WHAT CAN YOU KNOW? Devotion 14 of 32 The Gospel of Christ presents fallen humanity an alternative to being dominated by Satan, enslaved to sin, and alienated from God – all natural conditions into which transgression has hurled us. In the words of Scripture, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were BY NATURE the children of wrath, even as others" (Eph 2:2-3). -- Tomorrow:
Men may haggle about the extent to which men are "dead in trespasses and sins," and to what degree Satan works in those who are outside of Christ Jesus. All such wrangling is an exercise in vanity, and only serves to awaken foolish imaginations. The truth of the matter is that if God did not deliver us, we would have remained dead in our sins, with Satan working in us, and being children destined for wrath.
Thank God that in Christ we "have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet 2:20). That escape brought us into a glorious liberty, and we are admonished to "stand fast" in that liberty and not be "entangled again in a yoke of bondage" (Gal 5:1).
However, there is more to salvation that being delivered from bondage, and pulled from the clutches of the wicked one. We have surely been "delivered from the wrath to come" (1 Thess 1:10), and well ought we to praise God for it. However, spiritual life cannot be sustained on the recollection of deliverance alone. There must be some involvement with the Lord that brings joyful satisfaction to the heart – something that refreshes, renews, and brings rich resources to the soul. Praise God, there is deep and abiding satisfaction realized when we walk in the Spirit and live by faith.
When we choose to come to Jesus, and receive what He has been appointed to give us, we will realize a joy and satisfaction the world can neither conceive nor give. That is precisely why Jesus said, "whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will NEVER THIRST. But the water that I shall give him will become IN HIM A FOUNTAIN of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14). The Lord affirmed this same truth in the sixth chapter of John. "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall NEVER HUNGER; and he that believeth on me shall NEVER THIRST" (John 6:35).
Such blessed souls do not grope about in search of something that will more fully gratify them. In Jesus they find the consummate blessing, the greatest benefit, and the most thorough and joyful experience. This is why they "rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Pet 1:8). It is why they are willing to count everything else "but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord," considering them "but dung" (Phil 3:8). There have even been noble souls who "loved not their lives unto the death," laying down their very lives for the Lord Jesus (Rev 12:11).
You cannot produce such responses by a system of law, or a sense of obligation. Only when genuine satisfaction is realized can such attitudes be obtained, cultured, and expressed. That satisfaction is depicted as tasting of the Lord. "O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him" (Psa 34:8). That "taste" produces an experience articulated by the Psalmist. "My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips: when I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches" (Psa 63:6). It comes when one can perceptibly confess, "How sweet are Thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psa 119:103). Again it is expressed in these words, "The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb" (Psa 19:10).
To "taste and see" is to actually take hold of the promises of God, enjoying their benefit, and realizing their fulfillment. No one has ever experienced the remission of sin, for example, and been disappointed. Those whose prayers are heard come into a satisfaction that provides strength to run the race, and fight the good fight of faith. Tasting and seeing takes place when the Lord, as He promised, shares His "secret" with the believing one, and shows them "His covenant" (Psa 25;14). When strength in the inner man is realized (Eph 3:16), a certain satisfaction accompanies it – indeed it does!
This aspect of spiritual life – satisfaction – must not be underrated, or treated as though it is of little consequence. The reason people backslide, returning to their former lives like a dog to its vomit, is because they have not been tasting – thus they are not being satisfied. This is why people who wear Christ's name give up, drop out, and cease to serve Him. They have not realized the rich satisfaction that comes from tasting and seeing. They have lived at a distance from the Lord, all the while culturing a form of godliness that denies the power thereof (2 Tim 3:5). Such things do not have to be!
Make it your aim to know you have eternal life – to be persuaded in your heart that you possess it! God has moved holy men to write so you can know this. It will produce joyous fruitage within you. Knowing you have eternal life is a matter of Kingdom priority. Much depends upon your possession of this knowledge. The extent of your fellowship with God, your joy, and your confidence depend upon this vital life-giving knowledge.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I have found closeness to You to be most rewarding. I acknowledge that when I have been aware of Your blessing and presence, I have had a joy that lifted by spirit. In the name of Jesus, grant me the privilege of tasting and seeing at newer and higher levels.