knowledge

We visited the Smithsonian Museum of American History last week and enjoyed a fascinating exhibit on Abraham Lincoln and his presidency.  While waiting to go into the museum I spotted an elaborate quotation engraved into the outer wall of the museum.  The quote was attributed to John Quincy Adams and it paid honor to the founder of the Smithsonian Institute, James Smithson.  Upon his death, Smithson left half a million dollars, his entire fortune, to create an institute for the "increase and diffusion of knowledge" in America.  Smithson was an English scientist who specialized in mineralogy.  He never visited America and we have no background about his interest in this country.  Of course, millions have benefitted from this remarkable bequest.  I thought about the importance of knowledge and I considered how our government has no problem with a "separation of knowledge and state" as it has with religion.  But then I considered what true knowledge involves and realized that, at its core, all knowledge has its origin with the Lord.  Certainly the wonder of knowledge lies in the Creator whose imprint can be found, like an artists signature, on all His works.  But, greater still than knowledge, is to be known by the Lord and to know Him.  I suppose that the best quality of knowledge is realized as we walk in the knowledge of Him and in His knowledge of us.     Colossians 2: 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.   blessings, Rob Smith