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We Gather Here to Know God and
Make God Known

The third part of our mission statement is to Make God Known. To understand the importance of this, let's compare the wording found in different versions of Luke 15:20 (part of the Parable of the Lost Son):

And he got up and went to his father. But while he was still far away, his father saw him and was moved with pity for him and went quickly and took him in his arms and gave him a kiss. (Bible in Basic English)

The younger son got up and started back to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son and hugged and kissed him. (Common English Version)

He got right up and went home to his father. When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. (The Message Bible)

And having risen, he went unto his own father, and he being yet far distant, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and having ran he fell upon his neck and kissed him. (Young’s Literal Translation)

 No matter what version of the Bible we read, Luke 15 shows us an undeniable truth - that even when someone turns away from the Father, God still welcomes them back with arms opened wide! The passage reveals God's compassion and His passion. Who is the recipient of this great love? We are! He welcomes us back, as his offspring; with tears, laughter, a great big kiss and hug!

Isn't this an apt description of us, when we were helped out of the waters of baptism? At a point in our lives when we knew no other way, no other choice, wasn’t it reassuring to have a God that didn't give up on us? We felt a deep sense of gratitude because we knew we were being reunited with our loving Father. It is a joy that is difficult to describe adequately in words, because it represents the joy of finally coming home.

God wants all men to be saved (2 Timothy 1:4). We are the chosen instruments through which His heart for the lost can be known, so as to let them come to knowledge of the truth. All the things God has done for men were directed towards the one single purpose of making Himself known to them. In Luke 15, the older son spent years with the Father, yet never understood His heart. Instead, he served his time, but in bitterness. He should have learned to serve his father with gladness and sincerity of heart. His example harkens us to learn the lesson.

Making God known to the lost around us is not about earning our way to heaven. It is about being the salt of the earth and the light to the world. It is nothing to be afraid of, nothing to be ashamed of, and it should not be a matter of religion. Making God known is a pure alignment of our hearts to His. Using another metaphor, it is like us becoming His eyes, roaming back and forth on the earth, seeking the prodigal sons and daughters who are ready to come home. Making God known is about seeing the Father jumping for joy as He sees those who were once dead raised back to life again. Making God known is the heart of Him who created us.

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