:7).

He knows… that we must listen to His Word and accept His offer on His terms if we’re going to enjoy these eternal, spiritual blessings that are much greater than gold.  “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’  And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’  And let him who thirsts come.  Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  The Lord knows those that are His (2 Timothy 2:19) and will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).

God is omniscient; He knows what we don’t know.  And so more than anything else, we need to put our trust in Him, listen to His revealed will, and heed His instructions.

Won’t YOU?

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from Shawn Thomas at https://shawnethomas.com/2012/02/19/our-omniscient-god-psalm-139/

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

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