Truly Knowing God

We may say we know God, but it may not show in our lives. We may be using God to enhance our prosperity, fame or self-esteem, but we may not really know him in love. Jesus said something that might seem a little harsh. He said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:21-23).

These people didn’t really know Jesus. They were doing things and powerful things, but it was from a wrong motive. They knew about Jesus, but they didn’t really know him and love him on a personal level. (see also Acts 19:13-16) To know God is to love him and do his will out of wisdom and love. Consider how important motives are: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

"It is a special danger for people who study spirituality to think they are living it."[1] This is true for Christian spirituality as well as Biblical Theology. We say we know the truth and experience it, but it doesn’t show up in our lives. We hear God’s word, but we don’t do it. We listen but don’t really hear. (see also Amos 8:11) Theology and Spirituality are very essential and important, and should not be separated; however, this experience of Augustine emphasizes an important consideration. This is especially for those Theologians who think they have it all figured out and have God pigeon-holed in their system. “On this particular day he saw a young boy on the shore digging a hole and running with bucket after bucket to saltwater, pouring it into this hole he’d dug in the sand.

After watching a while, Augustine approached the boy and asked, ‘What are you doing?’ ‘I’m going to take the big ocean and put it in this little hole replied the child.

The older man said kindly, ‘My son, that ocean is too big to place in that little hole.’

The boy looked at him and said, ‘Easier for me to take that big ocean and put it in this little hole than for you to take the big Trinitarian God and put it in your little mind, Bishop Augustine!’

And with that, the child disappeared, as he was actually an angel sent to remind Augustine just what he was trying to touch with all his teaching.”[2]

We say we love God and honour him, but we love self a whole lot more and are willing to dishonour him if it suits our fancy. We say we trust him, but we take back our surrender whenever convenient. However, I realize that learning takes time, and as we grow and practise spiritual disciplines to grow in love of God, we must learn and relearn. We must correct and practise God’s word in our lives over and over again so that we are transformed, and we are more and more are living a godly life, which becomes somewhat automatic to be Christlike and do God’s will.

As God’s word states, “But stay away from worthless stories that are typical of old women. Rather, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily training is just slightly beneficial, but godliness is beneficial for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:7-8).

“Most people miss the voice of God not because it’s too strange but because it’s too familiar. I’ve heard it said that God’s voice is like the touch of a feather on your skin, meaning it’s light enough that you can ignore it if you want, but just clear enough that you can engage and respond if you choose. Pressed to describe hearing God speak, I’d say, ‘It feels like a thought entering your imagination from the outside, rather than from the inside. It’s a normal thought, like any other, but it originates somewhere slightly unfamiliar.” [3]

To take in love and truly know God, you must practice the spiritual disciplines and do what Jesus said to do. We must also be what Jesus said we must be, not by legalistic willpower but by co-operation with the Holy Spirit, walking in step with Him.

Many people think they know God, but may be on the fringe, or they only know about God. God must be experienced, and he changes us at the very core when he becomes our treasure. The Bible says even demons know about God. (James 2:19) We must know God personally and experientially. We know God when our kingdom is subservient to God’s kingdom in Christ. He changes our ultimate desire and orientation, but these foundations must be fed and developed like a muscle. If we are not active and or exercise, it will result in atrophy. We also must learn to do what his word says in the power of the Holy Spirit. “Go and make disciples,” not just church members.

Do you truly know God? No question is greater. Is your first love self or is it self or the opinions of others? (Revelation 2:4,19) “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:2). Truly knowing God is linked to really loving God. Jesus said to Peter, “If you love me, feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-19) If you do love him, you will be like Jesus and do his will and count it as a privilege even though it will be hard at times. However, what we love we treasure. Jesus said, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:20). These are the ones who truly know God.

[1] Bradly P. Holt, Thirsty for God: A Brief History of Christian Spirituality, (Fortress Press, 2005),130.

[2] Tyler Staton, The Familiar Stranger, (Thomas Nelson,2025), 27.

[3][3][3] Ibid, 125.