Common Sense versus Knowledge

Though this occurred back ten years ago, the story circles back into the news from time to time.  There is a spiritual application and warning from this tragedy.

Man dips finger in Yellowstone hot spring, accidentally falls in and dissolves

A 23-year-old man was vaporized by the extreme heat and acidic water of a Yellowstone hot spring after he slipped into the pool while testing its temperature before taking a dip.

Colin Nathaniel Scott, from Portland, Oregon, had traveled to Yellowstone National Park with his sister, Sable Scott, when the pair ventured away from the safety of the boardwalk at Norris Geyser Basin on June 7, 2016.

The young man was celebrating his graduation from Pacific University and had planned on starting his doctoral program in the fall.

But the trip would lead Colin and his sister into one of Yellowstone’s most volatile thermal areas, where the extraordinary landscape comes with very real dangers.

Wow!  I sure feel bad for he and his family, though this was ten years ago, I’m sure the family still grieves.  I do think there are a couple of truths to take away from this sad unnecessary tragedy.

The first reality is to understand that Knowledge is the gathering of facts and truth, while wisdom is the right application of that truth to honor God. They work together, but scriptures often distinguish between knowing facts and living out God’s truth.  Just having knowledge isn’t enough to protect oneself, we must apply God’s Truth and grow in discernment and wisdom.

Ecclesiastes 7:10–12 “Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” since it is not wise of you to ask this. Wisdom is as good as an inheritance and an advantage to those who see the sun, because wisdom is protection as money is protection, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner”.

The second truth is to make sure to heed warning signs.  I’ve seen the MANY signs around Yellowstone personally (2013) warning about the very dangerous thermal areas to stay very far back from.  God’s Word gives us many spiritual warnings and if we heed them, we’ll be safe in his Will.  When we disregard His teaching then we are on shaky ground and in danger.

Continue to grow in God’s wisdom with me, Pastor Larry