That I may know him

'That I may know him'

— Philippians 3: 10

A true spiritual knowledge of Christ will be a personal knowledge. I cannot know Christ through another person’s acquaintance with him. No, I must know him myself. I must know him by my own heart’s personal experience.

It will be an intelligent knowledge. I must know him, not by visions and dreams, but as the Word reveals him. I must know his natures, divine and human. I must know his offices, his attributes, his works, his shame and his glory. I must meditate upon him until I comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and ... know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge’ (Eph. 3:18-19).

It will be an affectionate knowledge of him. Indeed, if I know Christ at all, I must love him. An ounce of heart knowledge is worth a ton of head learning.

Our knowledge of Christ will be a satisfying knowledge. When I know my Savior, my mind will be full to the brim, I shall feel that I have that for which my soul pants.

At the same time, it will be an exciting knowledge. The more I know of my Beloved, the more I shall want to know of him. The more I have, the more I shall want. Like the miser’s money, my treasure in Christ will make me covet more of him.

To conclude, the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ will be a most happy knowledge. It is so elevating that it will carry me up above my trials and doubts and sorrows. Such knowledge will cause me to rise up above my earthly cares. It will cover me with the immortality of the ever-living Savior. It will strengthen me with his eternal joy. Come, my soul, let me count everything but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.