Knowing and Believing in the Truth

For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

John 17:8 (ESV)

During a conference on developing a personal relationship with God, a participant asked me how one can know God if one cannot see Him. The answer seemed so simple that I hesitated to respond. My hesitation stemmed from the phrase "if one cannot see Him." He reminded me of Thomas's situation, to which Jesus replied, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). I then understood that his question stemmed more from a lack of faith than from a genuine desire to know God better.

The three years of Jesus' ministry were designed to convince us of His divinity and the fact that He had been sent by the Father. His actions and miracles were a means of leading us to have faith in Him. He did not only perform miracles; He also committed Himself to preaching the truth that the Father had entrusted to Him to teach us. This truth was meant to help us have faith in Him and desire to know Him better. Unless we have faith in Jesus and believe that He is the One sent by God, even those who call themselves Christians cannot grow in their knowledge of God.

Receiving Jesus does not require seeing Him face to face, but rather having faith in God's promise to send us the One who would die for our salvation. If you ever have doubts about Jesus, turn to His teachings and you will understand that you do not need tangible proof to believe in Him, for the Word of God is sufficient to convince you. By believing that Jesus Christ comes from God and by having faith in Him, you open the door to salvation, which God reserves only for those who believe without having seen.

May the grace and peace of God be with you all.