“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3
“They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” Titus 1:16
“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.” 1 John 2:3-5
Does knowing God simply mean that we intellectually know who He is? No! Does it simply mean that we know who He is and believe He is God? No! Does it simply mean that we know He is God and that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Son of God, who died on the cross and was raised from the dead? No! Does it simply mean we believe in Jesus Christ as Lord who died on the cross and was raised from the dead, committing our lives to Christ? No! Does it simply mean through faith in Christ as Lord we have a personal and intimate forever relationship with God almighty? No!
The scriptures above make clear eternal life means knowing the Lord, and in believing in Christ as Lord we know and are in intimate fellowship with Him forever. But this is not the end point. This is the beginning! In having a forever relationship with the Lord, in knowing Him personally, we live a life of faith, love, and obedience! We submit our lives to Him as Lord! We yield our lives to Him as King! We surrender our lives to Him as master! We give our lives to Him as Father! We are His children, yes! And we are His servants, yes! We are His slaves, yes! We bear the fruits of repentance from our old lives and repentance toward God!
In the second scripture above, the people referred to claim to “know” God, but their works, their acts, their fruit they produce, show they do not truly know God. If they really knew God, they would live to love and worship and serve and obey and glorify God! But they do not!
Let’s be careful, friend. We’re in a dangerous place when we profess to believe in God, to believe in Christ as Lord, to call Jesus Lord, to call ourselves Christians, to say we “know” God, etc., and yet do not live our lives to love and forever glorify God almighty through Christ.
For a long time, I told the world I loved the Lord more than anything and anyone. I professed to believe in Christ as Lord. I called Him Lord of my life. My heart and life were sufficient proof I was lord of my own life. The Lord led me to repentance and ever since has day by day, by His Spirit, through His Word, and with the help of His followers, taught me what it really means to “know” the Lord. And to live and breathe utterly for Him.
Do you “know” the Lord? Do your heart and life bear fruit that show you truly know Him? That you live to love and serve and obey and bring Him glory? To worship Him forever?
If not, please do as the Lord so graciously and mercifully and lovingly albeit firmly and sternly led me to do. Repent and surrender yourself utterly to Him – forevermore!