Eternal life, as Jesus describes, is not merely about the length of life but the quality of life that God Himself lives, the only quality worth living forever. It is a way of thinking and acting, the very manner in which He exists. To truly know God, as Jesus states, is to live in the same way He does, adopting His thoughts and actions through a close personal relationship. This relationship is essential, for merely believing in His existence will never foster the closeness needed to understand His character and personality. Our responsibility, following conversion, is to live by faith, the only path to truly knowing Him. This faith must be nurtured through an intimately personal connection, as a distant relationship cannot promote the desire to love and submit to Him based on His qualities. We must seek Him to discover what He is like and imitate His attributes by studying His Word, learning His will, and putting it into practice. Without living by faith and seeking Him, we will not hear Him, and thus, we will not come to know Him. Seeking Him involves symbolically ingesting His Word, allowing it to nourish us spiritually. His words, when believed and applied, hold the power to transform us into becoming like Christ. This process requires effort and discipline, as hearing His Word—through sermons or personal study—is essential to building faith. Hearing, in the biblical sense, means grasping an understanding, which is vital for salvation, for faith comes by hearing, and without it, salvation is impossible. The relationship with Him must be intimate, for only through close interaction can we recognize His qualities—His intelligence, creativity, generosity, wisdom, kindness, patience, and mercy, all within an aura of overwhelming yet subdued power. These qualities draw us toward Him, creating a worshipful admiration and appreciation, a fear of God that impels us to submit to His every wish as expressed in His Word. This fear is not natural to man but must be learned within a relationship, forming a foundation for a life lived by faith. As we come to know Him through seeking and hearing, we develop humility, recognizing our insignificance compared to His greatness. This humility, alongside the fear of God, is a fruit of fully accepting His sovereignty, drawing us closer to Him, desiring never to displease Him. Those who know Him in this way, who hear Him, are prepared to do great exploits, glorifying Him through their example because they understand what He is like and how He would want them to respond. Ultimately, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of the knowledge of God, opening the pathway to understanding His sovereignty. As He becomes greater in our eyes, barriers are removed, fostering growth in godly fear and humility, essential for truly knowing Him. This intimate knowledge, gained through living by faith and seeking Him daily, equips us to be in His spiritual presence, to partake in the life He offers, and to receive His blessings.

Experiencing God is central to a life of faith, involving an intimate and personal knowledge of Him gained through daily interaction. This knowledge goes beyond mere awareness of His existence; it encompasses a deep understanding of His character, attitudes, and reactions, fostering a constant awareness of His presence. Such intimacy reveals His trustworthiness and patience, affirming His personal concern for each individual. Seeing God, as exemplified by Moses, means perceiving Him as if with bodily eyes, living with the conviction that He is always present. This vision of God forms the foundation of a life lived in faith, providing the confidence to navigate daily challenges. Without sufficient knowledge of His sovereign greatness, closeness, and grace, living by faith remains elusive. Many believe in God's existence, yet fail to know Him personally, which impacts their conduct. True knowledge of Him instills a reverence that transforms behavior. Jesus Christ, unchanging in character, operates consistently, and though He loves and gives to His children, He also judges, holding them to standards that glorify His Family. His actions remain true to His nature, regardless of personal perceptions or choices. A personal relationship with Him is vital for salvation, as illustrated by the few who entered the Promised Land due to their close connection with Him. Israel's failure in the wilderness stemmed from a lack of trust, despite knowing He existed. Their lack of faith did not motivate them to seek Him or grow in relationship, highlighting that mere belief is insufficient without active trust and engagement. God desires a dynamic relationship, not a passive one. The Israelites' relationship with Him was one-sided; He provided and loved, yet they did not reciprocate by seeking Him or strengthening the bond. This passivity mirrors a lack of true faith, where the mind remains vacant of responsibility to the relationship. Hearing God, in the biblical sense, means understanding and obeying His will, not merely perceiving His voice. True hearing motivates obedience and daily application of faith, making it the driving force behind every action. Without obedience, one has not truly heard Him, indicating a weakness in trust or belief. Seeking Him is an obligation for those already in relationship with Him, not to establish it, but to deepen intimacy and align with His will. This seeking comes at a cost—not of money, but of time, energy, devotion, and love, requiring a sacrificial commitment to the relationship. He pleads for His children to return to Him, showing His deep desire for closeness despite human tendencies to drift. God owns His children, having entered into a covenant with them, and calls for active effort to build the relationship. Spiritual eating—consuming His Word with understanding—fuels this growth, leading to an everlasting covenant with Him. Through habitual practice, His ways become ingrained in character, aligning thoughts and actions with His, fulfilling His desire for a transformed life.

Experiencing God involves a profound sense of His presence, which is not limited by bodily nearness but is deeply rooted in relationship and union. His presence can be felt and discerned by those who have a spirit, much like the way we feel the presence of loved ones through shared memories and experiences, even when separated by great distances. This presence is governed by the closeness of union, where the stronger the relationship with Him, the more intensely His presence is perceived in our thoughts. When we ask Him to be present with us in gatherings, we are seeking to be in union with Him by His Spirit. Though He is at one place at a time in heaven, He can project Himself into multitudes of situations, making His presence omnipresent through this spiritual union. The more we think about Him, carry His word in our minds, and share experiences with Him, the deeper and more real this union becomes. His words are spirit and life, an invisible force that works in us as we believe and apply them, transforming us to become more like Him. This union with Him is built through studying His word, meditating on it, and communicating with Him and others about it. As we take His word into us, we absorb part of His mind, character, and personality, fostering a oneness that pivots around His word. He knows us intimately, observing our actions as our King, Elder Brother, and Savior, and through this relationship, He is in us as we are in Him, with the seed of eternal life working within us. His presence is not just a distant awareness but a powerful connection that He can focus on us individually, regardless of physical distance. His desire is for us to be aware of His presence wherever we go, as this awareness is vital to our salvation and the building of our lives. The seed of this union has been conceived within us because He initiated it, and we responded, creating a bond that can grow through shared spiritual experiences and goals. This union varies in strength from person to person, ranging from tenuous connections with casual acquaintances who share the same spirit to the profound union with Him. Even in challenging situations, memories of experiences with Him can provide encouragement, making us feel as though He is with us, supporting us. Ultimately, being in union with Him means being joined in mind, will, and purpose, striving toward the same goals and dreams, allowing Him to project Himself into us so that we become His image in character and conduct.