Knowing Him

[Chaplain Steve Fox]

My grandfather must have been a wonderful man. He died when I was two years old, so obviously I never knew him. While growing up I heard stories about how he came to America; was involved in politics; was a police officer and a professional wrestler. There was even a story about grandpa changing the family name because the newspaper continually misspelled it in articles about his wrestling. After a while, I began to feel as if I really did know him. I couldn't, however. I didn't know the struggles he went through raising a large family during the Depression, maintaining a job, the illnesses he dealt with, and the pain of dying with cancer. And I could never say if he had a home in Heaven. Of all I could say about grandpa, I could not say I knew him, no matter what my feelings told me.

Before meeting Jesus personally, no matter how much I knew, or thought I knew, about Him, I never knew Him until that day, as a sinner, I accepted Him as my Savior and Lord. The Apostle Paul, more than anyone, could say he knew the Lord. But even Paul said, "I have not yet obtained it." In Philippians 3 Paul gives us the best instruction for understanding the nuts and bolts of salvation. "That I may know Him..."

Knowing Him involves knowing the Person of Christ. I is a faith union of the heart, knowing Him intimately, not just knowing about Him. A woman sent a letter to Anwar Sadat expressing her admiration of him for meeting with Jimmy Carter at the Israel peace talks. In response, He invited her to be his quest in Egypt for a week. She got to know him because she accepted his invitation. The offer of God is presented by the Word and Jesus, the Living Word. Paul said, "...that I might know" the person of Christ, is more important than anything; rite, religion, race, or reputation. He laid aside all he had, or was, to possess the Redeemer.

Knowing Him involves knowing the Power of Christ. His victory over death frees. It lifts the believer from the death of sin to newness of life. His power can unify, purify, and satisfy only if we yield to it. It is not doctrine alone, it is power.

Knowing Him involves knowing the Pain of Christ. he suffered and died for us. To have that bond of fellowship (with pain) we must die to self. Paul said, "I  am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ living in me...life I live by faith in the Son..."

Knowing Christ is the foundation of the abundant life. It all depends upon knowledge gained by long experience with Christ and His changing of our lives. Knowing Him; His person, power, pain, and purpose, can not only change our family name, but our whole outlook on life.

Knowing my grandfather is only a "snapshot" I wish I had.
Knowing Christ is a "snapshot" I not only have to keep, but one that is still being developed.