Would you like to meet God?

Someone once asked a famous talk show host (Dick Cavett, I think) which guest would be his most prized "get" - who would he most like to interview to boost ratings.

He replied, "I'd really like to interview God."

That would be a "get"! I'm sure all eyes and ears would be locked in for that one.

But can a person really meet God? Can one know God, not just know about Him? Is it possible to know God with an intimacy that transcends just attending church and casually reading the Bible?

Well, think about how Jesus described eternal life... "that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (John 17:3 NIV).

Jesus characterized his whole mission as helping us know the Father, not just know about Him. He wants us in a living, walking, talking relationship with the Holy God of the entire universe, the Mind who spoke and created it all!

So, how does that work? How does one get to know God?

Well, think of two young people on a college campus who meet and become fascinated with each other. They date. They spend time together. They want to explore each other and soon they're building a "relationship". Before long, they marry. They spend their lives growing in their knowledge of each other and the relationship deepens, becoming more and more sophisticated in its intimacy. Relationships like that take time and they're built on purpose.

Or think of a friend of yours who meets a famous person and spends the day with her. What's your first question? "What was she really like?" You assume that interacting with a person will begin to reveal his or her true personality.

So, getting to know God demands a way of life tuned to His frequency, a life given over to seeking Him through all obstacles and interruptions. It means pursuit. It means loving Him with a passion that won't let go. (You know, the way He loves you - with no exceptions and no wavering.)

It's like climbing Mount Everest, not just because it's there, but because the One you love is at the summit. Such passion for God will usher you into this "knowing Him" sooner or later.

If that sounds a little intimidating, a little too much, take Paul's advice. He says that such a life of knowing God is not only possible, but it's within your reach through prayer. Watch how he prays for the church to know God:

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better." (Ephesians 1:17 NIV).

Did you catch that? As an answer to prayer, God will give you the wisdom and insight to know Him better. Pray that way, and you'll begin to intimately know God in ways you can't yet imagine.

Paul also writes, "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith... that you, being rooted and established in love... may be filled to all the measure of the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:16-19 NIV).

As fallible humans, it takes wisdom, insight and spiritual strength to be prepared to know God intimately. But, the good news is this - you can have these through a serious, dedicated prayer life.

"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord... growing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:10 NIV).