“But even now I know.” John 11:22 NKJV
“You can’t know it all, but you can know the One who does.”
My thoughts today are about times “you don’t know it all.”
Have you ever met someone who thought themselves a “know-it-all”? The bliss of youth is to think that because you are learning a lot, you know a lot – and some never overcome that youthful folly no matter how old they are. Life is a great teacher, and learning is life-long. Life has a way of challenging what you thought you knew and teaching you what you do not yet know, as well as confirming what you do. The more you will come to know the more you will realize how little you know, but how important that even that little bit is.
Just recently, I read that one week of the New York Times provides more information than a person living in the 1800’s would have had available to them in their lifetime. I am not sure of the basis for measuring that comparison, but that sounds plausible, doesn’t it? You live in an amazing generation for whom unlimited information is readily and literally available at your fingertips. Smart phones instantly connect you to the Internet, which connects you to the world and its entire store of information. A veritable ocean of information awaits your inquiry.
But here’s the problem. There is a substantial difference between information and knowledge. And there is a further difference between knowledge and understanding, and a still further and significant difference between understanding and wisdom. “For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6 NIV.
This is some information about which you must be clear. With all the information you may have and all the knowledge you may gain, you do not know anything of eternal value until you know the Lord Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom . . reverence for the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.” Psalm 111:10 NKJV/NLT. That’s where real wisdom starts – with your personal knowledge and relationship with God. You can’t know it all, but you can know the One who does.
“But even now I know.” The setting for today’s verse is the sickness and death of Lazarus, a friend of Jesus. Martha told Jesus of her brother’s sickness four days earlier, and asked Him to come. Finally, Jesus has come to Bethany where Lazarus has died and is now buried. Can you imagine the family’s grief and disappointment?
But listen carefully to Martha’s words. “Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” John 11:21-22 NKJV. Even when she had many things she did not know, Martha was clear about what she did know. She did not know why her brother had died without Jesus’ intervention. She did not know why Jesus waited four days before coming. But she did know that if Jesus was there, there was always something that He could and would do.
Your relationship with God will not guarantee that you will know and understand everything at all times, nor that every question in life will be answered. But learn to know God and trust in what you know of His unchanging character, unfailing compassion, and unequaled almightiness. See 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 NLT.
My prayer for you today is to never forget what you know in your heart to be true.