Eternal life is to know God and this definition was prayed by Jesus in his last priestly prayer of John 17. For those who have heard me teach Scripture, you understand how important I believe John 17:3 is:

And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. John 17:3 New International Version (NIV)

Eternal life is to know God

The focus of this verse is the verb: know. In the Greek this is gnosko. It has the same meaning as the Hebrew yada´. In both cases it conveys much more than intellectual knowledge. This tells us that the believer in Jesus has intimate, experiential knowledge of God and Jesus—and that this intimate relationship is eternal life.

It is not accidental that both gnosko and yada are a Jewish idiom for the sexual relationship—that oneness that comes with marriage—that union of two into one (Adam knew Eve. Abraham knew Sarah). It explains an intimate knowing beyond the intellect, feelings, or flesh. I know my wife in all ways, and she knows me the same.

The good news is that we are to know God: Father, Son, & Holy Spirit in the same way. And we know that this is true because of verse one and two where Jesus says that He glorifies God by giving us eternal life—and then defines eternal life as knowing Him.

Pray about your relationship. Is it all it can be? If not, the blockage is on your end because He clearly promised that He can do this, He wants to do this, He promises to do this—if we’ll seek Him and ask for this relationship—persistently.