Knowing someone includes but goes
well beyond just knowing about them. We can know a lot about
a national hero, recording artist, or favorite sports star, but we
would never be able to say that we "know" them in any meaningful way
unless we've spent time interacting with them -- time learning what
they think about, how they think about things, what motivates them and
how they feel in various situations.
"KNOWING" SOMEONE MEANS:
YOU KNOW ABOUT THEM.
YOU HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
WITH THEM.
THERE'S GIVE AND TAKE.
YOU HAVE A ONE-ON-ONE
RELATIONSHIP.
YOU ARE ALSO KNOWN AND ARE
AWARE OF THAT KNOWING.
Knowing God works the same way
that knowing any other person works. It goes well beyond
"knowing about" to "having a relationship" or experiencing life
together. Creation trumpets the existence of an intelligent
designer and Creator, who is God. We can and should "know"
God as Creator -- as the source of all existence. That means
we both recognize His intelligent design and creation with our
intellects AND experience Him as Creator. For
example, we're filled with awe and gratitude to Him on a snowy day as
we watch a fresh snowfall blanket trees, hillsides, fields, meadows and
roads with pristine whiteness. We express our thankfulness to
God even more when we feel and hear the crunch of snow beneath our
feet, spot rabbit tracks in the snow and appreciate the endless
differences of the snowflakes scattered on our gloves.
And, for another example, as we experience and consider how "fearfully
and wonderfully we are made" -- we can see and there are many wondrous
things to see -- we can hear and the world is filled with delightful
sounds; voices lifted in praise to God the lovliest of all -- we can
feel; who doesn't like to be hugged? -- our minds and hearts bow before
Him in wonder and thanksgiving..
Besides being the Creator -- and among other things -- God reveals
Himself to us as the I AM (self-existing one), merciful, forgiving,
rich in unfailing love, compassionate, truth, faithful, patient, slow
to anger, the way, life, and Savior. We know
God when we personally relate with and experience Him in all of these
aspects of Who He is.
It is deeply enriching to know God in all of his aspects (What an
incredible understatement!) as fully as we can. Most
important of those aspects is that He is our Savior -- MY savior (Let
the reader say this.). The salvation He holds out for us is
an expression of others of His aspects: unfailing love, mercy
and compassion. The salvation He offers is a relationship
with Him. And in our relationship with God -- in the Person
of Jesus -- we experience the joy of forgiveness, peace, freedom from
guilt, a meaningful life in the present, the promise of Eternal life
with Him, and our current relationship with Him itself. We
know Him because we're connected to Him in relationship of Bible study
to hear what He has for us, our thankfulness and prayers to Him,
sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, and worship. And perhaps we
know Him most deeply when His love motivates us to serve Him in loving
others and telling others the Good News about Him.
There's no question. Knowing God is the ultimate
life-experience!
For related thoughts, take a look at God's Self Revelation and the
Names and Attributes of God. |
