I shall know fully, even as I am fully known
October 18, 2011 // By: Bob Hamp // 9 Comments
“You’re the only one who ever knew me at all….”
I can still hear the haunting piano, as Phil Collins unique voice sings this line, resolving the verse from the 80′s hit, “Against all Odds”, from the movie of the same name. This line has always stuck in my soul, often as if the single line is on repeat in my mind. Tonight I heard it again. Why does that line linger, and almost swell through my awareness?
I spend a lot of time thinking about, teaching and writing about what it must have been like to be Adam before his tragic fall from life. I have spent much of this year focused on how the nature and condition of Adam might impact how he saw and how he knew. I have pondered, prayed and postulated about how his way of seeing and his way of knowing were inextricably tied to the Life of God flowing to him and through him. But tonight it hit me.
There is more again. I have thought about how Adam may have known truth and reality through and by the Spirit of Life. But what about How He was Known?!?!
What about the depth at which Someone knew him. What about the way God touched the depths of Adam’s being and shaped him by knowing him?
Adam was known. He was known and He was loved. It is one thing to consider unmasking and allowing another to see, but what does it do when another takes the time to look beyond the mask?
I think we all want this more than we know. Want it, and fear it all at once. But the thing we are made for is to be known. The fear part is pure knowledge of good and evil.
Forget “we all” for a minute, God didn’t talk to me about anyone but me tonight, so let me just write about me.
I am starved to be known. See me, feel me, touch me, heal me (another classic rock reference for those who remember the Who’s Rock Opera. “Tommy”.
It is this deep appetite not just to know another but to be known that is at the root of hundreds of unhealthy choices. But at the core, in the beginning, it is right. It is from God. I was made to be known in the hidden parts of my heart.
I was made to be completely unhidden. Light in every part of my soul, laid out for the world to know, while I remain unashamed. Exposed, and simultaneously loved. Not exposed for another’s selfish gain, But exposed, because of ultimate trust in the inherent generosity and nurture of my Ever and Always Present Father.
Look me in the eyes. Look past my smile. Is it real today? Look past my posturing and jokes. Am I who I say I am? Look me in the eyes as if you have life to give me, not as if you are digging for what you can take. But look. Don’t look away if you see pain. Don’t look away if you see sadness or fear. Look at me. Know me. But don’t do it if you are going to judge what you see. Don’t do it if you are afraid to interact with the man you see behind my eyes. But look. I want you to.
I was made to be known. So were you. When you make the time and investment to know me, I discover me too.
Adam knew himself in some way because he was known so deeply. How tragic it would be to live a life and not be able to say to someone, anyone, “you knew me!”
Know me!! Don’t let me fool you. Know me. Don’t let me hide. Know me.
Living in the bathing Presence of the Spirit of Life, we are fully known. What a relief.
9 Comments
Thank you – needed to hear this today… God continues to open my eyes to see more of me and who I am in Him… Consciously allowing Him to freely love me and know me… It’s quite freeing…
Fantastic post. I love it. Not only can we know Him and be known by Him … He loves us all the way through. He sees every single thing and more than we do about our own hearts. He runs to us with joy in His eyes, love in His Heart and Healing in His wings. It’s a glorious communion..
“I was made to be known. So were you. When you make the time and investment to know me, I discover me too.”
This is going to hit my social network wires now… Might even have to write a song with this as the chorus… I’ll be sure royalties are signed to you
Such a very needed insight for this week in my life! Thanks Ps Bob!!
This is so true, how sad we are when we think no one knows us.
So we are created in His image and His desire is to be known and our desire is to be known. This morning I was reading in Proverbs 20: verses 27 & 30 stood out.
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart.[c]
30 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.[d]
Do you see a connection with these two verses?
By his stripes we are healed or connected to the God to know him and be known.
Thank you ! It is sooo true! We were made to be known and … also, we want to know that if we didn’t show up , we would be missed . Thank you !
It’s that identity thing you’ve talked & written about. Not “what do I think of me” or “what do other humans think of me”, but “what does God think of me”; the One Who knows me most. I so very badly need to turn my full, undivided attention to the last one. To Him.
To be known…It is truly one of our greatest needs, the affirmation we feel when we walk in a place and people acknowlege us , make us want to come back and visit that place, or people. Us as Body of Christ need to acknowledge others, so others may feel God’s presence and love. Thank you for inspiring us to seek the depths of His heart.
So needed this – Bob – I have seen through your writings your openess & love for God & your desire to pass along everything you know to help others – much appreciated – as I have been told too often, you are to open – no!!! I am unashamed and willing to share my life because that is who I am!!
Well, dang, Bob.