LEARNING THAT LASTS *By Charles W. Wages*

LEARNING THAT LASTS *By Charles W. Wages*
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"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been
assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a
child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee
wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim.
3:14-15)

It is generally accepted that all of us are products of inheritance and
the things we have experienced in our environment. However, if the
spiritual relationships are ignored, we are nothing more than natural
born sinners. We inherited our natural or sinful nature, and the
environment of this world system is certainly not conducive to a life
for God. Our Scripture text teaches us that Timothy had heard and known
of the Lord through the Scriptures. This is clearly shown in 2 Timothy 1:5,

"When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which
dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and thy mother Eunice; and I am
persuaded that in thee also."

One thing we can be assured of, salvation does not come by acquired
inherited factors from our parents, neither do we come into this world
knowing the Scriptures. We learn the Scriptures after salvation by
hearing, reading, and studying them diligently. If we reside in the
right atmosphere, have the right attitude, and give proper attention to
all that God says, we can grow in grace and knowledge of Him and His
Word. Paul admonished Timothy to,

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* Continue in Things Learned*
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Learning that lasts is enhanced by a real perseverance or steadfastness
in things already known. Many have the mistaken notion that if they have
heard a truth one time, they know it forever. Truth, to really be known,
must be thought about intensely and lived or practiced seriously. This
principle is clearly stated in James 1:22-25.

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own
selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like
unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass. For he beholdeth
himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of
man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and
continueth therein, he, being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the
work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

We learn from Paul's statement to Timothy that we should,

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*Continue to Learn Thing*
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The Word surely informs and encourages believers to grow. 1 Peter 1:2
admonishes,

"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye
may grow thereby."

In Ephesians 4:12, we are instructed that God has given dedicated men
(4:11) for,

"The perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ."

There are always things to be learned. Old dogs can be taught new
tricks. The Word of God is inexhaustible. When a person sees that we are
to rightly divide the word of truth, and their eyes are opened to
dispensational study, new vistas of learning arise on their horizons,
and they really take off in mature growth.

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to
be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Tim. 2:15)

There is a great impetus to learning when a believing person is sure,
not only of their salvation, but of the Scripture knowledge they have
attained. It should be noted that 2 Timothy 2:14 says,

"But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been
assured of ..."

Secure people tend to secure more and more truth. It has often been
noted that children who are continually upset and confused at home,
learn far less than children coming from a stable home. There is so much
religious confusion in the world, so much false teaching, that it is
absolutely imperative that we be assured of our salvation, assured of
the infallibility of the Scriptures and that they are real and relevant
for our lives.

Finally, we should see the importance of knowing

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*Of Whom Thou Hast Learned Them*
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Reference has already been made in this article to Timothy's mother and
grandmother. No doubt, others were instrumental in helping Timothy.
However, the person most responsible for teaching him the truth for us
today was the Apostle Paul. In 2 Timothy 1:13-14, Timothy is told to,

"Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in
faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was
committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us."

The fair and honorable trust (that good thing) was the mystery revealed
to Paul by special revelation. He was passing this great truth for our
age on to Timothy to be committed to faithful men, who shall be able to
teach others also (2 Tim. 2:2). We should know that the Apostle Paul was
the divinely chosen and appointed servant of God of whom we learn our
position and walk for today. No doubt Timothy acknowledged this, do we?

Learning that lasts depends on a lot of yielding to and wielding of the
Word of God. If we heed the instructions of the Word, we will learn at
last the learning that lasts.