TO KNOW HIM IS TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE

"This is life eternal, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (1)

To know the Creator is to have eternal life. Some people claim to know Him, but He does not recognize them. "Not everyone who says to Me 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (2) The difference between those who will receive eternal life and those who will not, is the difference between those who "know God" and who do "the will of My Father" and those who think they may know Him and yet "practice lawlessness".

Our Creator wants us to know Him. "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them." (3) When Philip asked Jesus, "show us the Father", Jesus replied, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father?' Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me." (4)

Jesus further stated, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (5) God is ready, willing and waiting for us to get acquainted with Him and to ask Him for the things that we need in order that we may represent Him to the world as Jesus represented Him.

Following Christ's resurrection, He said to Mary, "Go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' " (6) God wants an intimate personal relationship with His family on earth. "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever… He will dwell with you and be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." (7)

That is God's promise to you and me. He is willing to share Himself with us intimately by His Spirit. He wants to dwell with us and be in us. We can not comprehend that relationship, but it is real, if we cooperate with Him. He will not force Himself on anyone who does not want that relationship. However, for those who choose to accept Him, He has wonderful plans. "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (8)

1. John 17:3.
2. Matthew 7:21-23.
3. 2 Corinthians 5:19.
4. John 14:8-11.
5. John 14:12-14.
6. John 20:17.
7. John 14:15-18.
8. 1 Corinthians 2:9.