Do You Know God?

From: Echoes of Grace: 1984

From: Echoes of Grace: 1953

• 2 min. read • grade level: 6

Of course you know there is a Supreme Being, the Creator and Upholder of all things. But do you know God, the holy and righteous God with whom you must have to do? Do you know that He cannot look upon sin, or allow the sinner to go unpunished? (Hab. 1:13¹³Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he? (Habakkuk 1:13))

This is not the popular God, but this is the God of the Bible, the God of Revelation, the God before whose judgment throne you will one day stand. Can you look forward to meeting that God, calmly and without fear? No unpardoned, unconverted sinner can.

Men may talk loudly and long about the "universal Fatherhood of God." They may speak of His mercy in a general way, as if He had ceased to notice iniquity or to punish sin, but when it comes to meeting God, or going into the presence of the Searcher of hearts, they shrink and shudder. WHY? They "know not God."

God has revealed Himself to men in the Person of His Son. Christ's mission to earth was to declare the heart of God, to make known His hatred of sin and His love for sinners.

God so loved the world that He gave the dearest object of His heart, His own Son! He so hated sin that He forsook Him when He became our sin-bearer and our surety on Calvary's cross. There our blessed Savior vindicated God's majesty, satisfied His justice, declared His righteousness, and manifested His love.

In virtue of that cross and the work accomplished on it, God is now shown to be "just and the justifier" of the ungodly when they put their trust in His Son Jesus. (Rom. 3:23-26²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ²⁴Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: ²⁵Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; ²⁶To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:23‑26).) Do you know God in this way?

"And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou halt sent." John 17:3³And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3). To know God through Jesus Christ is to have eternal life and salvation.

"They that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee." Psa. 9:10¹⁰And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. (Psalm 9:10). And all who know Him say: "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid." Isa. 12:2²Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. (Isaiah 12:2).

Do you know God? Or do you say as some of a former time, "Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of Thy ways." Job 21:14¹⁴Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. (Job 21:14). When judgment strikes, it will fall with awful force first upon "them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thess. 1:8⁸In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (2 Thessalonians 1:8).

Are you sure that this does not include you? DO YOU KNOW GOD? Before it is too late, "Acquaint now thyself with Him [God], and be at peace." Job 22:21²¹Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. (Job 22:21).

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