What I am about to embark on will be a challenge to your thinking, so please try to think with me as I try to expose you to a sobering thought. Realizing how much more can be written about this issue, I will risk oversimplifying it so you can use it to shape your spiritual journey.
As a child, I believed in God because my parents believed in Him. I believed in many ideas I later found were not consistent with what the whole Bible teaches. This didn’t become clear until years later when I came to know Him intimately enough to become His apprentice. There is a time in life when you begin to question your beliefs and so you can know the truth for yourself.
On the other hand, a person can know many facts about God from what they have heard or read, yet not personally believe in Him. However, if they don’t truly believe in Him, they cannot fully trust Him. Not until they have a personal encounter with Him, can they experientially know Him and therefore fully trust Him. Keep in mind, the same Judas that was a disciple of Jesus, intellectually and socially, knew a lot about Jesus. He even went out and worked miracles, as Jesus had done. Nevertheless, he came to betray Him and later committed suicide, having never fully believed Him as the Son of God. Had he more fully known Him, he would have had to repent of his sin to Jesus and been forgiven.
If one fails to confront and resolve their veiled doubts about God, they will be unable to fully trust in Him for their everyday choices. Settling silent suspicions about God is a major achievement in the journey to enjoying a most intimate relationship with Him. Don’t worry about doubts about God if they are honest questions. Asking honest questions is crucial for uncovering sustainable truth. Simply ask Him to help you understand Him more fully.
John, the disciple of Jesus scripture suggests was closest in relationship to Jesus, went on to write this profound statement. So, we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him (1 John 4:16, ESV). To know here focuses on the mind or understanding. This is the type of knowing that comes from reading, hearing indoctrination, or logic. To believe here focuses on the heart, to be convinced of, or to trust and rely on. It results in taking more risks to please Him. Such belief comes out of a divine encounter, revelation, or a spiritual traumatic experience and results in boldness and greater risk taking on kingdom principles. Both are critical factors in our spiritual journey.
Unfortunately, I’ve observed the knowing component is the dominating factor in ‘second generation’ Christians. Although, a good percentage of those growing up in the church do move beyond the knowing to the experiential believing, but not all. Ezekiel 36:25-27 describes the tale-tell sign of the experientially believing. It says there will occur a strong God-given desire to be careful to obey His rules. Paul confirms that by writing for God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. (Philippians 2:13, NLT2).
It’s sobering when you consider how easily you can confuse knowledge and belief and end up wrongly assuming knowledge with some belief is sufficient. Here is a clue that might help you discern your condition. If you lack a compelling to carefully do His good pleasure, it’s a serious issue that needs attention. Taking time to reflect prayerfully on that will definitely be worth it.
I must ponder on this! Am I truly believing and responding correctly?
Thank you very much for sharing how the blog effected you. Your response was precisely my objective in writing it.