When it comes to knowing God, of our own power, we cannot. We have enough problems knowing what other finite men and women think, let alone knowing what the infinite Creator of the Universe thinks. A couple who have been married might, if they’re fortunate, know what the other is thinking on occasion. Not only are we separated because of our finiteness, but our rebellion against God, our sin, puts us at enmity with our Creator.
Knowing God, (for this is eternal life), is what Jesus promises us when place our trust in him. Jesus removes the barriers to knowing God by removing our sin from us, taking it upon himself, and placing his righteousness over us. Not only that, but his Spirit makes his dwelling in us, changing us from within and renewing us to the image of God. Even more, the Spirit of God knows the mind of God, for he has been in eternal fellowship with the Father, and he is God. The Spirit, with the word of God, reveals the mind of God to us, not in its entirety, but essentially. As our knowledge grows, so does our love. As our love grows, so does our obedience.
However, we must kid ourselves in thinking it is because anything of ourselves, but because God first loved us. Without God making the first move, we would never understand the ways of God, for the ways of the world cannot discern the ways of God. May we love and obey the one who has saved us.
