This ‘know’ is really a different kind of know. Confusing or merely a conundrum?.
“…Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God].” [1 Corinthians 2:12, AMP]
I must own up to being a Huge ‘I Need to Know’ type person. Actually, I verge on the ‘not knowing’ is not to be tolerated… period’. However, in considering this scripture, never assume. You do realize that it does NOT say we will know all things. Yes? This verse does contrast this life with the one to come and tells us that we will be known by God – fully – just as I know Him. And it’s the knowing Him that’s the focus. It does not say we will know everything. We will still need to learn. I suspect this is why I place such a strong emphasis on growing (NOW).
Actually what does it mean that then I will know fully… know what fully? The Message Bible ends this verse –
“We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing Him directly just as he knows us!’
This would imply a personal knowing. This puts an entirely different perspective on ‘know’. And at the same time, a deeper knowing. We will be honored and blessed by a deeper knowing of our Lord. Try and put your head around that. WE will know Him more. There’s a wonderful book by J.L. Packer on “Knowing God’. This is a book every Christian should ponder on and I don’t want to spoil it for anyone by quoting Him.
GotQuestions..org says:
“The key to truly knowing God is found in what God has revealed about Himself in the Bible. He wants to be known (see Acts 17:27). The problem is our sinfulness. We are all sinful (Romans 3), and we fall short of the standard of holiness required to commune with God. We have “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles” (Romans 1:23). So, in order to truly know God, we
must first acknowledge our sin and repent of it (see Acts 3:19).”
No argument. ridding ourselves of sin is the only way to righteousness which is the foundation for relationship. And… relationship is really what God is seeking from us. He is always interested in helping us develop a relationship of discovering. And He should be the focus in this. While God has and does reveal Himself, we need to be part of the process in order to know. The joy in this journey is that we can build on our knowing now… but such a great understanding awaits us.
From our perspective – do you think you could handle being known this deeply. Surprise – you already are. Do you really think you could hide anything from the Omni God? And why would you want to – what do you gain by withholding? If it’s something positive – then it should be celebrated. And it it’s something that is sinful – it needs to be confessed and placed as far from you as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). Being transparent with the Lord frees you from the burden and weight – besides, He knows. Never feel afraid of being known.
