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            It is not possible to describe the true character of God, but the Holy Spirit will enable us to have an adequate knowledge of God—there is nothing to compare in value to that. Any time spent in coming to know God’s true character, is time well spent.

            Before Adam disobeyed and was controlled by Satan, Adam knew God as He truly is; he enjoyed supreme happiness; and he had a complete supply of everything he needed or could desire. Since he knew God’s true character, he had perfect faith in Him—it was natural and easy to trust Him—just as natural and easy for the world to trust in everything but God.

            When Adam sinned, the serious result was, the serious loss of any knowledge of God’s true character. From that time, God was no longer part of his calculations—Adam was simply oblivious of God—having no idea what God was able and willing to do for him. Everyone born since then, has the same unawareness of God—knowing nothing about His character. 

            The principal object of all God’s dealing with us, and the main purpose of the Christian life itself, is to bring us to know the true character of God—exactly as He is. This can be a long and tedious process, but if we do not hinder God, He will teach us to know Him, and be able to receive from Him all the blessings He has for us in this life—and including eternal life. 

            The first step in knowing God, is a true repentance before Him. We are to confess and forsake all our ways and attitudes that are in opposition to the Word of God. This includes a willingness to now live according to the will of God. At this point, God can forgive our sins and erase the mistakes of the past—laying a solid foundation for the true Christian life. 

            The second step is making a total commitment of our life to God—placing ourselves on His altar as an everyday sacrifice—being willing to follow His will in everything. This total surrender to God enables Him to break Satan’s power over our life, and opens the way for His Holy Spirit to enter our heart. We can then be trained in all things that are necessary for living the Christian life.

            The trials we meet, and the battles we encounter, are major factors in receiving a right knowledge of God’s true character. These learning lessons are vitally important, but we must meet every trial in His way—keeping our faith in Christ and our trust on God no matter what is met. 

            Trials not only reveal what we do not know about God, but they also reveal what His true character is—trials must, however, be met right. When in a battle with the devil, it can seem that our experience is not showing us God’s character. Satan makes it look like God does not care; that He does not love us; and He has no concern about our troubles—but that is opposite to what His true character is. Jesus alone can reveal the true character of God—He is God manifested in the flesh—His teaching was from God.

            Jesus said that God loves us as much as He loves Himself—His Son. John 17:23 “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”

            Love will always do the best it can for those it loves. John 16:26 “At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: 27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.” God will hear and answer our prayers, and give good gifts to those who ask Him, even more than earthly parents.

            Matthew 7:11 “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” It may seem the opposite when we are going through a trial, because the devil makes it look like God is not willing to do what an earthly father would do for his children—but that is not the truth.

            As we hold steady in our faith in God, and allow Him to work out His will concerning us, we will prove that He is infinitely more willing to do things for us than the best earthly parent could do for their children. Romans 8:32 “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

            Jesus Christ is the greatest Gift, and He was given when we were ungodly; had no merit; nor anything else to deserve such a valuable gift. That is sufficient proof that God would give us every lesser gift. The devil wants it to seem that God is not willing to give us anything, but this is opposite to what His true character is. If we remain faithful to God’s Word, He will show us His true character. 

            Some of the most difficult trials are financial ones—at least we think they are difficult, because we do not know God’s true character. If we did know God, financial trials and any other type, would not upset nor disturb us in the least. Holding to our faith when going through such temptations, results in truly knowing the true character of God.

            In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us to not have any worrisome thoughts about food, shelter, or clothing, but to keep trusting God for the supply of those daily needs. Matthew 6:25. He said God feeds the birds and clothes the lilies. Matthew 6:26-28. 29 “And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”

            Jesus said that if God provides the needs of animals and plants on earth, how much more would He see to our needs of food, clothing, shelter and anything else we need. Matthew 6:30 “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” We too often have little faith, because we have little knowledge of God’s true character.

            Life is much more than food and clothing, Jesus said—and there is much Truth in those words. God gave us our life without any merit in us—the most valuable gift a creator could give us. Therefore, if the Father gives the greater gift—a (“fearfully and wonderfully made body” Psalm 139:14), He would even more freely give the lesser gift—along with the food to sustain it and clothes to cover it.

            God cannot change; He loves everyone alike; and He is no respecter of persons or places. What God did for anyone in the Bible, He would do for us today. Many, unfortunately, believe what the devil wants them to believe—that God has changed and that He will not do things for us today.

            Satan has the world thinking that God will not deliver them from their troubles; He will not fully forgive their sins; He will not give them His peace; He will not heal and protect them without human means; and He will not supply finances or any other need as He did in the Bible.

            That lie of the devil is wicked beyond describing, and by accepting it, has robbed millions of people of everything Jesus died to give them in this life. Worst of all, it will rob them of eternal life, because Jesus said this about knowing the Father’s true character, John 17:3 “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

            Bible characters learned to know God as He is—Job was one—he was honest, sincere, well-meaning—a man of principle, but he was also self-righteous. It was self that ruled his life—a distinguishing trait of the old evil nature inherited from Adam—the same nature the world and most professing Christians have controlling them. Had Job passed from this life, with self still ruling his attitudes and life, he would have gone straight to the lake of fire.

            When serious troubles came upon him, his ignorance of God was revealed. This not knowing God, resulted in Job justifying himself, and condemning God. It is a dreadful attitude for anyone to have, but unfortunately, many have it.

            Job was very stubborn, and he held on to that unscriptural attitude of self-righteousness. He finally lost everything, and he came close to the jaws of death and near the gates of Hell. So serious was his condition, that Elihu told him plainly that one misstep could put him where a great ransom could not save him.

            Job had dreadful sores all over his body; was forsaken by his friends; lost all of his property, and even all of his children. It was a terrible price to pay for being stubborn—for not being willing to give up false beliefs about righteousness, and for not being willing to understand and know God’s true Character.

            After Job convinced his three friends that he was all right, and God was all wrong, Elihu was honest enough to tell Job the true situation—which would prepare the way for God to deal with Job—if he listened to the advice. Job was willing to see things in the true light, so he confessed that he had only heard of God previous to that time, Job 42:5 “but now mine eye seeth thee.”

            He had finally come to a knowledge of God’s true character—which was worth all that he went through—worth it because it delivered him out of his troubles in this life, was blessed in many ways, and best of all, he was prepared for eternal life. He now knew God, so he now confessed to God Job 42:6 “Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

            Without even having to pray to God for a deliverance, it was granted to Him. All he had to do was pray for his three friends. Job 42:10 “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. 12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning.” Wonderful results of knowing God’s true Character.”

            The apostle Paul knew the value of really knowing God. He said Philippians 3:8 “I even reckon all things as pure loss because of the priceless privilege of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. And for His sake I have suffered the loss of everything, and reckon it all as mere refuse, in order that I may win Christ and be found in union with Him.” He knew that true righteousness 9 “Is of God by faith.”