Some
make lists. There is “The How You Dress List?” Though not as common as it once was, this
list reduces the knowledge of God to the wardrobe of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. Wear the right stuff and clearly you have a
proper relationship with God. Others
make a “Did You Do This List?” Did you
say certain words in a certain place with the blessing of certain religious
people? This is the reduce faith to a
formula method of determining authenticity.
Still others make “A Feeling List.”
Did you or do you feel a specific way?
Emotions are the gauges of godliness according to this crowd. Another group uses a “Do You Do This List?” These lists are usually tailored to the tastes
of those devising them and consist of various moral, benevolent and religious
exercises.
While
something approaching the truth may be discovered in any of these methods, they
all err on some level. If these are
suspect we are back to our original question about knowing for certain that we
do indeed posses bona fide knowledge of God.
We might wish to take our question to the Bible for an answer.
Perhaps
one of the reasons confusion abounds on this matter is that the Bible does not
do what so many expect it to do. We want
the specificity of a tersely worded how to manual. We expect to open the Bible
to a certain page specified in the index and be told in 150 words or less a
watertight method for ascertaining whether or not we have the knowledge of God.
What
annoys many in our mechanistic world is that the Bible is not big on
mathematical equations. Obviously there are clearly worded statements in the
Bible about receiving a saving knowledge of God but the salvation stories of
biblical figures are as varied as the persons themselves. We often prefer a
regimented ritual complete with an easily marked checklist but God wants a
relationship.
What
the Bible is big on is the consequences of real knowledge. Results reveal relationship. A number of
results could be delineated but topping the list is peace. “The result of righteousness will be peace”
(Isa. 32: 17). “Therefore, since we have
been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ” (Rom. 5: 1).
The
same can be said of our growth in that knowledge. The Bible connects holiness with peace as
well. “Pursue peace with everyone, and
holiness – without it no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12: 14).
The proof of my justification is peace in the face of
death. The proof of my sanctification is peace in the face of life.
This post previously appeared in The Daily Press.
