KNOWING GOD – Pursuing a personal relationship with The Master!

Did you know that Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny, was allergic to carrots?   And that Thomas Edison, the inventor of the electric light bulb, was afraid of the dark?  And the electric chair was invented by a dentist … I don’t know who he was, but I wonder what was he thinking!

But,  knowing someone personally is entirely different from simply knowing something about that person.  Actually knowing someone requires a first-hand experience with that individual.

 

Following the Crucifixion of Jesus, the first three centuries saw much intense persecution of the early Church.  This was the time when you’ve heard of Christians being thrown to very hungry, very angry lions.

 

Now, there’s an Aesop’s Fable, which is a fictitious story, but it takes place in this historical period, and it illustrates a profound lesson in the value of knowing someone.

 

A Christian slave named Androcles had escaped from his master and fled into the forest. As he was wandering about, in search of shelter and sustenance, he came upon a lion, lying on the ground, moaning and groaning.

Startled, Androcles initially turned to flee, but seeing that the lion did not pursue him, he turned back and cautiously re-approached the suffering animal.  As Androcles drew near, he quickly observed that the lions paw was bleeding and swollen, with a huge thorn embedded between his pads.

Androcles carefully, gently removed the thorn, then bound up the lion’s paw.   Presently, the big cat was able to rise to his feet, and licked the hand of his benefactor. Then the lion led Androcles to the refuge of his cave, and, each day thereafter, the lion would bring his new human friend things to eat, as he hunted for his own food.

But one day while the lion was – grocery shopping, Androcles was captured by the Roman authorities and, as was often the punishment, the runaway slave was sentenced to be thrown to the lions.

The Amphitheatre was filled to capacity, as the Emperor and his court came to see the spectacle.  A terrified Androcles was led out into the middle of the arena.   A large door across the arena was opened, and a seriously angry, obviously under-fed lion leaped from the shadows and bounded toward the quivering Androcles.

But as the lion neared Androcles, he ceased his roaring and stopped in his tracks, as he recognized his friend.  Slowly, he walked up to the stunned Androcles, until they were face -to-face.  Then the lion rubbed his head on Androcles’ chest and licked his hands.

The puzzled Emperor, summoned Androcles, for an explanation of what he had just witnessed.  Androcles related to the Emperor his entire, incredible story, whereupon the slave was pardoned and set free, while the lion was returned to his forest.home.

 

That lion probably hadn’t been fed for several days.  And Androcles must have looked like an hors-d’oeuvre!   So, why didn’t the lion simply snarf up poor Androcles?

 

Well, they knew each other!  Having established a reciprocating relationship made a big difference here,  didn’t it?

 

What’s involved in knowing someone?

 

When I first laid eyes on the lady who was to become my wife, I was absolutely smitten.  There she stood behind the cosmetics counter at the Bon Ton; peaches-and-cream complexion, dancing blue eyes,  golden curls spilling down on her black smock and black turtle-neck sweater.  She was stunningly pretty!   And then she spoke - with that soft, German accent – and I was toast!   This was an exotic woman! 

But looking beyond her beauty, my initial wonderations were: Who are you? What are you like?  What do you stand for?  Do you have integrity?  Do you have strength of character?  Could you be a “keeper”?

 

So, how do you get to know someone?  You spend time together, you communicate,  and you begin to do things together.

 

Thru spending time with her, talking together, going for walks, sharing meals, she gradually revealed herself to me.  And I did the same for her.  I wanted to show her who I am.

Each morning, I gave her a brief wake-up phone call, and I often brought her something for lunch at her second job, because she frequently skipped meals.  And this is how we got acquainted.

 

The Bible says that God desires a heart relationship with each of us –  one that works like that – a relationship that He likens to the closeness and trust of a marriage relationship.

 

God says in Psalm 139:1,  “You may not know me, but I know everything about you.”

And He counsels in Psalm 46:10  “Be still and know that I am God.”  Be at peace and know Who I am.

 

Knowing God is essential to life, right here and now – as well as beyond this brief blip in the history of the cosmos.

KNOWING GOD IS THE KEY TO LIFE .   Listen as Jesus speaks:

John 17:3 “This is life eternal:  that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent”.  Eternal life is predicated on knowing God.

 

In his second letter to the church at Thesalonica, (II Thes 1:7,8)  the Apostle Paul says that Jesus will “… return in judgment of those who know Him not “.  Why??   Well, because they’ve frittered-away an entire lifetime of opportunity to know and acknowledge the very One who gives them life!

 

Then, there’s  Matthew 25:12 - This is a  parable of the closed door at the conclusion of the judgment.  Jesus says that many will come to Him on that day and exclaim,  ”Wait a minute!  I belong in there!  I healed the sick in your name!  I did great things in Your name!”

But Jesus will only reply, “We never knew each other.”

Knowing Him provides all the right reasons for serving Him.

 

So Knowing Him is the lynch-pin of Eternal life

And neglecting the opportunity to know Him could exclude us from Eternity

And performing marvelous works, even in His Blessed Name, is not a valid substitute for having a personal, trusting relationship with Him.

