“And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony.” Exodus 25:22
Why is it so very difficult to grasp that man was created to know God, to have fellowship with Him, or as God puts it so clearly, to “commune with thee?” In Paul’s teaching concerning the certain work of the gospel of Christ, he writes: “…for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16) Why is the gospel so very important for a person to not only be saved, but to truly KNOW God? It has to do with the truth of God in it, and the revelation of His way, by which any person can come to a saving knowledge of Him. Paul writes further to the Roman believers, “So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (10:17) It is in the revelation of the sinfulness of man, and his lost condition, that God reveals “good tidings of good things.” (v.15) The truth is the basis for believing in God, for trusting Him to work according to His word. In other words, the unveiling of the truth of God’s way to Him, by the sacrifice of His dear Son, is that which God will use to work in the soul, to save the soul. This is power indeed, for the Spirit of God takes the objective truth of the word of God, uses it to bring conviction of sin, revealing to the soul it’s lost condition, giving the unbeliever grace to repent and to believe. The quiet power of God is revealed by the “new creation” that the Spirit brings about when one is born of the Spirit, and is changed forever. So, how is coming to know God a certainty? What are the primary certainties that God has provided for us, so that, by the hearing of the gospel, His power becomes operative in the life?
Throughout Scripture there is the revelation of who God is. From the very outset of the testimony of God, we discover that he is perfectly good. This was revealed at the creation when He created all things good. In the Lord’s revelation of His glory to Moses, in answer to Moses’ request, He said: “I will make all my goodness pass before thee., and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee.” (Ex. 33:19) It would be concerning the proclamation of the name of the Lord that He would say, “The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” (34:6) There is in the revelation of the nature of God, HIs perfect goodness and mercy, as a basis for coming to Him. This is why the Lord Jesus said so very clearly, “All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me, I will in NO wise cast out.” (Jn. 6:37) Here is the goodness and mercy of the Almighty, Holy God, that He would give to sinful, lost man, access to Himself, with the comforting and assuring word, “…I will in no wise cast out.”
There is another aspect of the nature of God that is the greatest motivation for an individual to come to God. It is His love. In the context of “not perishing, but having eternal life,” the Lord adds: “For God so LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (Jn.3:16) God created man out of an attitude of love. He also saves a man for the same reason. He loves all men everywhere. That perfect Love has provided a perfect way which can be trusted fully, so that, by faith, a person can come to know the invisible, yet ever-present, loving and gracious God. It is in the Father giving His Son to die on Calvary, to deal with man’s sin, that He declares His love for all men.
Father, Give us grace to grasp the truth, responding to Thy love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.