“Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” Genesis 6:9
Is it possible to put Mount Everest into a thimble? How then is it possible for sinful, extremely limited, and small man, to truly know the eternal God? The answer lies in the “Book,” the Bible, in which is revealed not only eternal truths of God, and how they apply to man, but also, where there are numerous examples and illustrations concerning what it means to walk with God, commune with Him, to abide and dwell in Him. Where does one begin in trying to understand God’s reaching out to man, to reveal to him the only way that man, as a sinner, can know the ineffable, Almighty God, and this, eternally?
As we have mentioned many times, and this, because the Scriptures teach it, one must begin with TRUTH, the absolute truth of God, revealed to man, BY God. For example, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatian believers: “…when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me…” (1:15,16), we catch a glimpse of how God deals with men. The first thing we see is that it is God who always takes the initiative in this relationship. He does so by creation, but also by redemption. We are created flesh and blood, but when born of the Spirit, we become “living souls,” not just existing, but living by Christ’s life. The very life of God is, as Paul so clearly wrote, “…revealed…in me.” So then, from the very outset of our treatment of this subject, we are confronted with the fact, the truth, that nothing occurs in this matter of knowing God, except that God takes the initiative. We discover also, that the relationship is based upon the wisdom and ways of God. In His wisdom, God has provided a perfect way for imperfect man to come before him, saved from wrath because of sin, and knowing the blessed peace of sins forgiven, and acceptance with the Father. Increasingly, truths are revealed to us in Scripture that lay the the basis for this “drawing near” to God, with the assurance that He draws near to us. The great thrust of Scripture, as it pertains to the purpose and design of God, is that of man being created in the image of God, to know fully this perfect salvation in Christ, that Christ should be formed in him, and revealed in the heart and life in an ever increasing manner. Man was created ultimately for the glory of God, this being possible as man comes to truly know the Father, and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent.
How then does God work to save sinful man, meet his deepest needs, and bring him to the place in mind and heart, where he can know and experience the very life of Christ by the Spirit? He begins by Jesus passing by. When Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, heard that Jesus was passing by in the crowd, there was something that stirred him to cry out to Jesus, the son of David, “…have mercy on me.” Just the passing of Jesus would evoke a cry from Bartimaeus’ heart that would be distinguished in the crowd to the point that Jesus would call him to come. He then would grant him to be healed of his blindness. When Jacob was confronted with the Lord Jesus just before he was to meet with his brother, who had once declared his desire to kill him, we find Jacob refusing to let the Lord go. The consciousness of personal need, and the knowledge of God, would move Jacob to cling to Christ for salvation. The presence of Jesus evoked a monumental response in the heart of Jacob. Jesus, responding to his faith, touches him, and saves him. To Nicodemus, Jesus would say: “…even so, the Son of man (must) be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (Jn. 3:14,15) Jesus passes by individuals and the world to eternally save.
Dear Father, Draw out our hearts to Thee. Then we shall truly know Thee. In Jesus’ name, Amen.