Knowledge of God
Everywhere you look you can learn something about God. The earth is filled with information about Him. Psalm 19:1 says that the skies proclaim the wonders of God’s handiwork. Romans 1:20 says that since the beginning of creation, God’s attributes have been visible in the world.
Learning about God’s character through nature is called General Revelation. These are the things that anyone can learn about God by observing creation. Special Revelation is knowledge about God and salvation that only comes through His Word.
One example of Special Revelation is Habakkuk 2:14, which talks about a future day when the earth will be filled with true knowledge of God. When this was first proclaimed, the nation of Israel was in the midst of exile. They were experiencing injustice at the hands of their enemies. But God gave them a promise in the middle of their hopeless situation…
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Habakkuk 2:14 NIV
A day will come when all people will know God. Knowledge of Him and His glory will cover the earth. Those who trust in God as their Savior will be with Him eternally in Heaven. But those who do not know Jesus will experience Him as their Judge, and be separated from God eternally.
When Jesus first came to earth, humanity got a glimpse of God’s glory. And because the Holy Spirit is still at work through the global Church—we still get glimpses of that glory. But on the day Jesus returns, all people will recognize Him as the true King. At that time, it will be too late for us to share the life-saving news of Jesus’ death and resurrection with others. That’s why we should use every opportunity we have to help people know Jesus as their Savior before it’s too late.
As Christians, we should pray for the day when Jesus returns and fills the earth with His glory. We should seek God continuously, and read God’s Word to be filled with knowledge of Him. But we should also be looking for opportunities to share the knowledge of God with others—right now.
So take some time today to consider who you can share the hope of Jesus with. And pray for those who do not know Jesus yet—ask that God would use you to help others get to know Him.
“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: as thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for ...
“Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the LORD's servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not. The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore. Who among you will give ear to this? who will hearken and hear for the time to come? Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law. Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, ...