I have always been intrigued by the phrase in Jesus’ prayer that “this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). He’s asking for a relationship, such as he has with God, to be given to others. He desires for us to know God. If I were to ask you to think of people in the Bible who knew God, who would you think of? For me, Adam, Enoch, Abraham, Moses, and of course, Jesus resonate in my mind. When we reflect on their experiences, the enticing verses about their lives create a jealousy for a relationship we could have.
In Adam’s case, we are told that “and they [the man and his wife] heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day” (Gen 3:8). They knew this sound, they were familiar with it. Additionally, the narrative suggests that they typically joined the walk. At the very least, it seems to be presented as unusual that, after their sin, they chose to hide from His walk. Then of Enoch we’re told in Gen 5:24, that he “Walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Though I cannot say exactly what this means, the Scripture tantalizes us with the account of his life in Heb 11:5, by telling us that “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” He pleased God, he walked with God. These are two incredible things to be remembered of any person. Indeed, in the next verse God reminds us that “without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him”. Faith puts us confidently in a place where we too can please Him, seek Him, be in relationship with Him.
God reminiscences of Abraham in this way: “But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend” (Isa 41:8). Jesus clarifies this friendship by revealing that we are his friends when we do whatever he commands us to do. As friends, he reveals God’s thoughts to us (John 15:14-15). We remember that friendship in Abraham’s life. We read in awe of how the Lord revealed to Abraham the things He had planned (Gen 18:17).
With Moses there are many remarkable interactions, and they are summed up in Exod 33:11 where we are told of how “The Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” As stated by Alfred Nicholls in The Name That is Above Every Name, “He who had been afraid to look upon God at the bush, and indeed had been forbidden to draw nigh, was now able to live in God’s presence and literally to reflect the glory from his own shining face” (p. 47).Truly, knowing God can have profound effects on our lives.
The relationship Jesus had with His Father is revealed as even deeper. We are told that God looked on him with Favor, and declared how well He is pleased with Jesus (Luke 2:52; 3:22).
Granting that it is true that Adam was with God before the fall, and Jesus was His only begotten son, His word made flesh, Enoch, Moses and Abraham were cursed with separation in the same way we are, yet here on earth, they seem to have known God. This leaves the promise, yea, even the command to know God open to us. We must know God if we want to inherit life eternal. We may wonder what this looks like now, in the days wherein we live, although it is probable we know some people who are already on this path.
People who Know God
It may surprise us to know that we have met people that KNOW God. In moments of reflection, can you think of anyone? We are not talking about the ones that know facts about Him, who can think of the right references, or quote the passages, but the ones who seem to KNOW Him, to be in relationship with Him. Those who choose to see Him as their loving Heavenly Father, a constant all-powerful presence directing their lives. The ones who trust Him, even when faced with trials. There must be attributes that make these Biblical and present people different, set apart, holy unto God.
In my own search, I’ve been amazed that some people draw closer to God in their struggles, that they speak often and openly of Him recognizing that He is their true source of strength. There are others who obey, even when their lives are in turmoil, and find, unnaturally, along the way, that their faith is stronger than when they began. They, like Jeremiah, have taken the precious truth of God, from the vile of this current life (Jer 15:19).
In their lives, I can see that knowing God is bigger than thanking Him for food, clothing or protection. It’s more than spending a week centered around His word, more than doing our readings every day. It’s more along the lines of being able to echo David and Hezekiah’s praise, to look at our God and say, “I know O Lord, that Thy judgements are right, and that Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me”, to trust Him so completely that I believe it is for my good that I had great bitterness, for “Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back” (Psa 119:75 and Isa 38:17). I want to know God like that.
I need to know God like that because I don’t want to hear the words echoed back at me, “I never knew you” (Matt 7:23). I do not have a package answer to this problem, or a tidy set of beliefs that will do the trick. What I can share with you, is an interesting concept I have come across, that helps me walk further on this path. It has been called The Practice of the Presence of God, by a man remembered as Brother Lawrence from recorded conversations and letters he wrote to his contemporaries in the 17th century. This idea entails having a relationship of praise to God continually, through conversation, prayer and meditation on the Word. Adding this quality to our daily interaction can transform our minds, and cultivate an openness to His revealed will. God, in the words recorded by Asaph, when summoning the earth and the heavens, that He might judge His people, declares “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God” (Psa 50:23). Praise is an important step in the process of knowing God’s salvation. To practice His presence then, is to spend life in constant recognition of God’s nearness with the understanding that it is a great delusion to think that the times set aside for prayer are separate from the rest of our lives. This mindset enables us to “recognize God intimately present with us and address ourselves to Him every moment …In our conversation with God we should engage in praising, adoring, and loving Him incessantly for His infinite goodness and perfection” (Lawrence). For we know that “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto [His] name” (Psa 92:1).
While this concept does not replace reading, studying the Word, seeking God’s will or being forgiven by faith in the precious blood of Jesus Christ, it is prescribed in Scripture, in the directions we are given for prayer, and can aid us on our journey to know Him. We are told to “Be continuing instant in prayer” (Rom 12:12), to “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving” (Col 4:2). We are comforted that we need “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil 4:6). Paul repeatedly exhorts us to participate in this relationship desiring that “men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting” (1 Tim 2:8) and that we “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess 5:17).
The lament “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” repeated in Psa 107:8 is just one proof that God is worthy of our continuous praise. Yet, how do we get there? How do we become people who are in constant communication with God, who pray to God, and praise Him continually? Does it mean we must rush through our chores, or try to cut out as many as possible, so that we can stop and think about God? This cannot be, for we would have to cease our labors to pray, and then cease our prayers to labor. Perhaps we just need to remember to change our everyday moments and fill them with praising and glorifying God. In this way we could be doing our daily tasks without any view of pleasing men but purely for the love of God (Lawrence).
One of the ways we can remind ourselves of God’s presence is by having triggers. For our purposes, we are going to define them as anything throughout our day that can refocus us with God as first in our thoughts. A couple of the triggers I have collected are thinking of the washing and cleansing we are given through Christ and the Word when washing hands, clothes or dishes (Eph 5:25 26), or using a moment stopped at a stoplight, or waiting for the Internet to reconnect to reflect on the Sabbath idea of resting from our own work and doing the work of God.
All of us can transform these common moments in our days. They may not be long drawn out thoughts, or traditional prayers, but instead can change the onerous times and everyday activities into praise. It probably won’t change our lives the first time we try it. We may still find ourselves continually departing from thoughts of God a month or a year later. It is, of course, a journey, that we stand up and start walking again. Remembering the words of the Psalmist “So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works” (Psa 73:22-28). Though I may not be able to help you, personally, know God, hopefully we can motivate each other to continue to desire it, to seek Him with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength, so that when our Lord, Master and Judge returns to the earth, He will choose to know us.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One