How to Know God

No doubt, the most important question any of us can ask ourselves is “Do I know God?”  Many women wonder if knowing God is even possible.  God’s word, the Bible, makes it clear that knowing God personally is not only possible, it’s what God wants for you.  Stop and let your mind grasp that for a minute.  God wants to have a relationship with you.

The Bible not only makes it clear that a relationship with God is possible, it also  tells us how we can have this incredible relationship. God’s word says:

“For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son (Jesus) so that whoever believes in him might have eternal life.” John 3:16

What does this mean to you and me?  Quite simply, it means that God loves us.  And God loved us so much that He gave us his son, Jesus.

Jesus himself said,  “I came to seek and to save the lost.”  That may sound a bit foreign, but think of it this way:  Have you ever been lost? Of course you have.  At first being lost is just a bit annoying.  In fact, often we don’t even realize we are lost until we look around only to find we are in unfamiliar territory.  But even then, we generally figure we can find our way, given a little time and effort.  But what happens when time and effort fail and we can’t find our way?  We realize we need help outside ourselves.  We need directions from someone who knows the way.   Spiritually speaking, that’s Jesus.  He knows the way.  He came to seek and save the lost.  He came to make sure we would know how to get to heaven.  But it gets better.  Jesus not only knows the way – He is the way!  Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life. “  (John 14:6)  In a nutshell,  God loves you and wants you to know Him, and you come to know Him through Jesus.

1.  God knows you and loves you and wants you to know and love Him.

But we (mankind) have created a barrier between us and God that prevents us from knowing and experiencing a loving relationship with Him.  What is this barrier?  The Bible calls it sin.

Orginally “sin” was an archery term that meant “missing the mark”.  When an archer shot an arrow and missed the center, the distance between where the arrow landed and the bulls eye was called “sin”.  Essentially sin is missing the mark of perfection.

2. People are sinful and are therefore separated from God’s love and plan.

God is perfect and holy.  We are not.  It’s just that simple.  Our imperfection is what the Bible refers to as “sin”.  I don’t live up to God’s holy standard of righteousness.  Honestly, I don’t even live up to my own standards of right and wrong 1oo% of the time.  And neither do you.  That, sweet friend, is why Jesus came.

3.  Jesus is God’s only provision for our separation with God.

If sin is what seperates a Holy God from less-than-holy people, then doesn’t it make sense that for us to be reconciled to God something would have to be done about the thing that causes the seperation – namely sin?

That is why Jesus came to earth.

Jesus didn’t live among us to merely be an example (although he was).

Jesus didn’t live among us to merely be a teacher (although he was).

Jesus didn’t live among us to merely be a healer, a prophet or a religious leader (although he was all of these things, and more).

Jesus lived among us to be a Savior.

Jesus came to earth to pay the price for your sin and mine.  That is why he allowed himself to be crucified on the cross.  “The wages (or price tag) of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a).  Sin has a price.  That price is death.  You can pay the price or you can allow Jesus’ death on the cross to pay your debt.

Romans 6:23 continues….”The wages of sin is death BUT the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.”

Honestly, I think this must be one of the best truths of the Bible – if not the best.  God has a free gift waiting for me if I’ll just take it – the gift of eternal life.  How?  Through Jesus.  Why?  Because Jesus was the only religious leader in history who dealt with real issue seperating man from God – sin.  And he did it by dying in my place for my sin so that I could live, now and eternally in heaven.

Here’s the bottom line.  God wants a relationship with you. With you! He’s done his part by becoming flesh and living among us, showing us the way.  What’s your part?  To receive the free gift of salvation by believing that Jesus is the son of God and by committing your life to Him.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says “For by grace you are saved through faith. It is the gift of God, not as a result of works so that no one can boast.”

In other words, I cannot earn my way to God by trying to be good enough.  Because although trying to be good may make me a better person, it will never make me a perfect person.  I’ll still have my imperfections – my sins – to deal with.  No, my works cannot bring me into a right relationship with God. If they could, I could boast.  But I can’t.  And neither can you.

It’s all God’s grace.  Salvation is a free gift.  The only requirement is faith.

What if you want to believe but you are still filled with doubt?

Let me share one of my all time favorite Bible stories:  a man came to Jesus hoping Jesus could help him.  Jesus asked him a straightforward question – “Do you believe?”  In response the man gave Jesus a heartfelt and honest answer, “I do believe.  But help my unbelief.”

Now that’s a guy many of us can relate to!  If you sincerely want to know God you’ll find him.  Just be honest.  Tell God you want to know Him.  Tell God you do believe – but ask Him to help you in your areas of unbelief.

The Bible says:  “you will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart”.  God can be found.  God can be known.

Jesus said these powerful words, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him.”

Jesus just may be knocking at your heart’s door right now.  The question you must answer is, “will I open the door of my life and let Him in?”

If this is the desire of your heart, pray something like this:

“Lord Jesus, I need you.  I am not a perfect person.  But you already know that.  You love me anyway and died on the cross for my sins.  Forgive me of my sins.   Thank you for offering me the gift of a relationship with you and of eternal life.  Thank you for dying in my place.  I invite you into my life to be my Lord and my Savior.  Make me a new person – one who knows you and loves you.  Amen.”

Remember, God isn’t so concerned with the words that you pray as He is with the sincerity of your heart.  A relationship with God is just that – a relationship.  You can talk to Him anytime about anything.  He knows you.  He made you.  He loves you.  He cares.