“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8).
How can we know God? If you have read the Bible, it isn’t hard to know God. From Genesis to Revelation, God has made His presence known. He hasn’t tried to hide Himself from us. Some of us may not want to acknowledge Him, but be assured He is very real. What is amazing is those who won’t acknowledge Him get offended when His name is used.
If someone doesn’t exist, why does it offend them? They use His name in vain and use it when they curse. I think that down deep within their soul they know He does exist. Someday they will see God in all His glory; they won’t be able to deny Him. How can we truly know God? It starts by reading God’s Word and believing what it says.
The world makes all types of promises that attempt to satisfy our needs. Man’s promises are just that—man’s promises. These promises fail and can only satisfy for a moment. But God’s promises are eternal. “Jesus said, And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3).
A key point to truly know God is to recognize that we are sinners. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Romans 3:10, 14, and 18 says: “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: … Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: … There is no fear of God before their eyes.” These scriptures tell us that we cannot know God because of our sinfulness.
But in John 1:12 we read, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” This gives us a way to know him by becoming His child. This means that we must believe in order to know Him.
When we begin to believe in God, we have begun our journey of knowing God in a personal way. Our belief in God is personal; no one can make the decision for us whether to believe or not to believe. We must read and understand what the Bible tells us about God. The Bible is God’s revelation, His promises, and His will. The Bible is full of love that God has expressed toward us. The Bible is God’s love letter to mankind.
In 2 Timothy 3:14-16 we read, “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” This is a way that we can know God by adhering to His word. Our earthly father taught us these same things when he was raising us. We paid attention to him just as we should pay attention to God.
God created us to do good works. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). We can know God better when we do the good works that He called us to do. We are to begin in faith. When we start this way, we will get to know God in ways that we thought could never be done. When we are born again and get to know Jesus, we will know who God is. The Holy Spirit will guide us in our journey to know God. We must rely on Him to help us and not try to do it on our own.
When we pray, it brings us closer to Him. Praise and glorify His name every time we pray. Rely on His promises and thank Him for what He has done for us. How do we get to know God? Accept Jesus as Saviour, read the Bible, live a life that is pleasing to Him. When we do these things, God will fill our lives with His presence.
If you want to know God, all you must do is accept Jesus and ask Him to forgive you of your sins. He is waiting for you to invite Him into your life.