Get To Know God – Part 2

Even though my past is something to be ashamed of, I have learned that God has done more than I could have imagined to win over my heart and life. The key in changing my distorted perception was found in a constant refocusing of my thoughts, intentions and imaginations on the Word of God. I had heard all kinds of things about Him, but I didn’t actually know the truth about Him or how I could get to know God. I didn’t know Him. It’s taken me a long time, but I have begun to realize the truth of God’s character and Who He really is. This truth can only be found in His Word, the Bible.

What’s required to really know God and His character? How can we get to know God? We need to repent of (turn away from) our preconceived ideas of Who He is, and rely upon the one and only sure source of truth in discovering His character – the Bible! This is essential, because while teachers may come and go, and doctrines can be revised, the Word of God is as unchanging as God Himself;

Ps 119:89

Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.

Once we accept the Word of God as truth, we then need to take Him at His Word. What the Word states as truth is true, whether we ‘feel’ it’s true or not. As we continue to read His Word and get to know God, the Holy Spirit will continue to renew our minds from what we think is true about God to what is actually true about Him;

Rom 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

By constantly reading and studying  His Word, the Holy Spirit is able to bring us to light and life. Books on religion and Christianity are good, but simply reading about God is not enough! We need to seek to know Him, not just know about Him. If all you do is just read about Him, you will never get to know Him.

This is the reason Jesus was so critical of the Pharisees. They knew about God, but they didn’t know Him;

John 5:37-40

And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form.  But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.  You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.  But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

They were very religious, but religion itself will not empower you to know God intimately. It takes the combination of God’s Word and His Spirit to reveal the truth of Who God is. We need to both seek God in His Word as well as rely upon His Spirit to reveal that Word to us. This is the truth of how we get to know God, as it is written;

2 Cor 3:5-6

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, Who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.