As mentioned in the first chapter, it is one thing to know about God; it is another thing entirely to know God.
Hence the words of Paul:
"I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." (Philippians 3:8)
"For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2)
Knowing Jesus is everything – and the only way that we can really get to know Him is by spending time alone with Him in the secret place.
To support this hugely important thought, let us consider how my wife would feel if I spent my every spare moment attending seminars that teach about her, reading books that speak about her, accompanying groups that sing about her, and talking endlessly to others about her – yet I never spent time alone with her? All of these activities would help me to get to know about her, but they would do nothing to help me to know her and, clearly, such a relationship would amount to no relationship at all.
Yet all too often this is just the kind of "relationship" so many of us have with Jesus. We get ourselves so involved in good Christian activities and entertainments, all of which may help us to know about Him, but we spend so little time alone with Him in the secret place - getting to know Him on a personal level.
"While we have been mindful of our earthly friends from year to year, have we not neglected our heavenly Friend? In bestowing our gifts liberally upon our friends, have we not forgotten God and passed Him by?" (RH, November 21, 1878 par. 5)
Jesus Himself tells us about many "prominent Christians" who will not make it into the kingdom. These individuals are prominent in that they knew how to caste out demons, they knew how to preach, and they knew how to perform miracles but, sadly, they never knew Him – they simply never had an intimate relationship with Him.
'Then I will tell them plainly [says Jesus] "I never knew you." (Matthew 7:23)
This is why the secret place experience is of such vital importance to every one of us, for it is here, alone with Jesus, that we get to know Him on a personal level – and this knowledge of Him is as vital to our spiritual life as fresh air is critical to our physical life.
"The experimental knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He has sent, transforms man into the image of God. It gives to man mastery of himself, bringing every impulse and passion of the lower nature under the control of the higher powers of the mind. It makes its possessor a son of God and an heir of heaven. It brings him into communion with the mind of the Infinite, and opens to him the rich treasure of the universe." (COL114.2)
"A knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education and of all true service. It is the only real safeguard against temptation. It is this alone that can make us like God in character. This is the knowledge needed by all who are working for the uplifting of their fellow men. Transformation of character, purity of life, efficiency in service, adherence to correct principles, all depend upon a right knowledge of God. This knowledge is the essential preparation both for this life and for the life to come.' (MH409.3)
INCREDIBLE! Now we can appreciate why Paul was inspired to write . . .
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him." (2 Peter 1:3)
Maybe you would like to enter into the secret place with Jesus right now and, if you wish, you may use the following prayer to introduce your dialog with Him.
Precious Lord Jesus, thank you for your amazing grace, thank you for the privilege of being able to commune with you heart-to-heart. Please help me to take full advantage of this incredible opportunity.
So often I have tried to change myself and each time I have failed miserably, but thank you for the reassurance that the power for change is not in me, but that it is the fruit of getting to know You.
Dear Master, please release me, therefore, from the idea that I can accomplish anything without an intimate relationship with you, but please do keep me ever reminded that I can achieve measureless results if I allow you to live out your life in me.
This being the case, please Lord Jesus, fill me with a sense of dire urgency as I contemplate the changes that I can make that will enable me to spend more time alone with you in the secret place, that I may know you better, that I may become more like you, and that I may become a channel that you can use to your glory and to your praise.
"More than that, I count ALL things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:8-11)
