By Eric Jinkwen

Acts 17:30 NKJV

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.”

When people speak of God, it’s often in vague, general terms, lacking depth or personal experience. However, God desires that we know Him in a profound, personal, and practical way—He wants to be an integral part of our daily lives, guiding us and walking alongside us.

In Genesis 5:21-22, 24, we find:
“Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. [22] After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters… [24] And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”

Enoch’s life illustrates a deep, personal relationship with God. God is not distant or impersonal, but seeks to be known and loved. We also see this intimacy with God in the life of Abraham:
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.'” (Genesis 17:1)

Knowing Jesus Christ personally means building a relationship with God who is not an abstract force or a remote creator. He is a person, relational and present, actively inviting each of us to walk with Him.

A True Knowledge of God: More Than Religion

When Apostle Paul arrived in Athens, he saw people worshiping an “unknown god.” Although religious, they lacked true understanding of God, much like many today. Paul explained to them:
“God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. [25] Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things… [28] for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’” (Acts 17:24-28).

God is not confined to human constructs. He seeks a relationship where we, His offspring, truly know Him as Father. Paul continued,
“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30).

Repentance is turning back to God, abandoning former beliefs and practices that lead to sin. It’s about knowing God personally and embracing His ways.

Knowing God as Revealed in Jesus Christ

Isaiah 43:10-11 NKJV
““You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, That you may know and believe Me, And understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. [11] I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior.”

The book of Isaiah, written about 700 BC, contains some of the most profound revelations of God. Isaiah’s name, which means “Salvation is of the Lord,” underscores the human need for salvation through God’s provision. Isaiah 9:6 famously prophesies the coming of the Messiah, saying:
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV)

This prophecy identifies Jesus as the Mighty God, revealing His divinity and His role as the perfect representation of God. Jesus Himself affirms this in John 14:6-7:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. [7] If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

To know Jesus is to know God. He is the image of the invisible God, a tangible expression of God’s nature. Philip once asked Jesus to show them the Father, and Jesus responded:
“Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:9)

Embracing a Personal Relationship with God

Knowing God isn’t about waiting for signs or proof. God has already revealed Himself through Jesus Christ, the most complete and accessible revelation of His nature and love. The Bible, as a record of God’s revelation to humanity, consistently affirms this truth.

God calls us to be His witnesses, chosen to know and understand Him. In Isaiah 43:10-11, He declares:
“Before Me there was no God formed, Nor shall there be after Me. [11] I, even I, am the Lord, And besides Me there is no savior.”

God desires our full commitment to Him, seeking and serving Him with all our hearts. When we embrace this relationship with Him, we experience true life, purpose, and meaning. As Hosea 4:6 warns, “My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me…”

Knowing Jesus Christ personally means connecting with the heart of God through repentance, faith, and commitment. It is a life-transforming journey that leads us away from ignorance and into the fullness of God’s love and salvation. Seek to know God today and experience the difference of walking with Him.

God bless you as you pursue Him in spirit and truth.