Through the Keyhole

"Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know" (I Corinthians 8:1-2).


God is an infinite being. His truth is also immeasurable. Accordingly, whatever knowledge of His person and truth to which we have attained is a mere glimmer of light shining through the keyhole of eternal reality.


Certainly we can know enough to enter into a genuine relationship with the Lord Jesus, and to thereafter live a consistent life of increasing godliness. We can also be confident in our convictions. However, "nothing yet as we ought to know" must form and inform our awareness that life with the Lord Jesus ushers us to an ocean without shore, a vista without horizon, and a heart whose goodness is immeasurable. "The love of Christ, which passeth knowledge" is how the Apostle Paul termed the glory, and regardless of how far we have journeyed, the infinity of the Divine beckons us to venture ever onward (Ephesians 3:19).


I seek to avoid Christian communicators who do not give strong indication that this sensibility graces their understanding and attitude. Cocksure confidence is not at all the same as humble assurance, and the difference is palpable. Of course, I also avoid those uncertain of the centrality of the Lord Jesus, the Bible, and God's calling to love, trust, obey, and communicate Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. But neither do I want to be influenced by those overly sure of themselves and proud of their own understanding. It's a rare and beautiful thing when we find someone who navigates the narrow path of assurance and humility, and then communicates with both a humble and confident heart. When we hear such a voice, we do well to listen and heed.


"Nothing yet as we ought to know." Genuine knowledge and understanding of God and His truth imprints upon our souls this spiritual axiom. The more we see of Him, the more we realize how little we have actually known of His infinite greatness and goodness. May our Heavenly Father raise up a vast company of preachers, teachers, and writers who give evidence to both a deep and abiding assurance in Christ, and the humble awareness that the Light shining through the keyhole is but a glimmer of the infinitely luminous love of God.


"How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"
(Romans 10:15)