Knowing the Lord

“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3

This morning, the Lord showed me through His prophet Jeremiah that knowing the Lord is the key issue that God is concerned about for each us. The Lord wants people to know Him. Those who refuse to know Him grieve His heart because they perish needlessly in their sins.

Prophets of God call people to know the Lord. The need to know the Lord is emphasized by the Old Testament prophets, by the Apostles and by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

During the days of Jeremiah the prophet, the people of Israel and Judah experienced a time of great tribulation under the Babylonian regime but out of this tribulation came forth a remnant of people who knew the Lord.

In the Book of Revelation, Jesus reveals an empire whom He metaphorically calls Babylon. Babylon is a kingdom ruled by people who do not know the Lord. There is a time of great tribulation due to the rule of Babylon, but then, after a season, the Lord intervenes and Babylon is destroyed. The devil, his false prophet, the beast, death and hades are thrown into the lake of fire. Afterwards, those who know the Lord live and reign with Christ in a kingdom that will never end. A kingdom full righteousness, peace and joy! [2]

The Lord expresses His concern about people not knowing Him throughout the Book of Jeremiah the prophet.

“For My people are foolish, they have not known Me. They are silly children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.” [3]

“Thus says the Lord: let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight, says the Lord.” [4]

“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah… I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” [5]

“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” [6]

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also, there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’” [7]

“He [Jesus Christ God’s Son Savior] was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name.” [8]

Do you know God? If not, you can know Him. The Lord Jesus Christ is the One who brings God into the lives of those who receive Him.

[1] John 17:3
[2] Romans 14:17
[3] Jeremiah 3:22
[4] Jeremiah 9:23-24
[5] Jeremiah 31:31, 33-34
[6] Revelation 20:10-15
[7] Revelation 21:1-5
[8] John 1:10-12