God made His presence known in the Old Testament ...and after that He clearly made known His Son, Jesus. Today, we have the witness of the disciples ...and the full revelation of what God has given us in the Old and the New, in the Bible.

When it gets to the point of questioning the truth of what we've been given by God, then how can we say we believe it?  

What is it that we'd say we do believe? 

Do we pick and choose what we believe?  Do we question the authority of the Bible, questioning whether it is truly God's Word?  And what is the authority that we use  ...if we are to say there is a higher authority of truth than the Bible? 

Do we then decide who God is ...by our own criteria, dismissing what Jesus said, by merely saying those words were manipulated by man?

Who exactly is being manipulated?  Who would be the most proficient at deception?

Yet, who'd want to admit they are deceived?  When I was young, the typical argument would be, "No, you did it!"  But, it is a weak and childish argument to say the other is telling a lie ...without giving both point of view consideration.  I would say that is compromising ...and I would say that is not always a good thing.

Last year, I saw the news coverage of a horrific event ...the Boston Marathon bombing.  It seemed to me there were many leads, much yet to be uncovered, and some covered up.  But, with the exception of those involved in the bombings and those who think violent protests of all sorts are healthy expression, the rest of us wish there would have been a way to prevent it from happening.

In Benghazi, there was an ever-present danger that violence may erupt ...as it is in most embassies outside our country.  But, when an actual report comes in ...and a number of unnamed people are viewing it 'live', then to give a 'stand down' order is compromising the lives of our people, and is near unforgivable.  To say it looked like there was a temporary ceasefire ...as a reason to think no further action would take place, is absurd.

If a child of mine was trapped in a corner between two buildings by a crocodile ...and that crocodile was temporarily distracted by a chipmunk, I wouldn't just wait to see if it was then going to instead pursue the chipmunk.  I would view the chipmunk's temporary distraction as just the opportunity to buy enough time to rescue my child from the crocodile.

So, I say that is equally just a bunch of croc(k) ...

But, mistrust of government was not to be my main point, it was just to make another point on how readily we buy into, accept, and even forget things we should not easily forget.  I believe that we should forgive, but it's difficult to forget something that has been used as a stepping stone for further deceit.  

My point is, that seeing how easily we get deceived ...and how angrily we get in the defense of denying it, how much easier is it for us to be deceived by something we don't even see as a danger.

I'm speaking of the grand Deceiver ...who's main deception is to get us to discount the truth of God.  When the Bible says, "I never knew you," it is not saying God is unfamiliar with us. There are places in the Bible where it says 'knew' followed by the announcement that a child was 'conceived'.

If you can conceive what I am saying, it is in knowing each other.  So, when it says, "I never knew you," it appears that the reference is to the fact that there are those who will use the Name of Jesus in reference to things that don't accurately represent Him.  

My behavior does not always represent Him in my life ...but, it's not me that is being glorified.  I am a sinner who admits to being a sinner, and I don't like to rationalize sin as not being sin.  And I certainly don't want to inaccurately speak of God.  If you think there is a conflict between what the Father said, and what was said by His Son, Jesus ...then you would be ignoring the fact that Jesus said He & the Father are One (in agreement).   Jesus constantly referred to the Father.  Many people found it difficult to see Jesus as more than a man, yet Jesus created no confusion about what He was saying ...that the Father was in agreement.

We pray that the Holy Spirit will lead us ...and He is also part of the One.  Yet, sometimes it is difficult to discern between where we want to be led, where others want us to be led, and what subtleties are misleading us. It is important to reference the Bible, the Word of God, for truth.  And try to have some friends who we can trust as mentors, to help avoid the subtle tormentors which we call temptations.  

We are suppose to have a relationship with God ...so, we are to know each other.  And since He always knows about us, the lacking would be if we do not know Him.

It is to the degree things are revealed to us.  Nothing was hidden from the angels, and they made a one time decision ...a two-thirds for, and a third against.  God revealed much in the Old Testament, Jesus later revealed all that we need to know ...and the Bible testifies to it.  Missionaries go out to reveal in bits and pieces that which they've been able to translate.

If you can read this, it is my guess that you already have.  And I'm also guessing you didn't need it translated in bits and pieces to you.  So, you can also read the Bible.  The only question becomes to what degree you desire to.