Who Knows Me?
by Shirley D. Tingle
Upon looking at the question in the title of this blog, you may be answering it with something like: “Well, everybody knows me—I have friends who know me, and family members, of course, and also people I work with, and my church brethren.” But don’t we all generally keep a piece of ourselves to ourselves—something we think someone else might not like about us, or something on which they could pass judgment? We might think that too much information about ourselves could ruin a friendship, or even cause conflict with someone. And the complete irony of it all is that often we feel like we don’t even know our own selves, or why we think, say, and do things that are just so “not us” sometimes.
So, what’s the answer to the question “who knows me?” The only pure and simple answer to the question is: God knows me. My Creator knows me better than anyone else, and even better than I know myself. David wrote this in Psalm 139:1-6, KJV: “O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” If this applies to David, it applies to us all.
One of God’s attributes is omniscience—God knows everything! God created everything. We’re part of His creation; therefore, God knows everything about each one of us. But wait...that would mean that God knows everything about every person who ever lived on earth! The current population of the world is 7.8 billion people (and counting) as of April 2020 according to Worldometers.info, “Current World Population.” Every day the earth adds newborns to its number, and God knows everything about each one of them too!
But God already knew us even before we were born. The prophet Jeremiah said this in Jeremiah 1:4-5, KJV: “Then the word of the LORD came unto me saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” Isaiah 44:24, KJV, says it this way: “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things...” And He knows us so well that even “the very hairs of your head are all numbered,” Matthew 10:30, KJV.
If God knows everything about us, does that mean He knows what’s in our hearts and in our thoughts too? Of course, He does! In I Chronicles 28:9,KJV, in David’s speech to the tribes of Israel assembled before him, and especially to his son, Solomon, who would build the temple, he said these words: “And thou Solomon, my son, know the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts; if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.” [Scripture reference from: compellingtruth.org, “Does God know our thoughts?”]. Solomon, in I Kings 8:39, KJV, said this in his prayer at the Dedication of the Temple: “Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men.”
On the occasion of the paralyzed man being brought to Jesus to be healed, where Jesus told him: “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee,” Matthew 9:2, KJV, there were “certain of the scribes who said within hemselves, This man blasphemeth,” Matthew 9:3, KJV. Then the scripture says this: “And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? “Matthew 9:4, KJV, [Scripture references from: faithinthenews.com, “Does God know my every thought?”].
We can see from the examples in these scriptures, (and many others, as well), that God does indeed know what we think and how we feel. We may be able to keep things hidden from others but not from our Heavenly Father. As Christians, we strive daily to stay “pure in heart,” and follow Paul’s admonition in Philippians 4:6-8,KJV, particularly thinking on the things mentioned in verse 8: “Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
When Jesus Christ walked the earth teaching, preaching, and healing, He knew the hearts of men and their thoughts. He had a unique insight into the sufferings of men, and into their lost condition, for He came to seek and to save the lost. His Word can replace the evil in men’s hearts and minds with something good, pure, and everlasting. God’s Word saves lives—for eternity!
God has done His part. He created earth and everything in it for man. He created man (and woman). Then, He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to live here, fulfill all prophecies about Him, and to teach man how to live so he may obtain eternal life in Heaven. Christ did His part. He lived here as a man, taught His gospel plan of salvation, and gave His apostles the charge to continue His mission. He submitted Himself to the death on the cross as a final sacrifice for all mankind. He arose the third day and was received back to Heaven to prepare a place for those who will obey His Will. The Holy Spirit has done His part. God, as the Holy Spirit, inspired the writers of His Word, so that we could have it to read, learn, and obey. The Spirit dwells with Christians to assist us in many ways, Romans 8:26, KJV. Romans 8:27, KJV, goes on to say: “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
The only thing left is for us to do our part. When someone preaches a gospel sermon, we must search the scriptures to see if the things being said are true according to the Bible, (Act 17:11, KJV). The true Word of God will cause those with honest hearts to want to change their hearts and minds. When the true gospel is heard and read, we’re to believe that it’s truth. Our hearts and minds will want to be changed from living in a sinful condition, to being pure and holy like Christ. We must repent of all past sins. Knowing what Christ has done for us, we’re to stand up before men and confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And in order to reach the blood of Christ that cleanses us from all sin, we’re to be baptized in water for the remission of our sins, (Acts 2:38, KJV). It’s at this point that we “put on Christ,” we take His name—we become Christians, following Christ and continuing steadfastly in His Word until death.
As Christians, we can ask God for help at any time. What a comfort and a joy to be able to talk to God in prayer, knowing He will never leave us or forsake us! And what a blessing it is that God understands our struggles, hardships, and weaknesses, because He knows us.
Who knows me? God knows me, and I want Him to know that I’m looking forward to seeing Him someday in Heaven.