THE PATHWAY TO KNOWING GOD

Read Exodus 34:5-8.

  Moses had met God on Mt. Sinai some forty years prior to the events recorded in our text, (see Ex.3:1-15).  Last week we considered the name of God, “Elohim,” the all-powerful and ever-faithful One, and now we hear Him called, “Yahweh,” I AM WHO I AM.  It speaks of underived existence.  No human, angel, or demon can make that claim.  There was a time when I was not, but there was never a time when God could not say, “I AM,” and always will be.

What did Moses do to find God?  Nothing—God revealed Himself to Moses or he could not have known Him.  But God wants us to know Him.  God reveals Himself to us in basically four ways:

• THE SKIES.  Psalm. 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God.”  We know the Creator through the creation.  “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.”

• THE SOUL.  His law is written on our heart—the sense of right and wrong.  Romans 2:15 speaks of those, “who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness... .” We are born with an innate awareness of God’s existence.

• THE SCRIPTURE. This Book is about God.  Psalm 119:15 states, “I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.”  The ways of God are found in the Word of God. Jesus taught how all the Old Covenant testifies of Him, Luke 24:27,44. The New Testament text has been breathed out by God (2 Tim.3:15-17) and instructs us in salvation and sanctification.

• THE SON.  The Incarnate Word (John 1:1-3). Jesus said, “Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him” (Matt.11:27).

The pursuit of God becomes the passion of the Christian who comes to know Him through Christ.  We are commanded to know the unknowable (Col.1:9-10).  Paul practiced what he preached (Phil.3:7-10).  Also see Jer.9:23-24.  Even better—God knows us! (Ex.33:17).  Moses’ response and ours should be worship (Ex.34:8).

DOES GOD GRADE ON THE CURVE?

Read Romans 2.

I loved teachers who would grade on the curve.  My IQ was high, but my study habits were not. I preferred hobbies to homework and sports to study. I thought school was for socializing instead of scholarship.  However, when the teacher graded on the curve, I could pass the class with little effort.  I wasn’t graded on the objective truths of the textbook, but the subjective comparison to other students. I would get A’s and B’s while breezing through the course.

Some people think God grades on the curve.  They will admit they aren’t perfect, but compared to many, they don’t look too sinful.  I mean they aren’t serial killers or bank robbers.  In fact, some people are very moral outwardly, and seem religious enough.

But, not to God.  God does not grade on the curve.  Paul is dealing with that argument in Romans 2.  He has pointed out the sinfulness of the heathen in chapter 1.  He knew a lot of folks would say, “Sure, they deserve the judgment of God!  Look at how bad they are! But, I’m a good person.”  So, now the Apostle will move to the guilt of the hypocrite—who says more than he does—who is comparison to unholy people seems good enough, but compared to Holy God cannot measure up.  If we read the text—the Bible—objectively, we flunk.

In chapter 1, Paul appeals to the witness of creation to God’s existence and power—a witness outside us, and now He points in chapter 2 to the witness of conscience to God’s existence and purity.  If we will get beneath the surface level, where we may not appear that bad compared to others, and consider the guilt we carry inside us, then we must admit our need of a Savior—and the good news is that we have One—Jesus Christ.