Paul’s second letter to Timothy describes those “who are always being instructed and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:7) The error of always being instructed and still never arriving at a knowledge of the truth is one of the more insidious temptations of intelligent Christians. The desire to know more about the God we worship is not problematic in itself. However, often such desire is used as an excuse and a covering for a hidden disobedience. There is a temptation to withhold ourselves from God, using the excuse that we will believe in and obey our Lord as soon as we understand Him. And so the Christian life becomes one of reading countless books (including the Bible) and knowing as much as possible about the Christian faith. Despite such learning, though, we remain ignorant of and separated from the living God.
Truly to arrive at a knowledge of the truth (in other words, to know God personally and intimately) requires nothing more than a simple trust and obedience. It entails a complete surrender to the Lord who calls us to Himself and promises us complete joy. If we desire truly to know and delight in the living God, then we ought to heed Jesus’ words: “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in His love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:10-12)
As said above, seeking to understand one’s faith is not, in itself, a sin. However, insofar as such seeking is nothing more than an excuse for disbelief and disobedience, then we must abandon our efforts. Some sort of special understanding is not what makes us close to God. (That is the error of Gnosticism.) We know our God because He comes to us and abides with us. It is not our duty to understand; it is our duty simply to trust and obey Him.
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