I have traveled a long road…seventy years with Jesus. What can I say? 

In Jesus’ high priestly prayer on the eve of His death, He defined for us, for me, the true meaning of eternal life…

“And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

…not one day when I die but a powerful reality here and now…in this fallen, broken world…under divine authority and divine supervision. 

Did Peter remember Jesus’ prayer when he concluded his second letter with these words…

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

If knowing God…Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…is the essence of eternal life, then, all of life’s experiences…including failure, brokenness, and loss…are the arena in which He reveals Himself as gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, and full of covenant love. 

Looking back over seventy years of life…raw, rough, and full of every kind of failure…I can say with utmost confidence that I know Him. I have seen and experienced a tiny fragment of the God who rescued me from self-destruction, loved me in my worst and darkest moments…when I was utterly unlovable…and has been faithful to His Word and to me beyond my wildest imagination.

The God whom I heard about in Sunday School, and read about in His Word, is the God who met me in a marquee tent on 1st April, 1956…raised me from spiritual death to spiritual life, and set my feet on the Way…in Christ…to know Him. 

Do I know Him? Yes and no! I know fragments about Him because He has spoken to me…in my spirit across the span of seventy years…in my ignorance…in my disobedience…and in my feeble efforts to follow Him. 

I knew Him whenever I took a wrong turn and headed in the wrong direction, He gently steered me back to the path. 

I knew Him when He blessed me way more than I could ever deserve. 

I knew Him when He gave me rest from my futile self-effort and reassured me that it was okay just to be me. 

I knew Him when I fell…hard…when He forgave my sin, time and again, picked me up, washed me clean, held me close…and walked on with me…at His side. 

I knew Him through the years of peaceful work in the company of His people…safe and tranquil…as well as the years of labour and learning in the rough and tumble of an evil world.

I know Him now as the God who loves the elderly, who causes me to flourish in the environment He  has chosen for me.  

I know Him when hears my prayers for my wayward family and my suffering nation and the nations of the world, patiently unfolding His plan in mysterious ways that reveal His wisdom and power. 

I know Him when He reassures me that He rules on the earth and that His kingdom is here now, and coming in its fullness when Jesus returns. 

I know Him when I dwell on His goodness, mercy, and favour that have followed me all the days of my life. 

I know Him when I anticipate with great joy the prospect of being with Him forever…my eyes on the glories of the yet unseen that await me and all those who long for His return. 

Do I know Him? Yes, I do…because He has revealed Himself to me in my short life.  Do I know Him? No, because He is more than time and eternity can ever reveal. 

And so…the prospect of knowing Him stretches before me into the eternity that awaits me and all who love and follow Jesus. 

My eighty-sixth birthday is just around the corner. Will I reach it? I have no idea. One thing I know…God will finish what He started!

“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you (me) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Concluded