June 29

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.”  — PSALMS 19:1-2

Knowing God is an impossible undertaking, yet an absolutely necessary one. It is the finite trying to understand the infinite, the temporal understanding the eternal, and the localized trying to understand omnipresence. It’s somewhat like taking a scoop of water from the ocean and trying to comprehend the intricacies and vastness of it all. Yet at the very heart of the Christian life is knowing God.

Historically, theology and philosophy have given two answers; one known as natural revelation, which is God revealing Himself through creation, and the other, special revelation where there are things about God we can only know if He tells us. I’m going to add a third; personal revelation, whereby we have experience of God, Himself, particularly in the area of our consciences.

Natural Revelation - The writer of Psalm 19 is saying that we may see the existence of God in the marvel of His creation. We conclude from observing the universe that God is more powerful, intelligent and bigger than anything that exists. In  other words, the creation reveals the Creator. 

Special Revelation - God’s creation does not reveal His character. Is He, in fact, the Christian God or some other god people speculate about? Is He just powerful or is He good and kind? Does He have emotions or is He just intelligent? These questions can only be answered if there is some measure of self-disclosure. Psalm 19:7-11 addresses this. “The law of the Lord is perfect,” and it begins to talk about the Word of God as being God’s means of self-revelation. When we read Scripture, we’re getting acquainted with God, not only through His Word, but supremely through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Personal Revelation - The final knowledge of God comes by personally experiencing Him. We then become a part of God’s family, sharing in an intimate relationship with Him that is active and growing. This, of course, is what the Christian life is about. We come to know God, not as an intellectual exercise of our minds or through creation, but as our consciences responds to Him, and we’re brought into relationship with Him.

We can know God generally through creation but that will not save us. We can know God specifically through Scripture, but neither will that save us. It is only Christ who can save us. We may have all kinds of ideas about God, but it is personal knowledge of Him through experience which is the hallmark of the Christian life. 

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for all three ways of coming to know You. Above all, I treasure my relationship with You, and ask that it grow increasingly deeper and richer as I come to know You more.

TO REFLECT UPON: Am I growing in my knowledge of Christ and deepening my relationship with Him?