I find that faith and knowledge are complementary, and that one nearly always makes the other grow. Knowing God and having a relationship with God really requires both.
Remember that Jesus said “I am the Way,
the Truth, and the Life.” So the pursuit of truth can actually lead us closer to Jesus. Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding are Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the Bible repeatedly encourages us to pursue wisdom. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Church is constantly learning–not tearing down, but rather developing her beliefs. Personally, I think it would take me a lifetime to really know and understand just a fraction of the Church’s teachings–much less God! Nonetheless, I feel like I learn more about God everyday. And it only makes my faith and my desire to know Him greater!
A professor of mine said not long ago, quoting someone (don’t remember who), that a mystery is not something that is unknowable. Rather it is something that is
infinitely knowable. The more we know about a mystery (such as God), the deeper the mystery becomes, the more we don’t know about it, the more there is to know, and the farther into it we are drawn. So we needn’t feel that the quest for knowledge is prideful or a symptom of doubt. Indeed, if one does go into it pridefully, one is going to be very humbled very quickly!
I think that’s what Heaven will be like–we’ll get to spend eternity getting to know God! Some people think that the Beatific Vision sounds dreadfully boring, but knowing God, I’m sure every moment will be extraordinary and breathtaking! Anything we can know about Him while we’re here is just a tiny atom, if that.
Wanting to know is only natural for a loving relationship such as each of us has with God. We want to know Him, and He wants to be known. Through knowledge, He draws us to Himself, and into Himself. I think it’s a beautiful thing, and it has radically changed my life!
