"Becoming, Knowing"

Only when we become parents ourselves do we finally realize the blessing and challenge we presented to our own fathers and mothers.  I tried to remember this as our children were growing up, particularly in those times when their actions fostered trepidation in Dad and Mom's hearts.  "How can they not see the unnecessary concern they're foisting upon us?!"  The thought usually followed, sometimes after a long travail of soul and a sigh of difficult acknowledgement, "They haven't been where we are.  They cannot really know."

    This principle holds true in most experiences of life, wherein we must become in order to know.  Intriguingly, the Bible even references the eternal and infinite God in such terms.

    "We have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16).

     The God whose "understanding is infinite" knows all things with utterly complete understanding, and wisdom (Psalm 147:5).  As God, nothing escapes this perfection of perception.  In the Lord Jesus Christ, however, the Infinite enrobed Himself with human limitations, thus enabling Him to enter into an awareness (or lack thereof) not possible in His divinity.  Only as man could the Son of God view things without infinite understanding, and thus share the challenges fostered by incomplete comprehension and even uncertainty.  "Of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father... My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" (Mark 13:32; Matthew 27:46).  Indeed, of the many sacrifices made by our Savior for the purpose of redeeming us, none more fill me with grateful wonder and awe than His willingness to experience knowledge and understanding less than infinite.  The Lord Jesus knows what it means not to know, and He knows it from a basis of having eternally known with His Father and the Holy Spirit all there is to know.  This reveals a sacrifice of love for us certainly beyond any understanding to which we will ever ascend.

    Our Lord - again, as man - fulfilled the principle of becoming in order to know, that is, to enter into our experience.  The same reality holds true in us.  Apply the principle to events of life that perhaps belie our ability to comprehend.  Why did God allow us to go through this challenge, or that particular heartbreak?  Perhaps because His perfect purposes for us required that we become in order to know.  Our sphere of influence may well require that we enter into its experience for the purpose of our being bright and illuminating rays of Christ's light for those with whom we live our lives.  This was the Lord's way, and as He dwells and walks in us, it will be our way as well.

"This man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens."
(Hebrews 7:24-26)