Many of us have heard the question posed to us, "Do you know Jesus?" It's a critical question that all must ultimately answer either yes, or no. It is very easy to assume that Jesus knows us. "Why of course Jesus knows me. He knows everything and everyone, right?" In one sense, yes, that is very true. God is omniscient, but what does it really mean to know someone?
Suppose one were to dedicate a large part of their life learning everything there was to know about the president of the United States. You would learn when he gets up, what he does during the day, all his accomplishments, where he was born, how many children he has, his wife's name, his education, even down to minute details like what foods the president may like and the friends he invites over for dinner. You could spend so much time and energy learning absolutely everything there is to know about him that you could almost say, "I know the president." Now imagine that someday you were able to find your way uninvited into the Oval Office of the White House in Washington DC. The Secret Service grabs hold of you as you inform them, "It's OK, I know the president!" By chance, if he is there, they are going to ask him if he knows you and should you hear him say: "No, I don't know this person," your future would quickly be determined. Unless you would have met him, spoken with him, sat with him, and spent time with him, he could never say he knew you at all. Let alone call you his friend. Knowing all about someone does not constitute a relationship.
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness' (Matthew 7:21-23).
In the above verses, we see that not everyone who claims to know the Lord Jesus will find that He will claim to know them. The word "know" as used in verse 23 is from the Greek word "Ginosko," meaning "to know absolutely." What's even more profound is that the Greek word for never, as used in verse 23, "Oudepote," means "not even at any time, never at all." So, can we also spend our entire life learning everything there is to know about this one called Jesus, reading the Bible, going to church, even doing all the works and signs of a follower, and still have Him say, "I never knew you?”
The answer is Yes. And Jesus said that MANY would hear those words (Matthew 7:22).
We would find ourselves in the same predicament as being in the Oval Office again, and not being recognized by the president. Actually, infinitely worse off. So how can I be assured that He knows me? A beautiful illustration comes from The Lord Jesus Himself saying to us:
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me (Revelation 3:20, ESV)
When we are invited to dinner at a friend’s house, it is still as much an honor now as it has been for thousands of years. You enter into someone's home that has possibly worked for quite some time preparing a meal for you in hopes that you will significantly enjoy the fruits of their labor prepared for you. Not only that, but you share details about your lives, your jobs, your children, your hopes, your dreams, etc. You certainly at this point have a relationship one with another. How much more so that the Creator of the heavens and the Earth and all that is in them, knocking at the door of our hearts asking to come in and dine with us and have a relationship with Him.
In the 3rd chapter of the book of John, a man named Nicodemus; a Pharisee; a Ruler of the Jews, comes to Jesus at night. He says to Jesus: “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him” (John 3:2). Jesus gives a most interesting answer in verse 3: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." That is the key: "You must be Born Again." He knew precisely what Nicodemus and every person who ever comes to Him needs to know. He then proceeded to explain to him (and us) how to enter into His kingdom and thus enjoy having a personal relationship with Him.
A bit further on, in one of the most famous verses in all the Bible we read: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever lives and believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). The word "believes" is from the Greek word "Pisteuo," meaning "to entrust, commit, put in trust with." It is far more than just accepting a stated fact as being true.
So in conclusion, when a person comes to Jesus and truly "believes" in Him by trusting in Him, committing their hearts and minds and lives to Him, and repenting of their sins, they then become Born-Again; thus entering into a personal relationship with Him and receiving all the rights and privileges of a child of the King of Kings. Their names are then written down in “The Lamb’s Book of Life” (Revelation 3:27).
Dear ones, if you have never entered into a personal relationship with The Lord Jesus, before it is too late, we urge you with every fiber of our being to come humbly at His feet, admit you are a sinner, and accept the free gift of salvation that was secured by Him alone at a very great price.
Mike Engel