And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. [1]
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? [2]
I will base this discourse on the above two scriptures.
The apparent first thing is that the promise of ‘eternal life’ is based on ‘knowing God…’ the next is not so prominent; knowing about God is not the same as knowing God.
Let me give you an example: I know my wife because we have a deep relationship with each other in every respect. I know my wife intimately, as well as knowing about her origins, her family, her characteristics, and the list goes on. Do you see the difference? The difference is that if she were not my wife and just someone with whom I shared a friendship, I might know all about her, but I would not know her intimately. If approached by an angel, my friend’s reply would have been, ‘He is just a friend; we have never been intimate with each other.’ If we chose to have an intimate relationship, that would have been a completely different ball game. Then, I would know her in a scriptural context.
The shift from knowing my wife as a friend to becoming intimate with her, took place on our honeymoon night. Our marriage was consummated and we became ‘one flesh.’
Now we know each other.
You can now rightly ask, ‘What has this got to do with God?
Okay, okay, give me time; I’m getting there. 😊 The word ‘know’ in John 17:3 above has a Strong’s number 1097, ginṓskō: to come to know, recognize, perceive. [4] The exact number applies to Mary’s word ‘know’ concerning sexual intercourse. [5]
Interesting, wouldn’t you agree?
For the most part, and I am generalizing here, in the Christian world, most teaching centers on getting to know God through the Bible. And, of course, this is true, but I ask you in all sincerity: could I have come to know my wife intimately by reading her autobiography? Of course not!
Let’s agree then; I know my wife by getting to know about her and then getting intimate with her, to know her. Of course, you agree – you’re a smart one!
I have to say this, though: if you cannot agree to what I have offered you, there is no point in reading any further because, from here on, you need faith to come to know God. To accept what I am about to tell you will take faith.
You know the saying, ‘You can take a horse to the water, but you cannot make that horse drink the water.’
Outside of the Spirit of God, no one can teach you how to become intimate with God. To understand what intimacy with God is all about, we must look at the life of Jesus, who said, ‘I don’t say anything unless I hear my Father saying it – I don’t do anything unless I see my Father doing it.’ [6] (my words)
No one but the Spirit of God within us can guide us to intimacy with God. If it were so with Jesus, it would be the same for you and me.
But all is not lost; you have the same Spirit which was in Jesus – within you! [7] All that is required is that you thank God and begin to manifest intimacy with God. As of this moment, thank God that intimacy has started to manifest in you. You may ask, where does faith enter the picture?
The moment you thank God, you’ve taken the first step – don’t stop thanking every moment you remember each day; that’s faith.
Now, get ready for the miracle.
Love and Blessings
Peter James
[1] Ephesians 5:31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” (biblehub.com) [2] Luke 1:34 “How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” (biblehub.com) KJV [4] Strong’s Greek: 1097. γινώσκω (ginóskó) — to come to know, recognize, perceive (biblehub.com) [5] ginṓskō (“experientially know”) is used for example in Lk 1:34, “And Mary [a virgin] said to the angel, ‘How will this be since I do not know (1097 /ginṓskō = sexual intimacy) a man?'” [6] John 14:10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I say to you, I do not speak on My own. Instead, it is the Father dwelling in Me, performing His works. (biblehub.com) John 5:19 Context: Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise. (biblehub.com) [7] John 16:13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. (biblehub.com)