CEB The Gift of Knowing God

The Gift of Knowing God

Genesis 1:1 is a short verse with a wealth of information that primes the reader for all that comes in Scripture. “In the beginning God”—we immediately begin the Bible by seeing that God is not dependent upon anything for His existence. He is independent. “God created the heaven and the earth”—we then see that all else came from God. Everything in existence owes its being to Him. God is the Creator. With these two affirmations comes another. It is subtle, perhaps too obvious to initially take notice of. Yet, it is nonetheless profound and serves as an essential foundation for the rest of Scripture—God is knowable.

Knowable means that there is some way by which we can accurately perceive and understand the truths about God. God is a real being, and we can form thoughts about God that actually reflect what God really is. This may not seem profound at first but consider the alternative. What if God was not knowable? What if we were barred from or unable to understand anything about God? Scripture says that God is the source of all that is good and perfect (James 1:17). Imagine going through life unable to realize where our blessings come from and to act accordingly. There is a reason Scripture continually describes he who rejects the knowledge of God as one stumbling in the darkness. Thankfully, we are not condemned to remain in the dark. We have access to the Father of lights.


God is knowable, but what is even more encouraging is how He is knowable. If we were to attempt to learn everything we can know about God, there is a limit to what we could discover. Romans 1:19, 20 tells us that God is knowable through nature; so much so in fact that all people are without excuse for not realizing that there is a God—He is knowable. Yet, this passage also reveals the extent of what can be learned about God through nature. The material world can teach us that there is a God; He created all things; He is incomprehensibly powerful; we are accountable unto Him when we fail to honor Him as we should. Beyond that though, humanity is left in the dark. What are the consequences of failing to
honor God? What are God’s thoughts toward humanity? Does He love us or hate us? Is there any way to reconcile our failings to Him? Nature only replies with terrifying silence.


We know the answers to these questions, not because humans have uncovered them, but because God has chosen to reveal them to us. What could not be known by man’s efforts, God has made known by His effort. There are two means that God has used to make this special revelation to mankind. The first is a prophetic word. Second Peter 1:20 and 21 describes this process well. Through the Holy Spirit, God moved men to speak and reveal the Word of God. Thus Scripture, a written record of prophetic declarations, is not the product of any human authorship, but rather is ascribed with “thus saith the Lord.”


Yet, there is an even greater revelation than prophetic word, one who both is God and is so much of a perceivable expression of God that He bears the title “the Word” (John 1:1). That Word took on human flesh and lived among us. In so doing, He allowed us to perceive God’s glory, grace and truth in a way inaccessible to us by other means (John 1:14). He is our Lord, Jesus Christ, the declaration of God in the form of a man. When no man could come to God, God instead came to us.


The fact that God has made Himself known by reaching out to us tells us something beautiful about God. This revelation was not something done by compulsion. No one forced God to manifest Himself to us. God is knowable only because He desires to be known. It is this desire that is proclaimed constantly throughout God’s revelation. God makes Himself known because He loves us (John 3:16); because He delights in repentance over judgment (Ezekiel 18:23); because He desires us to have eternal life and security therein (1 John 5:13); and because He wants us to live rightly according to His instruction (2 Timothy 3:16, 17).


It is abundantly clear through nature, through Scripture and through Jesus Christ, that God wants to be known. The practical question is do you want to know God? If so, do you know where to look? Marvel at His creation and learn how to make clear to all mankind nature’s testimony so that everyone is accountable to God. Meditate upon the Word of God that it may dwell in your heart, in your mind and in your mouth. Love Jesus Christ and express that love through faithful obedience to Him as Lord. As James 4:8 says, “Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.”