Things We Know For Sure

A newspaper editor was instructing a new reporter in some of the important details of his job. "Never state as a fact anything you are not absolutely sure about," said the editor. "To avoid putting the paper in the position of stating something which it may not be able to prove, you should always use the words 'alleged,' 'claimed,' 'reputed,' 'rumored,' and so on, unless you know positively that everything is true as stated."

The reporter was sent out to get society items, and soon thereafter the following paragraph appeared in the society column:

"It is rumored that a bridge party was given yesterday by a number of reputed ladies. Mrs. Smith, it is said, was hostess. The guests, it is alleged, with the exception of Mrs. Brown, who says that she comes from Illinois, were all local people. Mrs. Smith claims to be the wife of Alexander Smith, who is rumored to be doing a thriving business in town."

It is important to know those things that we are absolutely sure of. That's one of the reasons why the letter of I John was written. John had some things to say to those Christians who referred to themselves as "gnostics". The Greek word "gnosis" means "knowledge" and these Christians thought they had more knowledge than "normal" Christians. John writes this letter to say (1) The Gnostics didn't know nearly as much as they thought they knew; and (2) All Christians know those things which are of greatest importance ("I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it.", I John 2:21)

Among the things which we can "know":

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. (I John 2:23)

…We know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. (I John 3:1)

And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. (I John 3:5)

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. (I John 3:16)

By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. (I John 4:13)

These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life… (I John 5:13)

We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. (I John 5:19)

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. (I John 5:20)

Take confidence in those things which you know to be true!

Source: Allan Smith Thought for the Day