How do We Know God?

I started rereading the book of Isaiah again this morning. As usual, each time I read through a passage, no matter how many times I’ve read through it in the past, I continue to gain a new perspective, a new understanding.

 

What struck me first in Isa 1 is verse three where God is telling Isaiah that the ox knows his ‘master’ but Israel, God’s children, do not know Him.

 

The next few verses go on to describe how they are full of iniquity/sin and have forsaken the Lord.

 

I’m going to take these verses apart and apply them to today.

 

Many people believe that the promises given to Israel are still only to Israel (the Jews) today. This is not so.

 

When the 70 year prophecy ended at the stoning of Stephen, the good news went out to all the world. Before then, it was only for the Jews. Not for them to hold salvation to themselves, but for them to be the source of information. For them to be the demonstration of how God works in their lives.

Rather, instead, their house was left desolate (Matt 23:38, Luke 13:35).

 

One more scriptural reference regarding that anyone who believes unto Christ, accepts Him as their Savior is now of the family of Abraham.

 

Gal 3:26-29

²⁶ For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁷ For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.²⁹ And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

 

Now that we can move forward assigning the lessons of the book of Isiah to anyone who is a believer of Christ.

 

God tells us that His children do not know Him. He tells US that we are filled with iniquity/sin.

 

For further explanation of this, we can turn to 1 John.

 

Chapt 2:3-4

And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

 

To know God is to obey Him.

 

Jesus said in John 14:15, ‘If you love Me, keep my commandments.’

 

Obedience is the result of relationship and love. Obedience does not save, but it is the result of being saved. It’s the proof.

 

Just as if you said you loved your wife/husband, you would do things pleasing unto her/him. You would demonstrate through your actions that you loved her/him.

 

Jesus gives us the template on how to demonstrate our love for Him. Obedience.

 

Going further in chapter 2:6, we are told: ‘He that saith he abideth in Him out himself also so to walk even as He walked.’

If we claim to be a child of God, then we are to live as Christ lived. Christ lived a life of obedience. Why? Because sin is the result of disobedience (1 John 3:4), and Christ was sinless.

 

1 John 3 goes deeper into this topic. Continuing from vs 4-10 we learn that those who sin are of satan. Those who are children of God will not sin.

 

Can we do this of ourselves? NO!!!!

 

We can do this only as Christ did. He spent time in prayer and meditation on God’s word.

 

David tells us of this in Psalms 119:11, ‘Thy word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against Thee.’

The more we ‘eat’ God’s word, the more we grow spiritually. Isa 55:11 says God’s word will not return unto Him void. That means it will bear fruit.

 

Returning to Isaiah 1.

 

These are those who claim to be children of God. They are the ones who are filled with sin and evil works.

 

How can this be?

 

Because the majority of people have fallen for the lies of the counterfeit. Many believed the lie that as long as I believe (easy grace), I are fine. I do not need to change anything. I can live as the world does and it is all good. God is a God of love, so we are fine.

 

Rev 3:14-20 tells us of the state of the church of Laodicea. This church represents the time we are now in. We THINK we are rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing. We do not know that we are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.

 

But there is hope. Christ offers the solution to this counterfeit form of Christianity. (Vs 18). Gold is the currency of heaven. Here, wealth is judged by gold. In heaven, it is judged by faith. (Heb 11)

 

The ‘white raiment’ is the righteousness of Christ. Eye salve is the anointing of His spirit to give us insight and perception of right and wrong.

 

God calls us out of Babylon (spiritual confusion) in Rev 18:4. Jesus told us to be holy as He is holy. Holy = without sin. (1 Pet 1:16)

 

God says in Jer 31:33 and Heb 10:16 that He will write His law upon our hearts and minds. This law will cause people to walk in obedience. It will be the sign that He is our Lord who sanctifies us (Ezek 20:12).

 

There is an element of judgment here in Isa 1:4 for those who have forgotten the Lord and are laden with sin. This state of iniquity provokes God to anger.

 

Soon, the cup of wrath will be full. God’s door of mercy will shut. Daniel 12:1-2 tells us when Michael (Christ) stands up and leaves His position of Mediator, all chances of salvation are gone. There will be a time of trouble as never before. (No secret escape available.)

 

Then those fateful words in Rev 22:11 will be spoken, ‘“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”

 

There are no second chances. When those doors close, that’s it. It’s the same as the judgment results of those who refused to enter the door to the ark before the flood.

 

I pray that each will seek Him while there is still time. I would not want to be of those experiencing the wrath of God poured out without mercy during the last plagues. The only protection available will be those who have walked in obedience to God’s law and have the faith of Jesus (Rev 14:12).

 

Something to think about.