John 17:3 says that eternal life is to know God, and to know Jesus. By this definition, eternal life starts now. We can have this relationship with God right now - it is not something that is reserved for when we reach heaven. In fact, Paul writes that we are citizens of heaven now (Eph 2:6), so the spiritual relationship we have with God naturally flows from this spiritual citizenship.
Since eternal life is to know God, not to know about him, it logically follows that knowledge about God comes secondary to knowing him. However, we are to love the Lord with all our minds, which would indeed require knowledge about him. So, some balance is required. We must seek to learn more about God, but not at the expense of knowing him personally. Indeed, true knowledge of God, when pursued correctly, will lead to a deeper relationship with him.
This is always a challenge for me personally as I really enjoy learning more about God, and thinking through the philosophical issues involved (such as is God in time). But there is always the danger of focusing too much on knowledge about God, rather than knowing him personally.
Since eternal life is to know God, not to know about him, it logically follows that knowledge about God comes secondary to knowing him. However, we are to love the Lord with all our minds, which would indeed require knowledge about him. So, some balance is required. We must seek to learn more about God, but not at the expense of knowing him personally. Indeed, true knowledge of God, when pursued correctly, will lead to a deeper relationship with him.
This is always a challenge for me personally as I really enjoy learning more about God, and thinking through the philosophical issues involved (such as is God in time). But there is always the danger of focusing too much on knowledge about God, rather than knowing him personally.
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