Getting to Know God

If I were the captain of a ship (in my dreams!), and I had to recruit a crew to help me sail the Caribbean (in search of pirate treasure, of course), what sort of sailor would I be looking for? How could I weed out all the applicants vying for a position on my ship?

Well, first of all I'd quiz them on their knowledge of sailing, right? Do they know the names of the various sails? Do they know the difference between a bowline and a buntline? A block and a boom? A staysail and stunsail, stern and the bow? Etc.   But I would also want to know about their experience. I wouldn't want some green-behind-the-ears whipper snapper who just got out of sailing school to be handling my ship! No, I want someone with experience.. who not only knows what the all the fancy terms refer to, but who has actually sailed a ship before!

Thing is, if I hired a man based purely on his head knowledge and then found out while out at sea that he hadn't a clue what he was doing, I'd have to make him walk the plank! No good for me. And definitely no good for him!

The same is true in God's kingdom. We can't just have a head knowledge of Jesus. We can't simply memorize verses and listen to sermons and know all the "Christianise".  We have to experience Him. We have to know Him by experience. Does that make sense?

Remember the story of the Woman at the Well?  Jesus was traveling through Samaria back to Galilee and stopped to rest at Jacob's well. He sent His disciples into town for something to eat, and as He waited, a woman came to fetch water and they struck up a conversation.  If you don't know the story, it's well worth reading and can be found in John 4.  Anyway, this woman came to believe that Jesus was the Messiah and she ran to tell everyone in her town.  They all came running to see who this Jesus was and listen to Him themselves.  And here's what they told the woman in John 4:42 

 And they told the woman, Now we no longer believe (trust, have faith) just because of what you said; for we have heard Him ourselves [personally], and we know that He truly is the Savior of the world, the Christ. Amplified

Do you know Jesus just based on what others have said? What you've heard in sermons or read in the Bible? Yes, you may believe He is the son of God. Yes, you may believe He rose from the dead. That's all well and good, but the question is, why do you believe? Because someone told you? Because you trust your pastor? Group leader? Wife? Husband? Friend?  I contend this is a very dangerous place to be.

Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly  Matthew 7:22-23  Amplified

You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe and shudder James 2:19

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So what do you do? How do you experience God? How do you get to know Him? How do you make sure you truly know Him?  Well, what would your answer be if I asked the same question of a friend of yours or a spouse. How do you get to know them? How do you get to know anybody?  But, you say,.. I can't see God or hear Him or touch Him. True. But that doesn't make Him any less real or any less present right beside you. Take my word for it, He's there and He's waiting for you to want to know Him. 

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Jeremiah 29:13 NLT