To know, or not to know…that is the question. Have you ever been reading through scripture when you stumble across something that just doesn’t seem to add up with other Bible knowledge that you know to be true? When taken at face value, it would actually seem contradictory, but we know that the Bible doesn’t contradict itself, so we are left in a sea of reasoning as we try to make sense of it all. This happened to me when I read a familiar passage found in Matthew 7:21-23:
“Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have we cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
If Jesus is God, and God is Omniscient (knowing everything), then why does Jesus say that there will be some who claim to know God and say that they have done works in his name, but will be denied access to heaven with the words, “I never knew you…” What does Jesus mean by that? He is God, so therefore He knows everyone. Is this a contradiction?
With my limited Bible training, the Holy Spirit prompted me to look at the word “knew” in its original language to better understand what He was stating, and this is what I discovered. The original word in Greek is “Ginosko” which refers to a deep, intimate knowledge. This same word is used in several passages when it states that a husband and wife “knew” each other. In their bond as spouses and one flesh, they knew each other intimately in a way that no one else did because of the commitment and union they shared together.
With this knowledge, we can look back at the passage in Matthew, and better understand what Jesus is saying. When Jesus declares, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity,” He is basically saying “You are not my bride. You never became one flesh with the Holy Spirit. We never joined into a sacred, intimate relationship. Therefore, you are turned away from the entrance of heaven, because your sins are not covered and your works are vain.” No one’s true heart and intentions can be hidden from God. Unbelievers cannot fake their way into heaven. A person can claim to know God and claim to love God without actually asking to join into a relationship with God. Simply saying something doesn’t make it true. One must show their faith in God by believing in Him, asking for their sins to be forgiven with true remorse, and be fully yielded to the will of God in their life.
However, for the believer, this word “Knew/Know/Ginosko” holds one of the most endearing realities, which we see in John 10:27-28:
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
We as believers hold a precious, intimate relationship with the God of the universe. He knows us unlike anyone else could possibly know us, and He reveals Himself to his bride in a way that only the Holy Spirit could help a mortal soul know Him. It is the most pure and satisfying bond that mankind will ever experience, and God offers this relationship to anyone who will simply ask for it.
Given the definition this morning, let me ask you…do you KNOW God?
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