6 My people are destroyed for want of knowledge.

Because you rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as cohen [priests] for me.

Because you forgot the Torah of your God, I will also forget your children. 

CJB Hosea 4:6

As believers in Jesus Christ, we live according to the New Covenant established in Jesus’ blood. We are made by Him to be kings and priests unto God (Revelation 1:6) but many still perish. Why? This principle in Hosea 4:6 is still true today. I am not saying we must become “keepers of the Torah” or keepers of the Law, but we must not be ignorant of what God reveals in His Torah (Word and Law.)

As we proceed into the “End Times” we are seeing God’s own people being destroyed by ignorance, ‘want of knowledge’ or a lack of knowledge (KJV.) What knowledge do they lack? How is it they lack this knowledge seeing as how they are (or can be) connected to the Source of All Knowledge?

As I ponder the amount of fear and craziness in our present environment (3/23/2020) I am saddened by the number of Christ believers who are taken up in this present fear-filled atmosphere. They are acting no differently than the non-believers around them. Are they representative of the five foolish virgins Jesus spoke of in Matthew 25? Have you ever wondered how to prepare for the End Times?

We can’t lay up 3.5 years worth of food for the latter half of the Tribulation –assuming we will be here during that time… I cannot find any guarantee that we won’t be here during that time… I can find a guarantee that God’s wrath is laid up for His enemies. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 English Standard Version (ESV). If you are in Christ by grace through faith in Jesus, then you are not God’s enemy! 

9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

We can’t plan on owning a home to stay in. We can’t plan on being able to buy and sell without the mark of the Beast. If you accept the mark, you are lost.

“Living off the grid” is an illusion. Satellites can find every human on the planet with current technology. As time goes by, this technology only improves and increases. The Beast will have the ability to track every human on the planet, at least the ones who take the mark of the Beast.

My conclusion is this: To avoid perishing, we need to know what God knows. We must seek God for the knowledge we lack. God knows what we need to know. He will freely give us this knowledge, if we seek Him. This is the only way to be prepared for the End Times. He truly desires the intimacy of relationship that is needed to avoid perishing. 

Knowing what God knows speaks of intimacy with God. It takes time and intentional effort to develop a two-way conversational relationship with anyone. For example:  I can’t walk into a classroom on a university campus and ask the professor a question about his subject unless I have a relationship with the professor as a student or colleague. I cannot ask a Judge to rule in my favor if I have no standing in his courtroom or my defense lawyer is unskilled or not present to represent me. Jesus is always with me and He is my Advocate (defense lawyer). This is why I can boldly come to the Throne of Grace to receive grace, heavenly empowerment, to live in time of need. For that reason, I pray:

Lord, I am asking for the knowledge I lack, without which I will perish. I am asking for the knowledge You know I need to know. I am asking for the grace to recognize Your communication and receive understanding of the knowledge You have for me. I ask for Your grace to receive what I need and act upon it as Your Spirit leads. By Your grace, Father, I will be a doer of Your word. I am asking for mercy and forgiveness and I choose to show mercy and forgive those who harm me in any way. In this present time of trouble, many are greatly distressed and unable to be confident in what steps to take or avoid taking. Without You and the knowledge You give, we perish. I look to You, Father, for my help and hope. In Jesus’ name, amen.