Knowing the right answers is not the same as experiencing the fullness of life. And all too often we’ve settled for a disembodied intellectual truth. While still true, we must often take it deeper to experience all that God has for us.
For instance, knowing a recipe is not the same as enjoying a good meal. And the point of the recipe is not simply to know the correct measurements of our food. It’s to show the way toward experiencing a satisfying meal.
And our life with God works in a similar way. Many of us know all the theologically correct answers on how we should live. But this knowledge doesn’t always get translated into a lived experience. And so we find ourselves merely going through the motions of a moral life while missing the true and full life Christ came to give us.
Eventually this opens the door for secret or otherwise habitual sins. On the one hand, we continue to look the part so that others don’t see the vices we indulge in. And on the other hand, we earnestly correct our behaviors, but it only lasts for a season because we’ve not yet addressed the true desires of our heart.
Either way, we’re not lacking in knowledge. We’re lacking in the deeper truth that goes beyond mere correct answers. For example, in what ways are we longing for greater freedom and intimacy in our relationships, creativity and adventure in our lives, or simply to regularly bask in true ecstasy and pure delight?
Being a “good boy” is not enough if it’s not also helping us to discover these deeper truths God has for us. It’s fine to start with simply knowing the right thing and seeking to behave morally. But we risk missing the mark when we don’t flesh this out with a full and vibrant life.
In the end, don’t settle for just knowing the right answers. Discover the deeper truth that allows you to experience life to the full.
Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash
