Know God – Glorify Him
Over the past three years, I have had many people ask me “why?” in regards to my schooling. I have been at Calvary University now for three years. It has been a magnificent time and I have learned so much. Before I even began at Calvary, I had many people asking me why I would give up a career for a Bible degree. While I was pursuing my bachelors in Bible and Theology, people continued to ask me why. Once I graduated in May 2017 with my bachelors, I decided to pursue my master’s degree in Bible and Theology. Again, the questions continued. Now, in August of 2019, I plan to pursue my Doctorate in Bible and Theology. But why? Haven’t I had enough time under professors studying the Bible? Why would I continue?
“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” – John 17:3 [ESV]
The meaning of life is that we know God. Life itself is defined by knowing the only true God, YHWH and Jesus Christ who is an exact representation of God (Heb. 1:3). Without knowing God, I am dead; we are dead. We do not have life. I don’t know another way to put it…life is not ours. In fact, if we don’t know God, we have eternal death. I need to know God. But how?
How can I know God? If life is at stake, I need to know Him! This is the main reason, not the only reason but the main reason I study the Bible (other reasons will be explored in later articles). I want to know God and know Him fully. My faith in Jesus Christ has given me the ability to know God. God has chosen to reveal Himself through Scripture; the Bible. This is why my degrees are not just Bible but Bible and Theology. The Theology (study of God) finds its foundation and source of study from Scripture. God desires for creation to know Him. God desires that everyone have life!
Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel? – Ezekiel 33:11
God is personal and desires that all of His creation know Him. We see in Romans 9 (which is citing Exodus 9:16) the purpose of the signs and wonders performed by God in His deliverance of Israel from Egypt; “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” The purpose was to make His name known among all the nations. Now, we have Scripture for the purpose of revealing God. There are multiple purposes of Scripture, but Scripture is the revealing of God, who He is, and historical people and events in relation to God.
Through the gospel, one is introduced to knowing God. A person is regenerated and adopted into the family of God. The point of salvation is the beginning of the journey of growing in the knowledge of God. The Bible, however, is full of information regarding our Creator; origins, motives, characteristics, passions, desires, will, and so much more regarding YHWH, the God of the universe. Strive with urgency toward gaining a fuller knowledge of who God is.
