How do we begin knowing God? Biblical theology teaches the doctrine of prevenient grace (before a man can seek God, God must first have sought the man.) Jesus said, ‘No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him.”
Dan Dehaan writes: God longed to create man to appreciate Him. God created people to know Him. .. to enjoy Him. God put in men’s hearts the “god-shaped vacuum” that could only be filled with Himself. Why did God create us? To fellowship with us. Why did Christ come to earth? To restore broken fellowship.”
However, our response to His prevenient grace is not to resist Him but to aggressively pursue intimacy with Him. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
For self evaluation it would be wise to classify your quest for knowing God.
1. I’m not a follower of Christ but I’m seeking and considering
2. I’m a Christian, but my diligence in seeking God is lacking
3. I’m hot and cold. I muster up discipline to read the Bible for a while, then I slack off. No consistency.
4. I have trouble seeking God in my disturbing circumstances.
5. I’m usually disciplined in diligently seeking God but I yearn for a deeper intimacy with Him.
6. I don’t care about seeking God.
Which applies to you and me?
God is a rewarder of those who DILIGENTLY seek Him. Complacency is not part of the game- plan in knowing God. As children of God we already have relationship with Him. Now our challenge is to develop fellowship with God. Developing intimacy with Abba Father. Augustine so aptly stated about God, “Thou hast made us for thyself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee.”
And I may add, even in "rest in thee" there still is a holy discontent....I want more! How about you?
