Thou Knowest by A. M. Driscall

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · Sep 9, 1875

Thou Knowest.

By A. M. Driscall

"LORD, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee," was Peter’s grieved reply to his divine Lord, when asked the third time "Lovest thou me?"

The thrice repeated question reminded Peter of his thrice repeated denial of his Lord, and brought fresh to his mind the scenes of that sad, eventful night when his fears, doubts, and cowardice overcame him, and in his reply he felt no longer as in days past, like comparing himself with, or setting himself above, others. He did not say that his love was as great or greater than any of the other disciples. He offers no testimony of his own as to the love he feels for Christ. He could trust his deceitful heart no more. But appealing to another’s knowledge of that heart, which had proved better than his own, he says, "yea, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee."

Christ knew the conflicting emotions of Peter’s heart on the night of his betrayal. He knew the work of contrition wrought since. He knew the depths of his repentance, and his reply is a most emphatic affirmative response to this appeal. It is as if he had said, I have seen all that thou hast suffered, Peter, I do know that thou lovest me, and to prove to thee and thy brethren that I accept and acknowledge thy repentance, I reinstate thee in the apostolic office. I renew the great commission, feed my sheep, feed my lambs.

Peter’s severe trial had been a blessing to him, and not only to him, but to many others. He was no longer the same confident, boastful Peter, but humbled, converted Peter, ready for his great work.

Christ, the great commiserator of the human family, understands our natures, knows the discipline we need, and feels for the corrected, erring, and repenting, the same now as then. He knows our weakness, our frailty. He knows the strength of our adversary. He knows the heart, wearied and perplexed with the cares of to-day, burdened with anticipated duties of to-morrow, depressed with sadness, filled with foreboding fear and distracting doubt. He knows it all, and is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and knowing this he offers rest to the weary, comfort to the sorrowing, and strength to the weak and doubting. To the Christian this thought is comforting; but can the sinner, the unbeliever find consolation in the thought that it is all known to God?

Man often judges and condemns by appearances and external evidences, while God, Christ, and angels, whose thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and whose ways are not our ways, look at the heart and weigh motives. Heaven always supports the right. And though at times the clouds lower and are heavy with darkness, the sun shines beyond, and in due time, just at the right time, they break, the light shines, and the right is vindicated. Oh, for a faith to trust in God in days of adversity as well as in days of prosperity; for a principle to do right regardless of man’s approval or disapproval. If Heaven accepts we are safe. If not, we are lost notwithstanding man’s favor.

When we reflect that underneath all our actions in life there lies a principle, a motive, and that these principles or motives are tested in the court of heaven, how important that they are right, and with what care should we guard our hearts, for out of them are the issues of life.

A. M. DRISCALL.