The Importance of a Direct Relationship with God

2 Peter 1:20-2:10

When your connection to God depends solely on someone else’s perspective and you never seek to know God personally, you become vulnerable to deception. Jesus often warned about false teachers in the Bible, frequently referring to the Pharisees—those most knowledgeable of God’s Word. But why were those who had memorized the Torah, the sacred text, so often guilty of misleading others? Their motivation was personal gain, driven by greed rather than a desire to follow God’s will.

Jesus’s death on the cross opened the way for all people to draw near to God and enter heaven, not just those from a specific lineage. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son”—this means everyone is included. Eternal life does not depend solely on biblical knowledge or good deeds. Jesus clearly teaches that without knowing Him, one cannot come to the Father.

How, then, do we come to know Jesus and discern truth from falsehood? It begins with prayer—asking God to reveal the right path. Building relationships with others who walk in faith is important; ask God to lead you to individuals, groups, or a church community. Read the Bible not just for information, but to develop a genuine relationship with God and to understand who God is. Bring your questions to God in prayer and invite the Holy Spirit to guide you, praying in Jesus’ name so that you will not be misled by false teachers.

If you realize you have followed a false teacher, ask God for forgiveness, repent and allow Him to guide you back to Him.  Knowing God—who God is, what God values, and how God sees humanity—equips you to recognize deception. We are called to biblically challenge leadership, ask questions, and measure teachings against scripture. As lawlessness and deception increase, as foretold, remember the unchanging nature of God: the same God who judged angels, protected Noah, condemned Sodom and Gomorrah, and rescued Lot will also protect the faithful and hold the unrighteous accountable.

This is the same God who sent His Son to bear our punishment, giving us a way to be saved from judgment. My prayer is that we grow in faith by knowing our Savior and trust that no matter what happens in our lives, God is working for His will, the will to save us from evil. 

Nikki Fiedler