I gave this short devotional message to fellow students during my college years.
Why are you here at school? To get an education. To prepare for your future ministry. Perhaps to find a wife. These are all good, and are definitely reasons we are here. But they must not be the main reason we are here. All of these things are not ends in themselves. They are merely means to an end: to know God. Everything we do while we are here should be toward this end.
This was Paul’s chief passion. Turn to Philippians 3:7–10. Notice the singleness of Paul’s desire to know Christ. In Paul’s opinion there is nothing better. And notice his view of all else that would stand in his way.
Knowing God is the very essence of the Christian life. John 17:3 says, “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” It begins at conversion—“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6)—and all eternity will be an ever-increasing knowledge and experience of God in Christ. It will take an infinite amount of time to know an infinite God. I think all of the Christian life can be summed up in knowing God and making Him known.
Consider Paul’s prayers. Philippians 1:9: “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment.” Colossians 1:10: “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Second Peter 3:18: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
It is easy to get distracted and lose focus. Maybe your tendency is to study too much, or to goof off too much, or maybe to serve too much. Remember Mary and Martha. Let us be Mary Christians. Serving is secondary to knowing God.
There is no worthier pursuit in the entire world. Nothing has greater value or more lasting profit than the knowledge of God. How can we pursue this knowledge of Christ? You come to know Him through the Word. If you are not in the Word daily, you are failing to accomplish why you are here. Do you know Christ better now than you did at the beginning of this year?