Who is God? 3 Steps to Get to Know Him

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Who is God? 3 Steps to Get to Know Him

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There are several ways you can start getting to really know God. There was this guy name Balaam—a sort of prophet for hire—who got to know God through a talking donkey and then a terrifying face-to-face with the point of an angel’s sword (read about it in Numbers 22). Don’t recommend that way though—especially since Balaam acted more stubborn than his donkey!

There was another man who thought he knew God and who volunteered to track down the true Christians and haul them off to be fined, flogged or stoned to death. He was on one of his Gestapo-like missions on the road to Damascus with letters of extradition to bring more members of God’s young Church back to Jerusalem for punishment. He ended up with an eye problem—God struck him blind for three days! His name was Paul and that got his attention. He was well motivated to get to know the true God after that (see Acts 9).

There was also a very handsome lady, a beauty queen, really. She already knew God, having been reared as an orphan by her very faithful uncle and aunt. Did I mention that she had also become the queen of Persia? The politics of Persia had turned very anti-Semitic and she was Jewish. At her uncle’s urgent recommendation she took her knowledge of God to the next level by first fasting (no food or water) for three days and nights followed by hosting two very stressful banquets that included Haman, the man who sought to murder her and her people. Fasting for three days intensified her knowledge and deep appreciation for God (Esther 4-7).

Or, you can follow these three steps to begin to get to know God better:

1 - Know that God exists

Thinking about or talking to someone who isn’t there would be fruitless and lonely. The first step in knowing God is to know—prove, prove some more and reflect on that proof—that He exists. You live in an age when probably billions of seemingly intelligent people take pride in “knowing” and proclaiming that God doesn’t exist! Don’t listen to them.

Take some time to study the natural world. Notice the incredible structures of the animals, the spectacular symmetry and beauty of the plants and trees… you name it in nature and it is living proof by its complexity and inner-working that God does absolutely exist. For fun you can read a little about fractal geometry. Paintings don’t happen by random accident; paintings demand a painter. Likewise, creation demands a Creator!

Now inventory what you already know and read about the laws of mathematics, aerodynamics, or physics. Those laws are what enable the atheistic scientists (and believing ones too) to be able to calculate and predict rocket science or any other science.

Where did those laws come from? Where do the laws governing your nation come from?  Answer: national laws come from a law-making, law-enforcing body called the government. Bingo—the same principle applies to the laws of physics and the spiritual laws that govern our relationships with each other and with God. Bottom line: law demands a Lawgiver!

2 - Know God by reading His Book

During World War 2 at the close of the North Africa campaign of 1942, U.S. General George S. Patton made a valid claim that he was victorious over the battle hardened, German Afrika Corps led by their famous General Erwin Rommel because he read Rommel’s book. And that’s why I read the biography of Patton—so I could get to know him.

It’s pretty elementary, isn’t it? If you want to know God, you’ve got to read his book—it’s called the Bible. You can start with our three examples above and then read from the beginning about God as Creator and Lawgiver. Then read about Jesus of Nazareth so you can really get to know Him as your Savior and Teacher. Read some of God’s book every day and never stop reading it. Always ask after reading, “What do I know about God from reading this section of Scripture?” Before long, you will begin to know Him well.

3 - Know God by living His way

Once when I was a small boy I saw what looked like a bowl of pudding cooling on the kitchen counter. But I wasn’t completely sure that it was pudding—and I really wanted to know. What to do? I sampled, and it turned out to be my favorite flavor too—butterscotch! The point: the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Although the eating didn’t please my mother at the time!

Remember those spiritual laws of God listed in His Book? He wants us to obey them. His divine law is a great teacher about Him. They define His way of life. In fact, His church was initially called “the Way,” and a prime example is recorded where Paul was headed to Damascus to arrest some of its members (Acts 9:2).

Because they summarize the 10 Commandments, Christ called them the two great commandments:  1) “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind,” and 2) “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:34-40).

To know God, begin to live by these two great commandments and their ramifications. Show love and concern for others and help out where you are able. And love God by praying, reading His Book (the Bible) and keeping—for starters—His prescribed holy day of rest, the Sabbath. Remember this, most of Christianity doesn’t even know which day that is. The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week which is Saturday, not Sunday. Begin to observe it and you’ll really begin to know God like never before!