We need more than the facts...

I’m a huge Sean Connery fan. I love Sean Connery movies. In my opinion there has only been one ‘James Bond’. It wasn’t George Lazenby (I bet most people don’t even know who he is), it wasn’t Roger Moore, it wasn’t Timothy Dalton and no, it wasn’t Pierce Brosnon. Sean Connery, in my mind, was, and remains, the only real James Bond.

I know a lot about Sean Connery. Sean Connery was born in 1930 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Sean Connery never finished school. He left school early in his life and went to work full-time. At the age of sixteen, Connery enlisted in the Royal Navy. A stomach ulcer shortened Connery’s naval career and, after only three years of naval service, Connery returned to Edinburgh where he worked as a bricklayer, lifeguard and a coffin polisher (I bet that’s never been your career aspiration). Connery also took a shot at body building and in 1950 he finished third in the Mr. Universe competition. After that Connery spent time modeling, was cast in small theatrical roles and took part in various chorus appearances. In 1958 he was cast, opposite Lana Turner, in Another Time, Another Place. Four years later Connery uttered, for the first time, those now famous words, “The name is Bond, James Bond.” After staring in several Bond movies Sean broadened his horizons and went on to realize over thirty-five big screen appearances. Also, in 1989, Sean Connery was voted People Magazine’s ‘Sexiest Man Alive’. I could go on. I could give you even more facts related to the man, Sean Connery.

I’ve never met Sean Connery. If I ran into him on the street I’m certain I’d have no problem recognizing him but, I’m also sure he would have no idea who I was. I’ve seen Sean Connery in a lot of movies and I’ve read a lot of facts about him but I’ve never had the opportunity to form a relationship with Mr. Connery.

There is a large percentage of the world’s population that knows facts about Jesus Christ – lots of facts. In most countries and cultures you will find that they recognize the name Jesus and can give you, at least, the most basic of facts regarding the Jesus of history. Most would even say that they ‘believe’ that a man named Jesus walked the earth thousands of years ago.

I hear lot’s of Christians, today, say, “I believe in Jesus.” Today, in the church, we may know lots of facts about Jesus – we may be well versed in the history of the man we call Jesus the Christ, but do we REALLY KNOW Jesus? Do we have a relationship with Him? When we come before Him on that last day, we will surely recognize Him, but will He know who we are? Have we spent all of our time ‘learning about Him’ instead of ‘getting to know Him’?

I am a lifetime student. I love to read. I love to study. I love to learn. But I, for one, know that I need to spend more time talking and listening to Jesus than I do reading about, writing about and talking about Him. There is nothing wrong with reading about, writing about, talking about and learning about Jesus. That is certainly a great way to spend time. But, all I’m saying is, I need to spend more time developing, cultivating and growing my relationship with my Savior. It’s one thing to believe in and know facts about Jesus, but do we trust in, have faith in and have a relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

When I stand before Him I have no doubt I will recognize Him – I want to be sure He knows me.

You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. (James 2:19)

"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (John 17:20-26)