Understanding God: Insights from a Lifelong Journey

I will soon cross over into my seventh decade of life. There are a few things I know now. I did not know them when my hair was brown and my energy was like the battery bunny. The main morsel of knowledge I now realize is how much I do not know. The body of knowledge seems to be as vast as the ocean and I am in a row boat.

I have read the entire Bible each year for close to thirty years. I understand many truths of the Bible but I still scratch my head about some things. It is the Word of God. How can a mere mortal like me understand the vastness and the depth of it? The short answer, I cannot. Yet, I keep studying and praying for more understanding of the Word of Life.

How can we know everything about an infinite God with our finite minds? I sometimes say, “The understanding of God’s truth is a very deep well. I have a very short rope. I also have a small bucket.” I still enjoy the drops and dribbles I get from the well. [I don’t know why I am on this water metaphor kick? Oceans. Wells. Boats. and Buckets!]

If we are honest with ourselves, we must realize there a many things we do not understand. There are also some things we know but our understanding of those things are incomplete at some level. Someone has said, “If you can understand everything about God then perhaps you need a new God. Yours is too small.”

We can know God. We can understand many things about His character, love, grace, and mercy. We can also grasp His redemptive plan for mankind. He actually reveals Himself to us. He opens the window of Heaven to shower us with His blessings.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, He reveals many things to us on a need-to-know basis. God gives us wisdom when we ask Him. He shows us His way when we ask for directions.

The Father sent His Son Jesus into the world for two reasons. The first was to die for our sins. The second was to reveal more of Himself in His tangible Son. If you know Jesus, you know the Father.

So here are a few simple points to consider:

1. We must not discount the revelation of God by the Holy Spirit. God has all knowledge, wisdom, and understanding and He can download any part of that to us anytime He wishes.  If you really need to know, ask Him.
2. We need to believe some simple facts that will determine our relationship with God and our eternal destiny. Here are few important ones:  a) I believe Jesus is the Christ, b) He died on the cross for my sins, and c) He was resurrected on the third day.
3. We need to live out our beliefs. If we have trusted Christ as our Savior and Lord, then we need to model our lives after Jesus.
4. When we are countered by things we do not understand or question why God allowed something, here are a few things to cling to: a) God is good.  b) God is powerful.  c) God loves us. and d) God always does the best and right thing.
5. If we want to understand more about God, He will provide us with more understanding. This will happen as we grow in our relationship with Him.
6. We must be content while we search for more. Study the Bible every day. Get a gold nugget every day and you will be rich in knowledge and wisdom.

Oh that we would know Him as Paul desired. He declared, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Philippians 3:10 NKJV).

Yours on the Journey,

Harry L. Whitt

Get a printable copy of my Bible Reading Plan here.