“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:11,12)
Man is often perplexed, by the world without him and the world within him. He wants to understand why things are as they are. He seeks to understand others and himself. This inquisitiveness is because God has made man a spiritual being. It is the spirit within us that makes us want to know.
Man has an insatiable curiosity about things that animals have zero interest in. Chiefly, man’s gaze is turned on himself. When the spirit of a man is strong he takes a strong interest in what is going on inside himself. “The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.” (Prov. 20:27)
When God’s Spirit enters our life our interest changes. “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” (Rom. 8:5) Things our eyes had not seen, our ears had not heard; things that never entered into our heart, are now being revealed to us. (1 Cor. 2:9,10) Our eyes are being opened to wonderful things concerning the very nature of God. His Spirit trains us to know what is in His heart.
There is no higher pursuit than pursuing the knowledge of God. Jesus said: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3) What does it profit us to know ourselves or anyone else, and be ignorant of our Creator? How glorious that God would give us His Spirit that we might know Him! The world is a fascinating place. Man is a subject of incredible interest. But nothing is as satisfying as knowing God and all that He would show us of Himself. First, be born again of His Spirit; and then let His Spirit take you on a wondrous journey of discovery! The things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.