GOD KNOWS | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 15, 1903

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 15.

GOD KNOWS.

NOT long since we listened to a soprano and contralto duet, and wondrously sweet it was. Over and over rang these comforting words of the refrain:—

“My Father knows, I'm sure He knows.”

It was faith's answer in sweet and beautiful song to a most blessed fact,—our Father knows.

He knows the heart. “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but Jehovah looketh on the heart.”

“O Jehovah, Thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; Thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou searchest out 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 Jehovah, Thou knowest it altogether.”

A sense of such knowledge on the part of God makes the wicked fear. It is the disobedient boy that pleads, “Don't tell father.” But this Father needs not to be told. He takes infinite cognizance of all the ongoings in His boundless realm. He knows not simply all; He knows each part. He knows not merely mankind; He knows each man. He knows all because He knows each part. The wicked may well fear Him who knows every black deed, every cruel act, every cherished thought of evil; and as surely as He knows all He will bring every work into judgment, will reward every deed. No political influence can affect His decision, no court of appeal can reverse His just findings. The thought of the wicked man, that God knows, is awful; and by every means men seek to still the voice of conscience and bury the remembrance of the fact.

But God does not reveal this awful fact to frighten His children nor to make life miserable. Our Father knows that we are sinners, and He reveals to us that He knows, in order that we may know that He whose knowledge is infinite to reveal possesses power infinite to change from all filthiness and vileness and sin; that we who have learned that “it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps,” may know that He who knows has power in waiting to “cause” us to “walk” in His “statutes,” and “keep” His “ordinances, and do them.” He reveals that the heart of man is “deceitful above all things and desperately sick,” that we may be assured that the Physician, who knows our evil case, is able to heal us, and we shall be healed. And after He has wrought all this in us, He still knows and sees all our imperfections, and tells us that in Him we may attain the most perfect growth. Thus much in stirring us to unite with Infinite Power, that we may be in harmony with Infinite Holiness.

Then, again, the comfort of the thought, “My Father knows; I'm sure He knows.” The mortal frame often grows weary; the tired heart labors with its burden; the weary eyes burn with long seeing; brawn and back and brain ache and groan under their burdens; but humanity knows it not. No helping hand lightens the bowed back. No cheering word eases the burdened heart. At such times—at all times—how good it is to truly say, “My Father knows; I'm sure He knows.” “For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.”

Sometimes our motives are impugned—our words misunderstood, our actions misconstrued by those whom motive, word, and act sought to help. But, never mind, our Father knows.

It is a thought of comfort to the trusting soul. Jesus so presents it. He tells us of God's knowledge. He notes the sparrow's fall; even the very hairs of the head are numbered. God cares. “The eyes of Jehovah run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.” He does not ask a perfect wisdom or knowledge or fame; only a heart yielded to Him. He is our all in all; our Father-God forever and ever. Sing ever the sweet refrain:— “My Father knows; I'm sure He knows.”