"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God."
John 1:1-2

Last time we looked at why Scripture is so vitally important (which was a little too long ago, sorry!) we read in Romans that it teaches us of our sin, which is an essential realization if we are ever to remedy the problem of our sin. That is a very key component to our existence, no doubt, but today's blog is about an even more basic feature of Scripture. Practically, it falls after the need for our knowledge of sin, yet, in somewhat more of an abstract way, it is the ultimate goal for Scripture; it is the need for knowing God. This is what I mean: knowing God is the highest, most fundamental use of Scripture, yet, experientially, it comes after our knowledge of sin; we will never use Scripture to know the Lord until Scripture has revealed to us our sin and the need of knowing this Savior it speaks of. So, Scripture is used to know our great God.

We, as Christians, absolutely must study Scripture each day and meditate upon our readings. If we don't, we will never know the God we claim to serve, worship, and love. Jesus says that he is "the way, the truth, and the life" and "that no one can come to Father except through [him]." (John 14:6) That being the case, we'd better make sure we know this Christ. John 1 is describing him. John's version of Genesis 1 focuses on Christ, the Word, being in the beginning with God. The passage goes on to explain that "all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made" and that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father..." (v. 14)

If we go through our lives without diving deep into Scripture, searching through the Bible, and finding the truths contained therein, we will go through our whole lives without ever knowing Jesus Christ. But, make no mistake, you will know of Christ one day. Paul writes the Philippian church saying of Christ that "God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11). John writes in the book of Revelations that people will one day cry out to rocks " 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?' " (Rev. 6:16-17). People (sinners) will literally cry out for boulders to fall and crush them so as to try and hide themselves from the wrath of Christ. Later, John writes of those who don't serve Christ as "[drinking] the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the Lamb." (Rev. 14:10)

But, "his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime." (Psalms 30:5) You can experience the favor of the Lord for a lifetime, and for eternity, if you pick up your cross and follow him now. It will be too late one day. So, use the great opportunity you have during this lifetime to know this Christ; don't wait to know him in his wrath as you are tormented for eternity. John 1 describes Jesus as "full of grace and truth" (v. 15). Experience and know this grace now, through searching the truths of Christ found in Scripture.

Grace and peace to all. Amen.