Integrity- People of God

Many people believe they are going to heaven because they have spoken a confession of a belief in Jesus. This is what most of the people in America are taught, to confess the name of Jesus. There is another part of that process, we must believe in our hearts Jesus is Lord. This is where some people lose sight of the word of God. They think they can do a two or three step plan to salvation and have eternal life. The Bible gives us direction and examples of life being lived in the presence of God. Conflicts of  this world are uses so we may know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent.

God created us, redeemed us and delivered us from the snares of our enemy. His plans for us are that we will be His children and He will be our Father-God and we will be with Him for eternity. As any loving father, God wants the best for His children and wants them to know who He is. This is eternal life, having a relationship with God, knowing who He says He is, knowing His character and how He responds in various situations. Also, to know God’s word and what the Bible says about Him, His ways and how He acts in difficult times. Many of us know the God of our parents and church but we must get to know the true God in relationship for ourselves.

John 17:3         Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

As with any relationship that we want to cultivate and grow we must take time to learn more of the person’s character and personality and the things they like and are important to them. The same is true with God we must take time to know His character and attributes, His traits, features and the power of different aspects of His being. We can learn about Him through the studying of His word and knowing the Names of God. When we study a person we listen to what they say about themselves and what they call themselves and over time we will be able to see a clear picture of that person. Again, so it is with God, when we read His word and see what He says about Himself and learn the names He calls Himself, we will begin to know and understand Him better. God becomes a real person who we can talk to and commune with and not just the God our parents or family members told us about.

When we know and understand God, then we will begin to know and understand ourselves. We were created in the image of God, in His likeness by His love for the purpose of being agents of love on the earth. The more we learn of God and see His love, mercy and grace to us, the more we will reflect His image to those around us. Thus fulfilling our created purpose, this is to bring glory to the Eternal God our Father. Knowing the truth of who we are, will help dispel the lie of this world and society that tries to speak death and destruction into our lives.

Truth is what sets us free from our past failures, our current malfunctions, societies’ views and even our low self-esteem. By learning the truth of God’s character we will learn how to live successfully and understand the conflict we are engaged in and how to be victorious. These are things we all must deal with and conquer because these are the tactics of this fallen world. This fallen world is working under a strategy that is to hinder the people of God from knowing their God and who they are in Him. This is a system of lies to try and keep God’s people from knowing eternal life and the only true God.

God says His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. This is a lack of knowledge of God and who we are in Christ Jesus. Satan is a defeated foe; we are not in a battle with him. Jesus conquered our enemy at the cross and rose with all power and authority and has given this authority to His people – those who are part of His kingdom on the earth. So many are not living victoriously because they do not understand the kingdom or how to operate in the power and authority Jesus has purchased for us. To know God and His true attributes and character, leads to eternal life. It is not the knowing of the stories people have told about Him or the lies they have shared regarding Him. Eternal life is to know God our Abba Father for ourselves and trusting Him as a faithful and loving God.

Knowing God is learning His truth which transforms the way we think about ourselves and others. Therefore we will change the way we act and react to others and situations so we may show the love of God. Many people say they know God or they are in the family of God and yet they show no resemblance of God the Father. Again, nature shows us seed produces after its own kind. Many will say Lord, Lord to Jesus and He will in return say, I do not know you! If we are children of God we must live a life that reflects His character in our lives and our character. If we do not see God’s love reflected in us we may be living in self-deception.

Daniel 11:32b  … But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. KJV

God’s people who know Him, His word, His character and His attributes, will be strong. They will be able to stand in the face of adversity and do great deeds and mighty achievements because they know their God is a faithful and true God. This is eternal life when we know that God is our Father and our sustainer, He will never leave us or forsake us. We can then live with this hope and faith during life’s challenges in peace because of God loves us.