“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” – Matthew 5:8 KJV

Merely having an intellectual assent to the truth is not enough; we must have an intimate connection with its Source. It’s one thing to foster a set of beliefs about God, but something else entirely to be illuminated by His presence. Just because a person is capable of telling the truth that doesn’t necessarily mean their lives are in agreement with it. You don’t get to know God simply by reading the Bible, but by exercising faith in what it says about Him. For to ‘know’, in the biblical sense of the word, is to not only be aware of what’s there, but also to relate to it intimately. Thus, to know God is to be intimate with God. Therefore knowing Him isn’t so much a matter of possessing facts about Him as it is one of becoming His special possession. To live like this is to see God, not with human eyes, but with the heart; that is, in a spiritual sense. Hence being able to discern His good works.

Having said that, how can we be sure to know God in this way? How can we be sure to know that we are really walking with Him? Can you see God or are your eyes blind to who is? Do you really know God? Do you really know what constitutes good works?

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV

I submit that God not only gave us the Holy Scriptures because He wants us to know what He expects from us in terms of what we ought to believe and how we should behave, but also because He wants us to learn how to discern His love. Thus, through the writings of the Holy Scriptures God has made a way available for us to get to know Him intimately. So, if we really want to know who God is, then we will do our part to diligently study the Bible. Moreover we will apply its teachings to our lives every step of the way, allowing Him to direct our paths in all things.

But if anyone attempts to take anything away from this unveiling of God, and thereby tries to change what has been given to us through the pen of Inspiration, then that person is guilty of trying to create a god in their own image and does not therefore know God intimately. Many perverse and wicked people are making a profession of Christianity while doing this very thing. They try to justify immoral actions by perverting the Scriptures; that is, they twist their meaning to makes it look like they have God’s approval for things that are actually an abomination to Him. In fact, this is something that can actually be seen in what is known as the prosperity gospel, wherein perverse people esteem worldly-minded pursuits more than they value the lessons that Jesus taught through His own example of walking in humility of spirit while living in this world as a man.

Beware of such people! Do not follow in their steps. For their path leads to damnation. Instead, receive the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, making no compromises with or apologies to perverse people who have chosen to be intimate with Satan rather than God. You will know who they are by their fruits, as they are divisive, antagonistic, contentious, foul mouthed, insubordinate, gluttons for wealth and filthy lucre, liars, slanderers, abusive towards others, and filled with lust. Some have even gone so far as to rewrite the Bible to make it look like God supports homosexuality! From such turn away, as they are not true brothers and sisters in the faith, but liars and enemies of Jesus Christ.

They may think that they’re getting away with something now, but in the end only One will have the last word, and that, of course, will be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. And all who have stood in opposition to Him will be burned up with their sins in the lake of fire, because they have chosen to betray Jesus Christ for a lie; they have chosen to reject God when they should have taken the time to get to know Him intimately. Nevertheless, those who receive Him as He is, and remain faithful to Him unto the end, will enter into His joy.