Man’s greatest need is not always his greatest desire. There was a man named Nicodemus who had position, power and authority and still he did not have what he needed. In his discussion with Jesus he was told what he needed. Nicodemus had all the desire in the world but he lacked knowledge which would lead to a good relationship with Jesus.
What does man need today? All men need to have a relationship with God. Man was created with that purpose in mind. Jesus told the Samaritan woman that all men needed to worship God in spirit and in truth. Like the Samaritan woman in John 4:24 and Nicodemus in John 3, we need knowledge to have a proper relationship with God. To do otherwise is to fail to fulfill our purpose in life. Failure to have a proper relationship is a failure to receive the full measure of God’s love, mercy, and grace.
What can we do to have a proper relationship with God? First we must realize that men are the only creatures that God created with a spiritual and moral nature; we are the only creation that is made in the image of God. In as much, we not only have the ability to think like all animals, but we have the ability to reason as well. There is a self awareness and a desire to seek God deep within every man (Matt. 6:33; 22:37-40).
We need to build a relationship with God because we sin (Romans 3:23 and 6:23). The beginning of our relationship with God demands that we first know His will and obey it; a failure to do so leads to spiritual death and destruction. We need to be reminded that all men will face a day of judgment (Heb. 9:27).
God wants us to know that we must hear His word Romans 10:17; believe that he is the living Son of God John 3:16, Mark 16:16; repent of our sinful living Acts 2:38, confess that He is the Son of God Matt. 10:32, to be buried with him in baptism Colossians 2:12, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 2:38, Galatians 3:27, and to live a faithful life Titus 2:12.
Because God has created you with the ability to think and reason you can build a relationship with Him. Have you begun to build that relationship? If not you can do so today.
(Tony Hoss is minister at Centerview Church of Christ, Elizabethton.)