”Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” – Acts 4: 13
Anatomically speaking, it’s only about a foot from your head to your heart. A very short distance. However, when it comes to Biblical truth, oftentimes it takes it a long time to get from your head to your heart. Head knowledge and heart knowledge are two very different things.
There are certain kinds of knowledge, or truth, that is only experienced in the conceptual. For example, a young husband who has no kids. Would you say he has no experience in fatherhood? He does, but, only in the conceptual. Perhaps he has read many books on fatherhood and memorized articles and “how-to” guides. He may have observed his dad, and friends of his, who are dads. He may have observed the responsibility it brings, the time commitment, the sacrifice. He may have had discussions with them, asked questions, and took counsel. Perhaps he heard them testify to the love, joy, and satisfaction their children bring into their lives. They have shared knowledge with him and elaborated on the basic truths of fatherhood; however, the difference remains. He only knows fatherhood in head knowledge; they know it in heart knowledge. They know what it feels like to hold that new baby for the first time. Here them say “Daddy.” They know in their heart the love that comes with being a father, and the responsibility as well. No doubt the Pharisees and Sadducees understood the teaching of Jesus. They were scholars of the law; they could quote the old prophets right along with our Savior. They would ask Jesus questions about the law. They had plenty of head knowledge, but zero heart knowledge. Now, contrast this with Peter and John who were uneducated fishermen. They were blue collar, “unlearned” and “ignorant” men. However, they had been with Jesus. The truth and knowledge that they knew and understood reached deeper than that which was learned, yet never experience. Their truth, and knowledge found its root in that which is experienced; experienced in their heart. They heard the Savior say to “love them that hate you and bless them that curse you.” Then they watched as he answered not a word to his accusers. Observed, as he lifted his head to the Father whilst dying on a cross and said: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Moreover, the same power that allowed Jesus to do what he did, came down on the day of Pentecost to empower them. This Holy Ghost came into their hearts giving them a truth that reaches deeper than head knowledge. This Holy Ghost cements the disposition of Christ into a man’s heart; forever teaching him and guiding him, giving him knowledge of the Father that is both “known” and “experienced” in your daily life. God designed holiness to be so much more than conceptual; he designed it to be actual; real, to be experienced here and now.
The only way to truly find heart knowledge of holiness is the way Peter and John found it. You must be with Jesus; and this can be a reality for you here and now. By the forsaking of your sin; and receiving the Holy Ghost. These are Biblical promises that a man or women can gain access to a holiness experience in both the heart, and the head. A holiness that reaches beyond what the head thinks and gets down to what the hand does. My prayer is that we all will enter and continually live in this kind of holiness, holiness of the heart.
