"He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thess. 1:8
There is a world of difference 'twixt knowing about God and knowing God first-hand or having knowledge about God and of God. We must turn our knowledge about God into the knowledge of God, though knowing about Him is a prerequisite to knowing Him. Believing He exists or knowledge about Him doesn't satisfy--we yearn to have a relationship with Him and to know Him. Why? To know Him is to love Him and our mission is to know Him and make Him known! Richard of Chichester said that he wanted to "know Him more clearly, follow Him more nearly, and love Him more dearly!" What a challenge! In knowing God we cannot define Him, put Him in a box, or limit Him in any way--He is infinite and we at finite and cannot grasp Him ("Canst thou by searching find out God?"--Job 11:7). The only way to know God is not second-hand knowledge, but by a personal, divine encounter via an exercise of faith in the risen Christ.
God's pet peeve is that man doesn't know Him and those who don't know Him are condemned. "Three is no faithfulness, no love, no knowledge of God in the land." (cf. Hosea 4:6). The problem with man is that he rejects what he does know and isn't grateful, but worships the creation, not the creator! The benefits, not the Benefactor! Knowing God is eternal life and it is imperative that God knows us or we will be condemned: "I never knew you...." Knowing God boggles the mind, enlarges the intellect, expands our thinking, and blows us away. Daniel says that "those who know their God shall be strong and do exploits" (cf. Dan. 11:32). It is possible to have an intimate acquaintance with the Almighty through daily devotion to prayer and Bible reading.
It isn't how big your faith is, but how big your God is! Some have a God who is too human, and their God is thus too small--an inadequate vision or view of God is idolatry. Don't underestimate the Almighty or put Him in a box to fit your dimensions or definitions like thinking of Him as the Great Mathematician, Mean Judge, Man Upstairs, Father Time, or Great Artist, or even God is like you! "With whom then will you compare God? To what image will you liken Him?" Isaiah 40:18
No one is like God and we cannot compare Him to anyone--we don't talk in comparatives or superlatives, but contrast Him. The good thing is that we are in His image (the imago Dei) and because we are persons with a personality just like God has and we can relate to Him and form friendships and relationships. But take it all by faith--you'll never figure God out because you're finite and He's infinite (the finite cannot grasp, the infinite goes the maxim).
God's fingerprints or imprints are everywhere and He is always with us. Christianity is about the God who is there and He is not silent but invites us to know Him personally. All that we need to know of God's nature and personality is given us in the person of Christ--God with skin on! Though we are inadequate in describing Him, we are commanded to make Him known! The Bible never proves God but assumes Him and makes Him known! We cannot know God exhaustively, but truly, for eternal life is to know God (cf. John 17:3). Soli Deo Gloria!
God's pet peeve is that man doesn't know Him and those who don't know Him are condemned. "Three is no faithfulness, no love, no knowledge of God in the land." (cf. Hosea 4:6). The problem with man is that he rejects what he does know and isn't grateful, but worships the creation, not the creator! The benefits, not the Benefactor! Knowing God is eternal life and it is imperative that God knows us or we will be condemned: "I never knew you...." Knowing God boggles the mind, enlarges the intellect, expands our thinking, and blows us away. Daniel says that "those who know their God shall be strong and do exploits" (cf. Dan. 11:32). It is possible to have an intimate acquaintance with the Almighty through daily devotion to prayer and Bible reading.
It isn't how big your faith is, but how big your God is! Some have a God who is too human, and their God is thus too small--an inadequate vision or view of God is idolatry. Don't underestimate the Almighty or put Him in a box to fit your dimensions or definitions like thinking of Him as the Great Mathematician, Mean Judge, Man Upstairs, Father Time, or Great Artist, or even God is like you! "With whom then will you compare God? To what image will you liken Him?" Isaiah 40:18
No one is like God and we cannot compare Him to anyone--we don't talk in comparatives or superlatives, but contrast Him. The good thing is that we are in His image (the imago Dei) and because we are persons with a personality just like God has and we can relate to Him and form friendships and relationships. But take it all by faith--you'll never figure God out because you're finite and He's infinite (the finite cannot grasp, the infinite goes the maxim).
God's fingerprints or imprints are everywhere and He is always with us. Christianity is about the God who is there and He is not silent but invites us to know Him personally. All that we need to know of God's nature and personality is given us in the person of Christ--God with skin on! Though we are inadequate in describing Him, we are commanded to make Him known! The Bible never proves God but assumes Him and makes Him known! We cannot know God exhaustively, but truly, for eternal life is to know God (cf. John 17:3). Soli Deo Gloria!
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