For the past few weeks, we have been focusing on the glorious fact that God knows everything about us, and we have observed that He cares about everything that comes into our lives. God’s greatest desire, however, is that we come to know Him personally as our God and Heavenly Father. It means so much to Him that He was willing to sacrifice His precious Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to a cruel death to make that possible.
God’s dealings with mankind throughout the ages, whether in blessing or judgment, has been for this purpose. Romans 2:4 tells us, “The goodness of God” leads us to repentance of our sins. Genuine repentance always leads one to a personal knowledge of God and a relationship with Him. Throughout God’s Word, we are reminded that His judgments, too, are to make Him known to all people. We see this clearly illustrated in Exodus as God poured out His plagues on Egypt for refusing to release the Israelites from bondage and slavery (Exodus 7:8).
One of the most amazing passages of Scripture is found in Jeremiah 9:23-24, “Thus saith the Lord, ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth: for in these things I delight,’ saith the Lord.”
Some of the fondest memories of my childhood are of my visits with my Grandpa Newton and Grandma Stella Zinn in “Grassy Holler” three miles from Fifty-Six, Ark. I recall often sitting on Grandpa’s knee as we talked about rabbit and squirrel hunting and a very favorite subject of his – the weather. But those conversations never ended without Grandpa talking to me about Jesus. Each time, he would remind me that one day life would be over and that he was praying for my brothers and me. I knew Grandpa knew Jesus. Grandma knew Jesus, too, and wanted everyone else to know Him. In fact, she was known for trying her best to introduce Him to everybody she met everywhere she went. Their influence played a big part in my coming to know Jesus as my Savior and God as my Heavenly Father at the Fifty-Six Baptist Church at age 11.
This song by Gary Epperson wraps up our thoughts today: “I know Him, He knows me. When my burdens are too heavy, He rescues me. When I fall down on my knees, He makes me higher than the trees. I know Him, He knows me. Once I was a sinner, had no peace within. Jesus came a knocking, I let Him in. He changed my life completely, gave me victory. I know Him, He knows me. When the Book of Life is opened, and the Lord looks down the row, there’ll be some that day, He does not know. But when He calls my name that day, He’ll turn to me and say, I know him, He knows Me.” (Glory!)
May this be our glorious experience when that great day comes.
— Randy Zinn is pastor of Russell Missionary Baptist Church, Russell, Ark.; formerly of Okmulgee.
