Do You Know God or Know OF God?

"They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for doing anything good." - Titus 1:16 (NIV)

The first thing that came to mind when writing this article was people defending Cardi B (the new arising female rapper famous for the song, "Bodak Yellow") when a gossip site, The Shade Room, posted tweets of Cardi "clapping back" at a fan that said she sold her soul for her fame. Cardi proceeded to say things like "I did not sell my soul, you can s**k my d**k, I love Christ." It blew my mind that she would say these things all in one breath. 

Many claim to know God, but as the scripture says, their actions deny him. No offense to Cardi B, I personally think she is talented and is an interesting individual, but her actions are not fit of one who truly knows God. God said if you love Him, you will keep his commandments. People claim to know God, but in reality they only know "of" God because their actions do not display those of someone that truly knows God in their heart. You may know God, but what are you doing to serve Him?

Cardi B says she knows God, but the behavior and lyrics she continuously displays are not that of someone that has God in their heart and wants to please Him. I am not judging, I am just stating facts here. She is not the only one who does this, but she is the most renown right now and the one recently highlighted about proclaiming to have an intimate relationship with God, but cursing in the same sentences she uses to acknowledge Him. 

The Bible says in the book of James 3:10, "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be." (NIV) I do not make this stuff up. It is all in the Word. We all have used a bad word here and there, and I myself have been guilty of this, and found myself getting riled up and started cursing like a sailor. I know it is not right, and have asked God to help me in this area. None of us are perfect, but the first step is acknowledging our mistakes and working on them. In this case, it is better to be ignorant and oblivious to the fact that you are sinning, than to know you are sinning, and continuing to do so. 

If you truly know God, sooner or later your conscience will kick in, and you will want to change your ways and not carry on with the behavior of the world because of fame, popularity, or for whatever reason you are partaking. We must watch the things we do and say. "The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." James 3:6 (NIV). 

There is power in the tongue and we must treat it accordingly. When we begin to know God in our hearts, our actions will go before us and our character will follow. It is never too late to start changing for the better. The first step is actually making the first step. A lot of people like to think that they cannot go to church or build a relationship with God until they are 100% on the right path, and that is absolutely wrong. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We go to church so that we can get saved. If you break your leg, you are not going to wait until you are healed to visit the doctor are you? So don't wait until you are living a righteous life to visit the Lord. You never know if you are promised tomorrow, so the time is now to get started and get saved. 

Ask yourself, "Do I actually know God, or do I just know "of" Him?" If you are unsure, it is time to do something different so that you are completely sure that you are living a life that is pleasing to God. Confess your sins and ask for forgiveness. This is why Jesus died on the cross so that we may be saved. Stop counting yourself out, because God already counted you in when he sent his Son so that we may be saved by his grace and mercy. 

Xoxo,

Krispin