To Know God

I’ve been aware of God and longed to know Him from a very early age. I could point to my involvement with the Roman Catholic church, where I was an altar boy. I could also include my education at a parochial school.  In second grade, the priests would pull me out of class to read the Stations Of The Cross. My audience was the high school class.  None of the students were interested in participating in this tradition. I loved doing it.  Those are only a few early symptoms of what I believe to be a much greater calling to know and serve the Living God.

As the Bible is the only record of reality, it makes sense that we strive to know and understand it. This has been a lifelong pursuit for me. In addition to my random and directionless scripture reading, which did me some good, I have benefited from RC catechism, the Jesus Movement, and my time in various non-denominational bible churches.  My involvement in Protestantism and its orthodox understanding and application of the scriptures has positively impacted my life. Some of the teachers I have learned most from are RC Sproul, Francis Schaeffer, John M Frame, Ranald Macaulay, and Jerram Barrs. The bible study taught by Kemper Crabb at my business for 20 years has grounded me in a deeper way.  Over the years, I have discovered how the scriptures are woven together in a matrix of overarching truth that governs all of life. In all of my studies, the most profound thing I’ve learned is that man was conceived and born in sin (Ps 51:5) and cannot save himself. It is not rational to me that a sinful human ever has and will ever have the ability to choose God Who alone is good and holy. This also presents the daily challenge to ‘go and sin no more’ (Jn 8:11). As Christians are still sinners and still sin, the need for and sweetness of repentance grows stronger every day. The key to unlocking this conundrum is Rom 8:1

 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Rom 8:1

This glorious truth gives us the impetus to repent. We only love God because He first loved us (1 Jn 4:19) and, likewise, repentance of our sin is a gift from God. And so, we are tragically, wonderfully, lovingly, utterly dependent upon God our Creator.

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” (Ps 139:14)

The times I am privileged to spend with family, friends, and employees sharing biblical truths are precious to me. Whether we’re reading a book on theology together or I’m counseling on financial or personal relationship matters, every time I am humbled by God’s presence in the truth-telling. I’m often reminded of how ‘obedience is better than sacrifice’ (1 Sam 15:22).  Every time I open the Bible, I first pray, ‘Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.’ Ps 119:18.

To conclude, it is a travesty to ignore the only record of reality. The Bible contains all of the answers we will ever seek.

Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became a joy to me and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O Lord God Of Hosts. Jer 15:16