Menu
Menu
The Lord Jesus Christ offers not only comfort from our burdens in this life but most especially the true rest in the heavenly kingdom.
THE LORD ALMIGHTY declares, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight …” (Jer. 9:23-24 New King James Version). Clearly, knowing God is of utmost importance. It is, therefore, imperative that people, no matter who they are and what they have in this life, strive to truly know God.
To seek to know the Lord is taught by the Bible:
“Let us try to know the LORD. He will come to us as surely as the day dawns, as surely as the spring rains fall upon the earth” (Hos. 6:3 Good News Bible).
Knowing God requires undeniable proof:
“If we obey God’s commands, then we are sure that we know him. … But if we obey his word, we are the ones whose love for God has really been made perfect. This is how we can be sure that we are in union with God.” (I John 2:3, 5 GNB)
Hence, man should strive to obey all of God’s commands to him. One who says he knows God but disobeys or disregards His commandments is making a liar out of himself and there is no truth in him (I John 2:4 GNB). Moreover, God considers “detestable” those who claim to know Him yet are exposed as liars by their actions (Titus 1:16 New International Version).
The importance of obedience to God is such that the apostles admonished the first-century Christians to “put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:5 NIV). Just as it is important to truly know God, it is also vital that one upholds obedience, shunning all forms of sins. When one does all of these, he stands to benefit from knowing God because the Lord will surely recognize and accept him as well.
We have to keep in mind that as it is vital to know God, it is equally important that we “are known by God” (Gal. 4:9 NKJV). That is why mere knowledge or recognition of God is not enough. We have to make sure that, in return, God recognizes us! Even if one claims that he knows God, it becomes nothing but an empty boast if the Almighty God does not recognize or acknowledge him.
In the Christian era, those who do not only know God but are also known by Him are the ones He recognizes as His own special people:
“Once you were not a people [at all], but now you are God’s people; once you were unpitied, but now you are pitied and have received mercy. … But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (I Pet. 2:10, 9 Amplified Bible)
Those whom God recognizes as His own special people are the ones whom He called out of darkness and brought into His marvelous light. They have been brought to the kingdom of His Son Jesus Christ where there is redemption (Col. 1:13-14). That which has redemption or was redeemed by Christ with His blood is the Church Of Christ:
“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts. 20:28 Lamsa Translation)
Therefore, for one who recognizes God to be recognized or accepted by Him, he must become a member of the Church Of Christ. It is this Church which God acknowledges as His chosen nation, His own special people. Among the great blessings that come with being God’s chosen people is the privilege of being heard by Him in prayer, especially in times of trials and tests of faith:
“I will bring the one-third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say,‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God’.” (Zech. 13:9 NKJV)
