“I was talking with a neighbor last night,” Stan commented one morning, “and he had an important reminder for me and my faith walk while he was telling me about how he came to faith and has grown from there.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“The importance of knowing, not just hearing,” Stan replied.
“Knowing versus hearing,” I repeated. “How so?”
“As with many people,” Stan said, “my neighbor indicated that he had gone to church most of his life, but he went merely to hear what someone else had to say about God, rather than taking the step of knowing God on his own.”
“Oh,” I replied, “like listening to the pastor talk about God rather than talking to God himself. Didn’t Jesus say something about knowing God being what eternal life is all about?”
“He did,” Stan said. “John records that in the seventeenth chapter of his gospel account of what Jesus had to say while He walked the earth. Jesus said that eternal life is knowing Him and God the Father.”
“And how does a person do that?” I asked.
“Choose,” Stan replied. “Choose to pursue knowing God the Father and Jesus the Son as deeply as humanly possible during the time we have remaining on this side of eternity.”
“Before we board the train to be in God’s eternal presence,” I added.
“That’s it,” Stan replied. “Grow before we go! Grow in an ever-deepening personal relationship of knowing God, really knowing Him, not just listening to what someone else has to say about Him.”
“I can see where that might make a difference,” I commented.
“It’s more than ‘might make a difference,’ my friend,” Stan said rather forcefully. “I believe that such a difference is an absolute certainty if I make the effort to know God rather than just hear about Him!”
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Bible verses to consider:
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should nor perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16.
And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. John 17:3.
I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. John 14:6.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for giving Jesus as the way to spend eternity in your presence through acceptance of His finished work on the cross. Thank you, too, for allowing me to pursue the eternal life of knowing you and Jesus on this side of eternity. I confess that too often I do not pursue knowing you as deeply as you desire because that’s what I choose. Please forgive that foolish approach to my walk with you that is intended to be an ever-deepening walk. And please help me in following every step of your lead into the exact personal relationship you intend for me. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you accepted God’s free and gracious gift of life eternally with Him when your time here is completed? If no, why? If you do have the assurance of life eternally with God, how are you doing with the eternal life of knowing Him on this side of eternity? Do you take the time to know Him personally rather listening to what someone else may have to say about Him? Can you explain that difference to someone who may ask? If you sense you are being called to a deeper personal relationship with God, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
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The Book. Waiting for the Train — Biblical Food for Growing Before Going, by S. Tory Teller (Foreword by Josh McDowell) is available at amazon.com and from the publisher at http://www.s-toryteller.com. It’s a great way to introduce yourself, family, and friends to what Stan and S. Tory Teller talk about concerning discipleship.
Waiting for the Train 