"Know About Him, Or Know Him?"

"And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7:23

There is a big difference in knowing about Jesus and knowing Jesus. Most people tend to get the two confused. They believe that just because they know about Him it is well with their soul. Not necessarily so. Jesus said it was about knowing Him.

I know about the President. I know who he is. I know facts and figures about him because I have either read it or heard it on television. I even recognize his face when I see it in an article. I can also tell you things about him that are true because of what I have learned. But I don't know him personally. I have never met him.

Who would say that they know the President personally just because they know about him? Just because they have read about him? Just because they had heard about him? Just because they have heard things that he has said? No one. So why would we say that we know Jesus based on the same criteria?

Just because you know facts and figures about Jesus, just because you have read about Him in the Bible, just because you have heard others talk about Him, just because you have heard His teachings, just because you tell others some facts that you have learned about Him doesn't mean you know Him. It is not an automatic. You have to "meet Him personally" and develop a relationship with Him to be able to say you actually know Him.

It is going to be a very sad day for many when we stand before the Lord. They will believe that He is going to receive them into heaven because they thought that knowing about Him was the same thing as knowing Him. They will have a rude awakening, just like the people in the verse above.

Make sure that is not you. Make sure you don't just know about Jesus. Make sure you don't confuse knowing about Him with actually knowing Him. Make sure today that you do know Him and have a relationship with Him.

Have a great day. Knowing about Jesus and knowing Him are not the same thing.

For further reading:

Matthew 7:22,23
John 12:26; 10:14
Mark 8:34
Luke 9:23
1 Corinthians 8:3