Know (Dictionary): To perceive directly; have direct cognition of; to recognize as being the same as something previously known; to have a practical understanding of.
Know (Bible): Know; understand; foreknow; to examine; try; make known, declare, know, discover; ascertained; realized.
Many people today continue to seek God. They seek Him for their needs, for their wants and hopefully for His will. The Lord has revealed Himself in many ways. All of creation shouts forth His majesty, His Word reveals His heart and we see Him at work in people’s lives.
Back in the 50’s and the 60’s there was a TV program called Father Knows Best. It starred Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Eleanor Donahue, Billy Gray and Lauren Chapmen. We all came to know them as the Anderson family and were able to look into the lives of a rather perfect mid-west family. The dad was very wise and was able to get the kids out of all kinds of problems. Everything seemed so real and so good.
But in real life, the actors were leading very difficult lives. Robert Young was an alcoholic and constantly battled depression and some of the others were in very bad situations. What we saw on the TV screen was made up. But in the midst of all their problems, people wanted to see a family in harmony and able to solve their problems. People were hoping that the father was up to the task at hand and the TV show attempted to reveal what a good dad does. Our heavenly Father has also revealed Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ! He wanted us to know that indeed-Father God does know best!
Hebrews 1: 1-3 1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,…” (NASB)
When we look at a newborn baby we are often able to see the parents in that cute face. Even as we grow up we often hear people say “you look just like your mom” or” you have your dad’s eyes” or check out those feet! It’s genetics at work. We can’t help who we look like. It is just a fact. Another fact is found in Genesis 1: 26 where God said “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” We are indeed made in God’s image- it’s built into us just like our genetics from our parents.
The same is true of Jesus. He was His Father through and through. We are all made in God’s image but Jesus was an “exact representation of His nature”. Therefore when we see Jesus, we do indeed see His Father! Jesus wanted everyone to know this:
John 14: 5-9:” 5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. 7“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” 8Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (NASB)
What can we learn from all this?
- That we are indeed made in God’s image and that makes us very special.
- That Jesus came to earth to save us but He also came to reveal God the Father through how He lived His life.
- We too should reflect the heart of the Father in how we live, how we talk and in what we do. People should be able to look at us and see we walk with Jesus!
What did Jesus show us about His Father?
- The Father has a heart bigger than the world and He is love!
- He is grace, mercy, forgiveness, gentleness, kindness and the source of all hope.
- We need not fear because He has a plan for each of us, and He keeps His promises.
People desperately need a Savior today. There is so much in this world that pulls them away from the truth of the Gospel and leads them into darkness. God has revealed His Word to us so we might be His witnesses to those around us. When they see us they should be seeing Jesus. It’s more than genetics- it’s God in us.
Now all this may sound a little difficult, but God has equipped us to walk in a manner worthy of the name “Christian”. He has given us His Holy Spirit, His Word and the body of Christ, the church. Look what it says in Hebrews as the writer closes:
Hebrews 13: 20Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (NASB)
The TV program had the right idea. Because of Jesus we know that our heavenly Father does indeed know what is best for us. All we need do is “seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness”.
