There is a great deal of pressure on everyone to be ”in the know”. Knowledge is potentially a search away on any of the multitude of devices available to us today. The short term benefits of having some knowledge may prevent the long term gains of acting wisely. The illusion of knowledge can cause us to miss the big picture if we settle for temporal benefits.

There are approximately 40,000 search queries per second on Google. Yes, per second. An obvious indicator that people are searching for information, or seeking knowledge. The knowledge we seek could be about any number of things. Searches for work, for pleasure, even just for fun searches are happening all of the time.

How often do you search per day? Perhaps you are not a frequent user, however someone is doing some searching when Google alone has such a large number. All of that searching can make life easier, save time, answer life-saving questions or give us some fun facts.

Technology provides numerous services at our fingertips in record time! One can likely accumulate a library of information in the time it takes to locate, skim and record data from a reference text in a brick and mortar library. Knowledge is good, right?

Like anything, where choice is involved, a possibility for misuse exists.

Know-it-alls

Have you ever been around someone that seems to know-it-all? Ever encountered someone that appears to have all of the answers and is anxious to let you know that they do? Have you seen that person lately? Maybe you caught a glimpse of them the last time you took a look in the mirror? Is that person yourself?

All of us store a great deal of information in the best computer created; the human brain. We often have deep knowledge or factoids about something of interest, or familiarity. Many have knowledge about a number of topics. However, no one individual knows it all. The so called know-it-alls we encounter literally lack the ability to know-it-all.

It does not take long to identify the personality traits of know-it-alls. They have an affinity for giving incorrect information in a cavalier way. They sometimes appear to gloat when others fail to have the data they possess. I am certain you can add to the characteristic traits of know-it-alls. Quite simply know-it-alls project an image or more correctly, an illusion of knowledge.

Go back to the person in the mirror, think about the last time you felt a need to project the illusion of knowledge. What was the situation? Who was there? What did you feel you might lose by appearing to be uninformed about something? What did you gain by presenting the illusion of knowledge?

Benefits

As you listed the reasons why you may have, without intent, misled others into thinking you were speaking with the authority of knowing the facts, when in actuality you were going to MSU. (MSU is short for “making stuff up”.) It may have stemmed from your believing that you had the knowledge.

Researchers have discovered that when we give information to others and present it as truth, even when we are not certain it is correct, we experience a beneficial chemical in our bodies. This feeling of being correct stimulates us to continue to learn and is a good thing. This substance known as dopamine releases a pleasurable feeling, in the reward center of the brain, much like endorphins do when we exercise. Dopamine is associated with the use of certain mood altering drugs. The powerful, positive feelings it produces causes individuals to become addicted to drugs.

Based on the research the illusion of knowledge corresponds to feelings and can be so intoxicating that one continues to engage in that behavior because it feels good! Maybe you have wondered, in the past, why you or others were willing to act like a know-it-all when there was no benefit. It could be the good feeling produced by possessing knowledge, even though it may have only been the illusion of knowledge.

Vital Knowledge

While we certainly lack all knowledge our omniscient God does know it all. He is the ultimate source of knowledge. He knows the beginning from the end along with the parts in the middle. He knows the number of hairs on your head and He knows what He has planned for your life.

One thing He clearly wants each of us to know is found in the book of John chapter 17 and verse three.   Take a look and see what is revealed to us about what we are to know about eternal, Zoë (the God kind) of life:

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (KJV)

Perhaps our time would be best spent studying the word of God and seeking His knowledge. Focus on the knowledge which comes from our omniscient God is where our eternal benefits rest; in His hands. If we can search His word, His way of doing and being right what will that knowledge bring to us? Will the reward be temporary or everlasting?

The illusion of knowledge can cause us to be busied by the temporal search for knowledge. Knowledge is a good thing. Yet we can be distracted by the illusion of knowledge, when the real thing is available to us.

Will you be caught in the illusion of knowledge, or experience the true knowledge of God as revealed by searching His word?

Take Inventory and Take Action!

Love,

Deborah

“Lighting the path to loving your neighbor as yourself.”