p. 6 | We May Know God by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 18, 1909

We May Know God

By F. M. W.

The relationship existing between God and his children is a mutual one. God knows his child, and the child may come to know God. Our Saviour says, in the beautiful lesson of the shepherd, “I know my sheep, and am known of mine.” The knowledge of the One is infinite, absolute; the knowledge of the other is a growing revelation and experience, beginning here and continuing throughout eternity.

Knowing God is a deeper experience than knowing of God or knowing about God. We may know of some man, we may know about him; but this does not necessarily embrace our really and truly knowing the man. Job illustrates this difference: “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.”

There are many professed children of God who are without any real knowledge of him. They are content to hear of God merely, to glean a sort of superficial, second-hand knowledge of him through the experiences of others. They have not seen him with their own eyes, felt the magnetic touch of his divine hand, or the inspiration of his quickening Spirit in their lives. For this class, Christian life holds but little pleasure. Christian duties become a dull and irksome round of formal ceremonies.

There is a nearer approach to the Divine, a closer union which makes of service a song, and of sacrifice an abiding joy. Such communion is found in knowing God, in knowing him for what he is, and for all that he desires to become to every one of his children.

We can not know him as an abstract principle. We arrive at this knowledge through concrete experiences and companionship, as real as those by which we become acquainted with human companions in life's associations. Trial, disappointment, joy and sorrow, victory and defeat, want, perplexity, sickness,—all have their place in revealing to us God, in bringing us through places where we shall feel our need of his divine aid, or in giving to us a knowledge of his divine power and working in our behalf.

We may know him in his power and majesty; we may know him in his love and tenderness. We may know that he is the Saviour of all men; and that he pardons the sins of others, but sweeter than all that, we may know that he pardons our own sins. We may know him in the family relationship of Friend, Father, Brother, and in that tenderest of all associations to the troubled and grieved believer, the Comforter. He pities our sorrows, and longs to bear our burdens. To him we may carry every perplexity, being assured of consideration at his hands. By a multitude of figures God represents his care and solicitude for his chosen ones. He calls himself our Shield, our Refuge, our Strong Tower, our Rock of defense. He longs to become this to every soul, and into this fellowship every child may enter.

We may come to know God with more definite, satisfying knowledge than we know any earthly friend. Our fellows change. We may count them friends to-day; but the reverses of to-morrow change their attitude toward us. Not so with God; he is the “same yesterday, to-day, and forever.” “He is faithful that promised.” This personal knowledge of God will prove a bond stronger than any theory or logic which human reasoning can adduce. Others may turn against him; we will remain loyal. As he is our friend, ever true and tried, we will prove his friends. We know in whom we have believed. We have come to know him in all the precious attributes of his character, and false representation can not affect our allegiance to him or his cause, or tempt us to violate the sweet, holy friendship we cherish with him.

Then let us no longer behold him afar off, but seek to draw near, into sacred, personal communion: By study of his Word, by prayer, by meditation, by asking and believing, by dedicating to him our all, we may enter into the joy of communion, and joy of communion will give joy of service. May we truly come to know him, whom to know aright is life everlasting.

F. M. W.