 

When I was a young man, I knew right from wrong, and I tried to do what was right, and tried not to do what was wrong.  That was work!  That was really hard!   I didn’t know God.  I was hacking it out on my own and not doing well at all.  I was running around in circles, banging into things, hurting people and alienating those who loved me.  I did a lot of damage!

Listen to the plea of the Apostle Paul:  I Cor 15:34 “Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God.  I speak this to your shame.”

And in the Clear Word Bible I found this: ““I have been misrepresented by those who do not know Me”.

IT IS GOD’S EARNEST DESIRE THAT WE LEARN TO KNOW HIM

Learn Who  He is,  what He’s  like.

What does He require of me / What does He want from me?

What’s in it for me?  What are the benefits?  These are legitimate questions!

 

So, how DO you get to know God?

 

I never knew my father – I knew about him: I’d seen photos, I’d heard stories and incidents, heard other peoples’ opinions and observations of my Dad.  But I never met the man.  He was killed in action in the South Pacific right after I was born.  My mother’s collection of stories was limited by the fact that they had only been married a year before he went off to war.

But then one evening, my Mom called me into her room, sat me down in a chair, and handed me a pack of letters that my father had written, years ago.  “I think you’re old enough to understand now.  Make yourself comfortable and you can take your time.”

As I read those letters, my Dad was revealed to me thru his written thoughts, his concerns, his passions, his hopes and desires for our future, the depth of his love for my Mom, and his plans for me, as expressed in those yellowed epistles.  And as I dug deeper, even more was revealed.  This was the very beginning of knowing my Dad.  Do you know, this same process applies to pursuing an acquaintance with our Heavenly Father?

 

Our Heavenly Father reveals Himself in many ways –

1) Thru His written Word – thru reading His letters to us.  The Scriptures are the transcript of His character.

In His Word, we see the extent of His great love for mankind, His tremendous patience.  Observe His mercy and grace in how he deals with people and with situations

 

2) He is revealed thru His Son.   Jesus is The Word made flesh – the express image of God.  Jesus came to reveal to humankind the very character and nature of the Father.

And in John 14:9,  the disciple Philip says to Jesus, “Show us the Father,” and Jesus responds: “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and still you do not know Me?   If you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father.”

 

3) God is revealed by The Holy Spirit, the Comforter and Counselor Whom Jesus sent to lead us into all Truth.  Scripture refers to Jesus as “The Way, The Truth, and The Life”.   And He is the express image of The Father.

 

4) He is revealed in nature – Nature is called God’s “Second Book”.  Beholding the handiwork of an artisan reveals much about that person.  Nature is the evidence of God’s love and power.

 

Job (11:7) asks the question, ” Can you, by searching,  find out God?”

 

Well, Scripture says: the very capability to know Him and to understand His ways and His purposes …is a gift – it’s a gift!

Paul’s prayer in his letter to the church at Ephesus (1:17)  was ” … that the God of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him .”

The ability to know God is His gift  to the genuine seeker.

God speaks thru the prophet Jeremiah 24:7 “I will give them a heart to know Me …”

And the New English Bible translates that passage, “I will give them the wit to know me.”

 

Let’s put some shoes on this, now.  This means we can pray to the Father, in the name of the Son, and ask Him for the gift to know him as a caring “Daddy” .  Perhaps you’ll recall that Jesus, in Gethsemane, addressed His Father as “Abba”.  The term “Abba”  is the familiar form of “father” that a loving child would use, such as “Daddy”!  Isn’t that neat?

Thru the prophet Malachi God invites: “Prove Me (Try me) and see if I will not open the windows of Heaven and pour you out a blessing “    The context here is  His response to our demonstration of faith toward Him.

 

In Psalms 34:8, King David challenges us: “O taste and see that the Lord is good.  Blessed is the man who trusteth in Him.”

 

And again from the Clear Word:  “Getting to know God should be our number one priority.  For He will  provide all our other necessities.”

 

And once we know Him, then whatever He asks of us … isn’t really a problem.

 

There was one particularly interesting letter in that packet my Mom handed me.  It was short, yet so profound – My Dad wrote a letter to me!   To newborn, little me!  As I read it, again and again, I could hear the gentle voice of a caring Daddy speaking so tenderly to the apple of his eye!

 

Our Maker, Our Redeemer, The Rock of Our Salvation – Our Mighty Fortress – Our Heavenly Father has written letters to us, personally … Letters that reveal to us His Character, His future plans,  His wisdom and understanding, His counsel for a victorious, abundant life – and the Roadmap that leads us to His Eternal Kingdom.

 

Have you giants to slay?  Are there mountains you must climb?  Demons at the door?  Are you facing some hungry, angry lions?  The same One who silenced the lions on behalf of our friend, Daniel, in that Lion’s Den, is alive and well, and still very much in business as Sovereign of the Universe.

 

We need to know - for ourselves  – what His Book says -  and all that it reveals of its Author.

And He has promised to give us the understanding … to KNOW HIM … to know His purposes, and His benefits.