The spring I graduated from Gordon College, I had my life planned out. After four years in Massachusetts, I was more than ready to move back home to Connecticut. I would get a job teaching in the public schools, live at home with my family, and begin my post-college life. Unfortunately for my carefully laid plans, teaching jobs were few and far between in 1979.
 
Not one to discourage easily, I made it my business to use every contact I had. I met with principals of friends who were already teaching. I hand-delivered applications in hopes of making face to face contact with those who advertised positions. No stone was left unturned. But as the summer wore on, I had few interviews and no offers. I was an inexperienced fresh graduate trying to compete with experienced teachers holding master's degrees. It was hopeless.
 
Early in the summer my mother read in a Gordon publication of several positions advertised at a Christian school in Maryland. She coaxed me into applying for the jobs. I did it to keep her from nagging me, but I had no interest in the school. I was going to live at home. I was back in Connecticut to stay. As far as I was concerned, Maryland was on the other side of the universe.
 
The summer ended and I was still without a job. The school year began. During the first week of September, to my surprise, I received a call from that forgotten school in Maryland. Their first grade teacher was ill and must leave her position immediately. Was I still available? With no other option on the radar screen, I flew down to see the school and interview with them. They offered me the job. Reluctant, but resigned, I signed the contract.
 
Little did I know then, as I packed my bags, in a few short weeks I would meet the man of my dreams in Maryland. We would be engaged that spring and marry that summer. Our life together would be better than anything I could have imagined, full of joy and children and great blessings from the Lord. Had I known what waited just around the corner, I would have been packed and ready to go in June! But I did not know all this. Instead I left for Maryland tentatively, firmly promising my mother I would be back in a year. I dragged my metaphorical feet all the way down the coast. If only I had known.
 
A little bit of knowledge can make a huge difference. On the night after the crucifixion, eleven disciples remained holed up in the upper room, afraid for their safety. To be linked with Jesus was now a life-threatening association. Two days later, they were blown away by the announcement from women who had visited the tomb: Jesus was resurrected!  He had defeated death and was alive once again. In the next forty days while Jesus remained on the earth, He appeared many times to His disciples. He explained the recent events using the writings of the Old Testament, demonstrating how prophecy had been fulfilled. The disciples finally got it. What hadn't made sense in their pre-crucifixion years with Jesus suddenly was plain as day. What they now knew made all the difference.
 
In the book of Acts, those same disciples who once hid trembling in the upper room now spread out through the streets of Jerusalem, preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. Brought before the Sanhedrin for their "heretical" teaching, they were told to stop the preaching or face death by execution.  Peter's response to their threat was strong and clear: "We must obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29) What made the difference in these men? How did they go from frightened followers to bold preachers? Furthermore, each of the 11 eventually gave their life for the cause of Christ. What made them finally willing to make this ultimate sacrifice?
 
They now knew the truth. Jesus was the Son of God. He had died for the sins of the world. They could not keep silent. Their knowledge compelled them to give their lives for the cause. Walking away wasn't even an option.
 
Francois Fenelon, a seventeenth century French priest, mused on how anyone could be reluctant to follow God. He could only conclude they simply did not know God well enough. "It is because God is not known," he surmised. "If He were known, He would be loved."
 
Loving God is a natural and unavoidable outcome of knowing Him. When we know Him, we will love Him. What is there not to love? He is good, just, loving, righteous, wise, and holy. Our knowledge of Him has a direct correspondence to our faithfulness to Him. Spending time learning about Him is an investment in future obedience.
 
Someday we will stand before the throne of God. We will finally see Him in all of His glory, understand His complete holiness, and fall on our faces in utter awe of who He is. We will think to ourselves, "If I had only known. I would have loved Him so much more."