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Do I Know God, or Do I Know About God?
“DO I KNOW GOD OR DO I KNOW ABOUT GOD?”
The question above is one that causes many to question their relationship with God. Knowing God and knowing about God are two entirely different concepts. Religiously, I can know about God, but do I know Him? I can know all about a famous historical figure, a famous athlete, or even a movie star and still not know him or her. There is a distinction between knowing Him and knowing about Him. I can be at every service and still not know God. I can attend all of the activities of the church and still only know about God. We need to make the leap from knowledge about God to forming a relationship with Him. How do we do that? How do we move from knowing about God to knowing God?
First, we need to start by listening to God. “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.” (I John 2:3) We must listen to His Son. Hebrews 1:1 states, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son.” We need to also listen to those men that were given charge to teach the early church. “We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us.” (I John 4:6) This is more than just knowledge. This is hearing and obeying. In the time of Christ, there were many who heard and knew Jesus’s message but they did not listen or obey. Those who went out to be baptized by John listened and obeyed. Those who followed Christ during His preaching listened and obeyed. Those who were in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost listened and obeyed.
We must listen, and we must love. “Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (I John 4:7-8) We have to learn to love like God. His Son can show us the way.
How did men like Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David get to know God? They trusted Him and committed everything to have a relationship with Him. They were not perfect, but they knew God and trusted Him. Our challenge is to know God on a deeper level. Don’t be satisfied with knowing about God but strive to develop your relationship with Him and know Him. It all depends entirely upon you and your dedication to knowing Him.
Written by Larry Schneider
