There has been a thought rolling around in my heart for a while. I say heart, because that is where God deals. The question I ponder is not how well do I know God, but rather how well does He know me. I know on the surface that may sound a little, well, me-ish; but hang with me for a bit and see what I mean.
The idea first came to me after reading a very familiar passage.
“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!’ “
Matthew 7:22, 23
This a scene of judgement. What strikes me is that even in judgement God wants to discuss relationship. Evidently many people will try making a case to enter Heaven that sounds “spiritually” compelling. Speaking personally, I’m not sure that my Christian resume reads anything like these. Prophesying, casting out demons, and performing lots of miracles would be enough to convince most of us they belong inside the pearly gates.
Jesus says otherwise and he says it plainly. “I don’t know you and as a matter of fact, get away from me.” Aye, yie, yie. I can’t imagine worse words to hear. It makes me cringe, just putting it in 2019 English. But my thoughts today aren’t on the fires of hell or even eternal judgement. It’s in that “I never knew you” part.
As believers, we strive to know the Lord. There are countless scriptures encouraging people to know God. Study the scriptures because they testify of Him. Seek His presence and His will. Seek Him with all your heart. These are all truths and the only way to be a disciple; but Jesus didn’t say plainly, ‘Get away from me evildoers. You don’t know me.’ It was clearly, ‘I don’t know you.’
If you are like me, your thought process goes something like this. But God knows everything. He certainly knows me. The Bibles tells me so.
“O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD.”
Psalm 139:1-4
There is nothing hidden before God. Your heart is not camouflaged before Him. So, what gives? How can He not know those condemned in judgement? I asked the Lord.
He set my mind to thinking about the few people that I would say “know” me. My husband will ask me what’s wrong as soon as I walk in the house. He knows that face. My son answers my questions before I finish asking. It goes like this. “Did you…?” “Yea, I saw it.”
Some friends may even be able to finish my sentences. It may be a sibling, a spouse, or a bestie in your life. They’re fun to talk to because they understand your history. They know your circumstances and your people. It’s easy conversation. They also know your weaknesses and can be painfully honest with you. They know you and absolutely love you.
Now, ask yourself. Does God KNOW you like that? When I asked myself, I felt unsure but determined to change things. If God wanted to know me, then I was going to make that happen. Morning coffee would be shared between the King of Kings and morning, smash face, me. I started telling the Lord about myself. Not everything at once, but just interesting tidbits, like when making a new friend. Before long, I was sharing more. Somedays, I tell Him all that I have to do. Somedays, I ask lots of questions. Of course, my conversation with God seemingly always includes my pressing needs. He is God after all.
I encourage you to try it. Don’t let satan talk you out of it. I know his argument. “This is a waste of time because God already knows.” Of course He does, but He still wants to hear your heart. Remember when your children were small? When they came to tell you a big story that happened in their life, nothing, absolutely nothing was more important, even if you just watched it all happen in your backyard. You cared about every syllable. You wanted their take on the situation. You enjoyed their excitement, you understood their frustration, you offered your wisdom. God is the same.
A strange thing has happened in this quest to let Him know me: I have discovered some things about myself. God is so much more than a psychotherapist, but when I started telling the Lord how I felt, I heard myself say things I didn’t know were there. Not only was He listening, but by His Spirit, He was drawing out my feelings like a good friend.
In these heaven meets earth “convos”, My Father has reprimanded me with soft challenges. He helps me see the situations in my life spiritually, which is ALWAYS a different view than the one I bring Him. We even share a few laughs. I don’t mean God is up there telling me St. Peter-at-the-pearly-gate jokes. The laughs are more like those you share with friends who know you. The words don’t even have to be said. It was a shared experience and great joy comes in knowing you are both reminiscing about the same time. Such sweetness in a shared life.
David wrote, later in that same Psalm that declared God knew everything about him:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”
Psalm 139: 23
David, who had earlier proclaimed with certainty that God knew EVERYTHING about him, was now asking the Lord to search and know him. That’s the picture. Have you ever had an acquaintance for years and then the relationship turned a corner? You are close now, even best friends. You know how it happened? One of you opened up and shared a need, a hurt, a more personal story. The other felt trusted and began sharing too. Boom. A relationship blooms.
How sweet that is when it’s you and your Creator. It’s the path of everlasting life. Do you want the promise of Heaven? Let Him get to know you. He will begin to lead you on His path. Relationships are not built on judgement day. They are made today. Have a cup of coffee with the Savior and get started.
