KNOWING GOD
Jeremiah 9: 23-24 (NLT)
This is what the Lord says:
“Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches.
But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone; that they truly know Me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things.
I, the Lord, have spoken!”
The life we walk with God is a journey of constant discovery – a journey of discovering Who our Father is and who we are in Him. My journey with God has really been more than just a journey, but rather it has been more of an adventure. Getting to know your heavenly Father is the greatest adventure you will ever endeavor to embark on in your life. When I look back on the almost twenty years that I have come to know God, I say with all honesty, that I would not trade these years or the years to come with God for anything in life. I believe the greatest claim a Christian can make in their lifetime is that they know God. There is no greater match to the intimate relationship we enjoy with God during our short stay on earth and will continue to enjoy to an even fuller measure in eternity.
Growing with God and in God is an eternal journey. We can never reach that place where we can ever say that we know Him in entirety. There are so many aspects and dimensions to God that we will spend an eternity discovering them.
Revelations 4: 8 (AMP)
“And the four living creatures, individually having six wings, were full of eyes all over and within (underneath their wings); and day and night they never stop saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty (Omnipotent), Who was and Who is and Who is to come.”
These four living creatures full of eyes constantly circle the throne of God only to stop every now and then and raise their voices and shout, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty……….”
Why do they stop and shout? Well, because every time they circle Him afresh, they see a new facet and dimension to God they have never seen before and they cannot help themselves, but to stop and shout with praise and jubilation at the wonder, majesty and power of our God. My point is, is that they are constantly discovering something new about God and this is their eternal position. So, in turn, like these four living creatures, we too will constantly learn and grow in God through relationship.
I want to stress the word – ‘relationship’.
My husband and I have known each other for thirty seven years. When we first met, we discovered that we had a lot in common and we enjoyed one another’s company. The desire to spend more time together getting to know each other was evident. Our initial attraction to one another turned to friendship and our friendship to love. Today, thirty-seven years later, we have a stronger relationship founded on love and trust because we know each other. If my husband and I had not made the effort over the years to spend time together, growing together and getting to know each other more and more, there would be no way that him and I would have a relationship. The reason I am telling you this, is because it is very difficult to grow relationally with God if you don’t know Him. You need to know Him if you are going to have a relationship with Him and hence an effort on the Christian’s part needs to be made so that one can grow relationally with God.
In my time in ministry abroad and getting to know Christians from around the world, it always amazed me how many times I would see, the Christians that battled the most, were the ones who lacked a relationship with God and knew very little about Him – often I think, that some Christians are Christians in name only. If only they would take the time and effort to get to know God, their lives would take on an amazingly extraordinary turn for the good.
One thing I know for certain, is that, as long as you endeavor to embark on a relationship with God, He will set you on a journey which is adventurous in getting to know Him. He will pursue a journey with you where He will constantly reveal Himself to you in a way that is true to who He is and His character. Looking back on my ten years of living in the Middle East, I realized that God took me to a literal desert and set me on a journey of discovering who He is for who He really is, and that in turn helped me to understand who I was in Him and who He created me to be. There is nothing like meeting the Truth – like Hagar in the desert encountering a well of cool, refreshing water to quench the soul and heart when it has been running on dry, lifeless religion.
ETERNAL LIFE: What is it?
John 3: 16 (KJV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
God promises everlasting life to all those who receive His Son as their Lord and Saviour. One may ask – but, what is eternal life? Well, Jesus tells us through the Gospel of John exactly what eternal life is.
John 17: 3 (AMP)
“And this is eternal life: (it means) to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and (likewise) to know Him, Jesus (as the) Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.”
When we look back on the Jeremiah 9: 24 verse, we see the use of the word ‘know’ and this word ‘know’ comes from the Hebrew word ‘yada’, which means intimate knowledge and implies one having a first- hand experience with the one who is known. In John 17: 3, Jesus clearly defines everlasting life as knowing God and knowing His Son, Jesus Christ intimately. If one seeks the forgiveness of sins through salvation only without growing and developing an intimate relationship with God, then the entire point of salvation has been misunderstood. God’s intention since the foundations of this world has always been and always will be to have a loving relationship with His people. It is His desire that we know Him the way He knows us.
The only way to know God is through His Word. When you spend time in His Word, you are spending time with Him because He and His Word are one.
John 1: 14 (KJV)
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
The more you spend time in His Word, the more you will get to know Him. Don’t be afraid to ask God questions. Throughout my relationship with God, I have always asked Him questions pertaining to His Word and He has always been faithful in His answering. Jesus was referred to in the Gospels as ‘Rabbi’ and ‘Teacher’ and I know that He is always willing to teach us, help us understand and receive revelation in His Word through the Holy Spirit. The amazing thing about spending time with God and His Word, is that it will always inevitably lead to prayer and enjoying His presence. There is something very intense, joyful and spiritual that takes place when His presence, His Word and you come together. If only more of God’s people would have the passion, the desire and the love for His Word, the more God’s people would be changed and transformed from the inside out and that in turn would give rise to their security in their identity and purpose.
Jeremiah 15:16 (AMP)
“Your Words were found, and I ate them; and Your Words were to me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart, for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of Hosts.”
Read on: CONCLUSION
