From the Preacher’s Pen… The prophet Micah looked forward to the New Testament era (Micah 4:1, the “last days”) and the ultimate reign of Jesus the Christ. As he did so, he offers the bold assertion that, though all the peoples walk in the name of their gods, we will walk in the name of YHWH our God forever and ever (Micah 4:5).
So, if we are to walk in the way of and serve only the true and living God, how do we distinguish Him from all the false gods and false teachings out there? Let’s consider for a moment, the truth of really…
Knowing the Lord
One of the common ideas of worldly “Christianity” is the concept that you just need to “know the Lord” meaning to be friends with the Lord. Unfortunately, “knowing the Lord” means far more than a casual acquaintance. He is not offered to us as a passing fancy, but rather our God demands real commitment from His people. To truly know the Lord requires understanding, commitment, and obedience!
Let’s look for a moment at God’s idea of knowledge. Proverbs 1:22 asks the blunt question: How long will you who are simple love being simple-minded? How long will mockers delight in mockery & fools hate knowledge? So, how long will we scoff and make fun of the true knowledge of God?
Proverbs 1:7 reminds us, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom & instruction. Paul warns: in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be… boasters, proud, blasphemers…. Ever learning, & never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:1-2, 7). And Romans 1:22 speaks of those who, professing themselves to be wise… became fools.
Despising the true wisdom and instruction of God’s Word is NEVER going to gain us anything! In Exodus 5:2 Pharaoh flatly stated, Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and besides, I will not let Israel go.
Judges 2:10 reminds us that after the death of Joshua and those of the next generation, there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel. Later, in 1 Samuel 2:12, the sons of Eli the priest and Judge of Israel were worthless men; they did not know the Lord.
Indeed, the whole purpose of the New Testament and the incarnation of Christ is that we might truly come to know the Lord (cf. Hebrews 8:8-12).
So how can we really KNOW the Lord? That, like all of our salvation, comes from knowing the true word of God. Paul reminds Timothy (1 Timothy 2:4) that God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. He goes on to warn against false knowledge (1 Timothy 6:20) and later (2 Timothy 2:25), again reminds us of the true knowledge of the truth!
Truth matters! Obedience matters! And those are the vital things that allow us to truly KNOW the Lord!
Never be content with what you know, with what you are doing. Always seek to continue working hard to truly be approved by God by accurately knowing His word (2 Timothy 2:15)!
If you would KNOW and LOVE the Lord, then KNOW and LOVE His word!
— Lester P. Bagley