Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8 NKJV)
Merely having an intellectual assent to the truth is not enough; we must also have an intimate connection with its Source. For, it’s one thing to foster a set of beliefs about Jesus Christ, but something else entirely to be illuminated by His presence. In other words, to know things about Jesus Christ doesn’t mean you know Christ.
Therefore, we must open the door of our hearts to God as to a friend, and invite the Holy Spirit into our lives so that He may take full control of our thoughts. For, to ‘know’, in the biblical sense of the word, is to not only be ‘aware of” what is there, but also to ‘understand’ what is ‘known’ intimately. Hence, to know God is to be intimate with God, which means knowing the mind of God isn’t so much a matter of possessing facts about Him as it is about being possessed by the power and influence of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, this is truly what it means to be blessed in Jesus Christ, as to live like this is to see God!
With that being said, how can you be sure that you know God in this way? How can you be sure that you are really walking with Him? Can you see God, or are your eyes blind to who is? Do you really know God?
“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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV)
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 are to believe and how we ought to behave, but also because He wants us to know how great His love is for us. Thus, through the writings of the Holy Scriptures, God has made a way available for us to get to know Him intimately. What this means then, is that if we really want to know who God is, we will do our part to diligently study the Bible and apply its teachings to our lives every step of the way. In this way, we will experience the power of His presence as we let His wisdom penetrate our hearts and direct our paths.
But if anyone attempts to take anything away from this revelation 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 can not therefore say that they know God intimately. Indeed, many perverse and wicked people are making a profession of Christianity while doing this very thing. That is, they are trying to justify their acts of defiance against God by using His Holy Word as a means to make it look like they have God’s approval for things that are actually an abomination to Him. Instead of repenting of their sins, they profane the Word of God by twisting its sacred writings unto their own destruction.
Beware of such people! Do not follow in their steps, as they will surely lead to damnation; instead, receive the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, and make no compromises with or apologies to perverse people who have chosen to be intimate with Satan rather than Jesus Christ. 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, filled with lust, and 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; instead, they are enemies of Jesus Christ.
They may think that they are 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, remaining faithful to His Holy Word and keeping His Commandments unto the end, will hear Him say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your LORD.’ Hence, they will not only see God; they will also remain with Him forever and ever. Amen!
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Links to things that you will likely find to be helpful: Inspirational Bible Quotes, Biblical Prosperity, Inspirational Thoughts
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