WHOLEHEARTEDLY SEEKING GOD LEADS TO A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF HIM

MATTHEW 7:7 – Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Jesus Himself emphasized that if Christians desire to know God, we will come to understand Him (Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:9). The only question is whether God’s children truly desire to do so. In those verses, Jesus imposes no physical or worldly conditions on those who wish to know God. One need only be a Christian—with the faith to ask for the Holy Spirit’s revelation about God—rather than someone with high academic standing or extensive worldly knowledge. Seeking to know God is a spiritual endeavor; thus, it cannot be compared to matters of the physical world. Another crucial aspect is the heart’s longing and perseverance in seeking the Lord. It is not merely a fleeting moment of enthusiasm that prompts a prayer that the Holy Spirit answers instantly. Any prayer a Christian offers requires persistence and patience; it cannot be rushed. Abraham’s impatience and its consequences serve as a lesson Christians must always keep in mind. God is never pleased with those who approach Him in haste. Patience and faithfulness are qualities God desires in His children. Even regarding salvation, steadfast patience to the end—that is, faithfulness unto death—is a crucial requirement for Christians (Revelation 2:10). Likewise, since knowing God and His eternal plan is of utmost importance for Christians in this life and the life to come, the act of praying for the Holy Spirit’s illumination also demands patience and perseverance. Based on the words of the Lord Jesus, we can confidently assert that Christians can indeed come to know God for the following reasons. First, because God wants Christians to desire to know Him, and because that desire pleases Him, He will reveal Himself so we may understand. Second, because the Bible teaches that prayers asking for things pleasing to God are answered, the Holy Spirit will accept a prayer for the knowledge of God and then assist us. Throughout history, Christians have tended to study the Bible more than to seek to know God Himself. For this very reason, biblical scholars formulated the doctrines of various churches. Yet, because there was insufficient focus on knowing God, these doctrines caused churches to become divided—even leading them to oppose and kill one another, as occurred in medieval Europe. That division persists beneath the surface even today. Yet if all Christians sought to know God thoroughly, there would be but one Church, one faith, one doctrine, and one rite; for God is One, and in Him there is no division.