Knowing God - How?
Morris Venden wrote a book titled, "To Know God - A 5-Day plan," in which he discusses the steps we can take in knowing God and His plan for our lives.
He shares answers to some of the tough questions his students have asked during his years of teaching and preaching. I really love the style and conciseness of the book so I will share a few points I have gleaned from it.
Q: They say "God is Love," but how can I be sure? How can I know what He is really like?
A: "Knowing God is what Christianity, and religion, and eternal life is all about." The Bible says, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." - John 17:3 (NIV)
So we can know God by studying the life and work of Jesus Christ.
Q: But there are conflicting ideas of what God is like. In the Old Testament, He appears as the tyrant who appears as lightning and thunder in the mountains - the "eye for an eye, and tooth for tooth" God. Which is He really?
A: God declares Himself in the Old Testament as a loving God. Look at what Jeremiah 31:3 says: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness."
And this is what God says regarding His people (in Isaiah 49:15,16).
15Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! 16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.
God is declared in the Old Testament as having a love for us greater than a mother for her nursing baby. (Of course, there's no comparison; this is just in 'human terms').
The problem is; we tend to recall his justice rather than his mercy, but God has the perfect balance of both characteristics.
Jesus told his disciples - "If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." - John 14:7 (NIV).
By studying Jesus' life and ministry in the Gospels, we have the perfect revelation of who God really is.
Q: How else is God revealed, other than through the life of Jesus?
A: We can understand what God is like through nature (Psalm 19:1).
We get glimpses of His love through the "ties of human love." A teacher gives love and extra attention to help a seemingly hopeless student stand in tall success at graduation. A missionary who gives up comfort of home and friends to work among less fortunate people who need a better standard of living. These are examples of God's love through humanity.
Imperfect Examples
However, bear in mind that nature (including humans) do not provide perfect revelations of God. Certainly, we ask the question, "Where is God?" when we are in the middle of a tornado.
Or, where was God on September 11, 2001? Nature and mankind do not always reflect how God is. God's image or likeness has been marred because of sin.
The Perfect WAY to know God
The only perfect revelation of God is that depicted in the life of Jesus Christ. That's why it is important to study His life and love for mankind. In fact...
"Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6
Jesus even encourages us to search the scriptures in order to get to know Him. It's given in John 5:39.
"You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me..."
And the New Testament was not even written yet when He spoke those words. So we are without excuse. We can get to know God... we should make every effort to know god personally.
And that is heaven's greatest hope for you and I.
See also:
Why do I need to know God, anyway?
Listen to presentations by Morris Venden - (You'll need RealAudio player)