How to Know God
Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
—John 3:9
Nicodemus was a religious man, a Pharisee. The Pharisees were a very strict sect of people who believed very strongly what they thought was right. By the world’s standards, Nicodemus was a holy man. If he were to walk by, you would say, “There is a man of God. There is a man who is really in touch with God.”
But the problem was that Nicodemus wasn’t in touch with God. He had religion, but no relationship with God. He was miserable. He was empty. He was searching. So he came at night to talk to Jesus. He didn’t want the whole world to know he was searching. That’s embarrassing for a spiritual leader of men, for someone who is supposed to know God.
But I’ll give Nicodemus credit. At least he came. At least he was searching. At least he was asking. He dropped his defenses, he dropped his facade, and he bared his heart. He was basically saying to Jesus, “I know there is a possibility of knowing God. But I don’t know how. What do I need to do?” He was being completely honest.
I know what it’s like to walk in his shoes. I know how many years I tried to change. I know how hard I tried to feel joy or peace or hope. So finally, I came to God and said, “God, I don’t even know if You’re there, and I doubt it’s going to work for me, but if You can do something, then here I am."
God met me on that level, with as little faith as I had, and He radically and drastically changed my life, starting with my heart. And He can do the same for you.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org.
Copyright © 2006 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000.