"Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 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 perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, `I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matt. 7:21-23, NIV.)
At His return, the Son of God will tell others: “I NEVER KNEW YOU. Away from me, you evildoers!”
We hear similar words in Luke 13:22-33. Notice verse 25, “`I don’t know you or where you come from.’ Also, verse 27, “I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’”
Will the All-Knowing King of kings recognize you at His return? How can you be sure that He would acknowledge you in His Glorious Presence?
Of course, the Lord is the God who knows. Surely, He knows us more than we know ourselves!
He knows our stubbornness. Through Isaiah, He told His physical chosen people in Isaiah 48:4, “For I knew how stubborn you were; the sinews of your neck were iron, your forehead was bronze.”
He told also Moses about the ruler of Egypt: “But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go” (Ex. 3:19-20, NIV). And He knows exactly how to deal with our stubbornness – with a “mighty hand” to compel us what He wants us to do!
He knows if we are hypocrites or not. We read the Word of God in Mark 12:13-15, “Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. They came to him and said, ‘Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?’ But Jesus KNEW THEIR HYPOCRISY. ‘Why are you trying to trap me?’ he asked…”
He knows our foolishness. We read in Psalm 69:5, “You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you.”
He knows the enormity of our sins. God’s Word thunders in Amos 5:12, “For I know how many are your offenses and how great your sins.”
He knows what we are thinking. Notice the Son of God in Luke 5:22-23, “Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, ‘Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk”?’” (See also Mark 6:8; Matt. 12:25.)
He knows also if our thoughts are really directed on Him. We read in Jeremiah 12:3, “Yet you know me, O LORD; you see me and test my thoughts about you.”
Consider also Psalm 139:23, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.”
He knows all both men and animals. We read in John 2:24-25, “But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.” And in His Word, we read in Psalm 50:11, “I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine.”
He knows our sufferings. In the Old Testament, we read Exodus 3:7-8 in the New King James Version, “And the LORD said (to Moses): "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey…”
David also declared in Psalm 69:19, “You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you.”
He knows all the plans against his people. Jeremiah wrote, “But you know, O LORD, all their plots to kill me. Do not forgive their crimes or blot out their sins from your sight. Let them be overthrown before you; deal with them in the time of your anger” (Jer. 18:23).
He knows how to save His people. Peter wrote in 2 Peter 2:9, “…then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment…”
And He knows also His wonderful plan for his people. We read in Jeremiah 29:11, “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
But in Matthew 7:21 when He said, “I never knew you… “ – it does not just refer to knowledge, perception, or recognition, but to intimate knowledge, or close relationship. There is no intimate knowledge between God and those “evildoers” – regardless of the “good” deeds they boasted. God looks in the inward part – in the heart – not just in the outward performance (Notice Matthew 7:15. There are those who appeared as prophets, but “inwardly they are ferocious wolves”).
The All-Knowing God knows those people who are really His – those who belong to Him. We read in 2 Timothy 2:19, “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: ‘THE LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS,’ and, ‘Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.’"
As Creator, all things belong to Him and all men are His – yet there are those who are chosen and intimately enjoying close relationship with Him. They are those who are really acknowledged by Him as His children.
God’s Word tells us that there are those who do not belong to Him. We read, “Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but he sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire… He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God’" (John 8:42-44, 47).
They are not enjoying the relationship that God as their Father. And they are not His children, as we read in 1 John 3:10, “This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” They are... yes, “children of the devil”!
But those who belong to God, they are known by God. Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, said in John 10:14, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me…”
Not only God knows those who belong to Him, but they also know Him. But they are able to know Him not because of their own effort, or intelligence. In His Sovereign Grace, He made known Himself to them.
Consider very well this writing of Paul in Galatians 3:28-4:9 –
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise… But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons… So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God -- or RATHER ARE KNOWN BY GOD…”
Actually, according to Paul, it is God who has known us – even before we are born. As the prophet Jeremiah remarked, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations’" (Jer. 1:4-5).
To those whom God has chosen to reveal Himself, they are the ones who can become familiar with and be able to really appreciate His Glory. Though there are those who said that all are chosen, I prefer to believe what Jesus said in John 13:18, “I am NOT referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen…”
We also read His Words in Matthew 11:25-27: "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” (Also Luke 10:21-24.)
Jesus did not say He chose everyone to know the Father -- not every person. But as we read in The Contemporary English version, “My Father, Lord of heaven and earth, I am grateful that you hid all this from wise and educated people and showed it to ordinary people.”
He revealed Himself to the elect in spite of their “insignificance” -- like David. Listen to him:
"Who am I, O LORD God, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, O God, you have spoken about the future of the house of your servant. You have looked on me as though I were the most exalted of men, O LORD God. What more can David say to you for honoring your servant? For you know your servant, O LORD. For the sake of your servant and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made known all these great promises” (1 Chron. 17:16-19).
In His prayer to the Father, Jesus said: “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word” (John 17:6). Jesus revealed the Father to those people the Father gave to the Son – to His own “sheep.”
We read in Psalm 100:3, “Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” Even His Powerful voice is known to them (John 10:4).
Finally, His Words in Jeremiah 24:7, “I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.” He gave also His people the heart to know Him.
Are we one of those who are enjoying such great privilege?
Is He making Himself more real to us, as we pray, as we study, meditate and listen to His Word? Do we experience a progressive or growing appreciation of His Goodness or Glory in our daily activities?
Could we really feel the great privilege of knowing God who knows us?
And, perhaps, do we realize that to be known by Him is the greatest favor we can enjoy?
To be known by Him – to be recognized by the Supreme God as His people, chosen even before the foundation of the world – to be acknowledged as His children – to realize that He has an intimate knowledge of us and He knows our sufferings, He knows how to save us and He knows also His wonderful plan for us– that His love for us is so great even from everlasting – surely, will cause us to be so grateful to Him and highly honor and love Him exceedingly!
And, according to 1 Corinthians 8:3, “…the man who loves God is known by God.” What an incomparable joy to be welcomed in His Presence and hear the Loving Voice, "I know you...!"!
PRAYER: Our All-Knowing and Most Loving Father, we praise and love You – not just for Your Healing, Protection and Provision – physically and spiritually, but also for knowing us – showing us Your close, special and intimate love for Your chosen people. May You also use us that You and Your Great Love may be known and enjoyed by others. We pray in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who knows all men. Amen.
