What knowledge is God referring to here through Hosea? God’s knowledge. And what does God’s knowledge give? WISDOM Knowledge has value only when it is embedded in WISDOM. Anything else is foolish and destructive! 1 Corinthians 3:19 “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness";” - New International Version And what penalty awaits those rejecting God’s knowledge? PERSONAL DESTRUCTION And since we are now in the 21 st century (3 rd millennium) and part of the New Covenant, what law of God does the Bible refer to here? The perfect law. And this is the law of Christ, the law of freedom, the law of love and the law of grace… all in one! James 1:25 “But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.” - NASB 1995 When you are in fear, you are in trouble. When you are in fear, you are easy bait for the exploiter and it’s easy to recognise the exploiter here. When you are in fear, you are NOT in agape love. When you are in fear, you are NOT in the Christ who saved the WHOLE world… the Christ who IS love. When you are in fear, you are powerless, devoid of Christ’s power. When you are in fear, you are led to make the wrong decisions… among others… grasping for the tree of death to stay alive, but die instead. Fear of death is solidly rooted within insecurity… the insecurity around the unknown…the fearful destination after death. So, where does one find the peace around this after-life destination of love, awaiting ALL mankind ? Within the Christ of the New Covenant Himself ! Within the TRUE Christ of the Bible! To BE within the True Christ of the Bible is to KNOW the Christ of the Bible! And to KNOW the Christ of the Bible is to want to BE with Him NOW … with carnal death being NO threat at all! Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” - NASB 1995 Pastor, ‘Christian’, can you say what Paul says here? In the event of you positively respond to this question, then the ONLY proof of that is you refraining from taking ANY drugs whatsoever! Pastor, ‘Christian’, if you are taking drugs (God’s temple destroyers), you have NO idea of the implication of taking as little as a single pill, let alone multiple ones! You have NO idea of what’s awaiting you… especially after death, due to synthetic chemistry (or alchemy rather)… falling into the corrective hand of God Himself! And please take note… the focus is on God’s corrective hand, a hand never ever to annihilate, but only to purify! Hebrews 10:31 “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” - NASB 1995 So then, YES, you have be afraid of death if you still opt for drugs. The moment, however, you totally repent NOW and turn 180 degrees from your old ways, accepting the True Christ of the Bible and willing to die for Him in obedience… you will be able to face death with joy… the death into eternal life within Him. Fact remains the moment you opt for GOD’S unadulterated natural resources, your health will take a turn for the better… in whatever time God deems necessary for that turnaround to take place. Fact also remains that we all STILL have to bear the brunt for our trespasses, drugs being no exception. 1 Corinthians 11:32 “But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.” - NASB 1995 Paul still suffered God’s corrective hand while still alive, but rejoiced in it, knowing that he and his fellow believers will not face the after-life chastisement with the rest of the world (unbelievers). Whichever your choice is ordained to be, there is always the ultimate good news awaiting all , irrespective of the painful en-route interim, destined for everyone… and this good news is reflected in the very last verse of the Bible… Revelation 22:21 “Ἡ χάρις τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ μετὰ πάντων.” “The grace of the Lord Jesus with all” - Nestle Greek New Testament 1904 May God open your eyes NOW, instead of later!