Becoming an Imitator of God: The Journey of Knowing Him Intimately

There's a profound difference between knowing about someone and truly knowing them. You might have heard stories about a person, learned facts about their life, and even memorized details about their accomplishments. But until you've spent time face-to-face with them, sharing moments that reveal their heart, you cannot claim to truly know them.

This same principle applies to our relationship with the Almighty.

Ephesians 5:1 presents a compelling challenge: "Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children." This isn't a casual suggestion or a religious formality—it's an invitation into something transformative. But here's the critical question: How can you imitate someone you don't actually know?

You can follow someone from a distance without imitating them. Imagine someone running out a door—you could walk behind them, technically following, but you wouldn't be imitating their actions. True imitation requires intimate knowledge. It demands that you understand not just what someone does, but why they do it, how they think, and what moves their heart.

Many people today know about God. They know Bible stories, church culture, worship songs, and even Christian terminology. They can quote verses and recite theological concepts. But knowledge of facts doesn't equal relationship. Even the enemy knows Scripture and theology, yet he has no relationship with the Father.

John 17:3 reveals a stunning truth: "And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." Eternal life isn't about accumulating information—it's about knowing Him personally.

A God chaser is someone whose hunger for God exceeds their current grasp of Him. They're never satisfied with where they are spiritually because they believe there's always more of God to discover. Yesterday's encounter with God cannot sustain today's relationship. Every day requires a fresh pursuit.

Think about Moses. He saw incredible miracles—the Red Sea parting, the giving of the Law, face-to-face conversations with God. Yet even after all these experiences, Moses still prayed, "Please show me your glory." He wasn't content to rest on past encounters. He wanted more.

This is the heart of someone who truly chases after God. They don't seek God's hand for what He can give them—healing, provision, answers, blessings. Instead, they seek His face simply because they want Him. There's a significant difference between these two pursuits.

Psalm 27:8 captures this beautifully: "Your face, Lord, do I seek." Not your hand. Not your gifts. Just you.

When you truly spend time with God—not just religious routines or Sunday attendance, but genuine, intimate time—His presence affects everything about you. His peace affects you. His love affects you. His holiness affects you. His compassion affects you.

Moses spoke with God face-to-face, as a man speaks with a friend. This wasn't a distant, formal relationship. It was intimate, personal, and transformative. And that intimacy changed Moses in ways that miracles alone never could.

The greatest revivals in history weren't started by the most talented people. They were started by the hungriest people—those who refused to settle for religious routine and wanted more of God's presence.

One taste of the real presence of God changes everything. Religion is no longer enough. Programs don't satisfy. Trends fade. Traditions feel empty. Once you've experienced God's genuine presence, nothing else compares. You begin pursuing God Himself, not just what He can do for you.

So how do we move from knowing about God to truly knowing Him? It requires three essential commitments:

Study Him. Dive into His Word not to accumulate facts, but to understand His heart. Learn His character, His ways, His responses, His love.

Commit to Him. Make a decision that your relationship with God is your highest priority. Not church attendance, not religious activity, but genuine connection with Him.

Desire Him. Cultivate a hunger that says, "I must have more of You." Let that desire grow until it consumes every other pursuit.

Here's a practical challenge: This week, spend at least 15 minutes more each day alone with God than you currently do. Not while driving. Not during TV commercials. Alone. Just you and Him.

Read John 17 every day this week. Pray daily, "Lord, help me know You." And here's the difficult part—remove one distraction from your life that's competing for God's attention. Ask yourself honestly: Am I chasing God or chasing something else?

When you learn to ride a motorcycle or a horse, you quickly discover an important principle: You go where you look. If you focus on the ground, that's where you'll land. If you watch obstacles, you'll drift toward them. Your direction follows your focus.

The church has spent too much time studying darkness and not enough time focusing on the Light. The answer to spiritual warfare isn't becoming an expert on demons—it's becoming intimate with God. The closer you get to Him, the less the enemy can distract you.

Our world doesn't need better marketing strategies or trendier church programs. What transforms lives is the presence of God. When God's presence shows up, everything changes—just as it did with the ark in Noah's time. Those inside were saved and transformed. Those outside lost everything.

Victories happen in God's presence. Lives change. Nations shift. Cultures are transformed. The greatest gift God offers isn't healing or provision—it's Himself.

Intimacy always produces resemblance. The more time you spend with someone, the more you begin to think like them, speak like them, and reflect their values. This is especially true with God.

You cannot reflect someone you never spend time with. You cannot speak like someone whose words you never hear. You cannot resemble someone whose face you never seek.

The call today is simple but profound: Come closer. Not to more religion, not to more routine, not to survival Christianity. Come closer to Him. Be an imitator of God by first becoming someone who intimately knows God.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Today, take that step. Chase after God with everything you have. Pursue His face, not just His hand. And discover that the closer you get, the more you'll realize there's still more of Him to know—and that realization will keep you hungry, keep you pursuing, and keep you becoming more like Him every single day.