Eternal life means knowing God. We begin to know God when, at conversion, our spirits are quickened by the divine Spirit, raised from their sleep of spiritual death, and endowed with a new power of perception.

Growth in the knowledge of God leads to a deeper peace, a wider and more useful outlook, a stronger faith, more effective prayer, and a deeper joy in God. The "joy of the Lord" is the singing heart of those who are directed by God and who adoringly delight in Him and His ways.

Practical Peter's final exhortation—"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18)—agrees with Paul's ruling ambition, "That I may know Him" (Philippians 3:10). To know Him is our truest possession, and whatever we may leave behind when we leave time for eternity, we shall certainly take with us the knowledge of God we gain down here. The supreme good of life, here and hereafter, is the joy of knowing and loving God.

Oh, to know Him better as Saviour from sin's power and for holy living, as Father, Teacher, Guide, Provider of material needs, Restorer and Maintainer of spiritual and physical health, Director and Empowerer of service, and Object of joyful worship.

Whatever else you may be ignorant of, be sure of God. This can only be known as we, like the apostle Paul can say from personal experience—"I count all things but loss for the excellency of the know-ledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" (Philippians 3:8).

—E. Adams