Answers to your questions about life, religion and the Bible
What does it mean to really know Jesus?
Dear Father Paul: I visited my friend’s church a couple of Sundays ago and the pastor kept talking about “knowing Jesus.” I think I do know Jesus. How can I be sure? — No Name
Dear No Name: You have asked the best, the most important and perhaps the most profound question anyone can ever ask. In truth, our answer to this one, simple question may mean “our eternal life in heaven vs. our eternal death in hell.” Throughout the Bible God encourages people to constantly evaluate their standing with him. Indeed, the Bible says that if we are willing to regularly do the kind of spiritual audit of ourselves that he requires, we just might find ourselves lacking, with serious course corrections required.
Along this line, Jesus himself says these words in Matthew 7:21-23 (New Living Translation). “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my father in heaven will enter. On judgment day, many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you.’ Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.” Note: they didn’t know Jesus!
“Wow!” many will reply. “That sounds pretty harsh, Father Paul. I’m not sure I like it. Isn’t there a little ‘wiggle room?’ Isn’t there a ‘Plan B?’” Sorry. No, there isn’t. Unlike our modern culture, there is only “one plan,” God’s plan … and it’s pretty black and white, not shades of gray that we love. Example: in Matthew 12:30 (NLT) Jesus says: “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me … ” Indeed, there is no “wiggle room” in God’s kingdom.
So, how can we “know” (for sure) that we really do, or don’t, know God and his son Jesus Christ, the Savior of Mankind. How can we be sure that when we die we will go to heaven? Read on.
Again, (so that there is no doubt or confusion) God himself gives us the answer to this question in the Bible. In I John 2:4-6 (NLT) God says: “If someone claims, ‘I know God,’ but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.”
The earth (and all too many churches) are full of people who believe that Jesus was a great teacher … but they do not follow and live what he taught.
Others believe that Jesus was a great prophet … yet they do not obey and act on his prophecies.
There are those who know that Jesus offers eternal salvation … yet they live their lives as if they have rejected this gift.
There are those who say that Jesus is, indeed, the Son of God … yet they refuse to give him total authority and total obedience in their daily lives.
Lastly, there are those who once claimed that Jesus is all of these things and who once walked closely with Jesus in obedience to his commands … but who, over the years, have grown cold and indifferent to Jesus and the things of God. Of these the words of Jesus to the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:4 are sadly true. (NLT) “ … You don’t love me or each other as you did at first.”
It is certainly true that millions of people know “about” Jesus, but there are far fewer people who really “know” and love Jesus with all their hearts and whose lives are a living testimony of his life, his love and his commands. If we really do “know” Jesus, we are eager to read his words to us in the Bible … we are eager to spend time with him in prayer … and we are eager to obey and follow his commands.
So what if you find that you are not in accord with all I have said about knowing Jesus? What should you do? That’s easy. Confess (out loud) that “Jesus is Lord,” and ask him to come into your life and guide you daily on a godly path, and when you fail, confess your failure and receive the free gift of his forgiveness which he paid for by his death on the cross.
Do you have a question or comment? Email me at: paulmassey@earthlink.net.
Father Paul Massey is pastor emeritus of Church of the Holy Cross in Fayetteville, Georgia. More information, service times and directions are at www.holycrosschurch.wordpress.com.
