How can we ever know who God is or what He is like? The idea is like a kitchen table trying to understand and relate to the craftsman who made it: preposterous and impossible. A table cannot understand the selecting of lumber and grain for the task. Nor can it understand the great scrutiny the craftsman uses in milling, sanding, joinery and finishing. The process is far beyond the comprehension of the table.
Similarly, there is no way for God to be understood by man through our own understanding. Scientists are still learning more about the human body, more of biology, more of DNA and more of the cosmos. Humanity has only grasped a small part of the greatness of creation and yet still less of the greatness of God.
God is greater than our minds can understand, because if we could completely discern the character of God, He would not be worth worshipping. If humanity comprehended who God fully is, we would be equals. But this is far from reality. Things happen in life and we ask God, “Why?” because we do not know but long to understand.
But we have been given truth about God through His Word. It would be as if the kitchen table got a memo about some of who the craftsman is, according to what he can understand, why the craftsman built the table in the first place and the best way forward. There are limitations to analogies; I will be the first to admit. But we have this wonderful treasure with us from God, His Word. God reached down to this world and created a way for humanity to know and understand who God is, as we are able.
1 Corinthians 13:12 from the Bible tells us, “For now we see as in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” Right now, we understand God only partly and life only partly. Mirrors in Bible times were generally made of steel and they would be polished until they made a reflection. Polished steel mirrors would not reflect the same way modern mirrors we have do. Imagine when you look in a puddle and see your reflection? This is how we see God and life dimly; but this is not the end of the story.One day those who know God will see Him clearly and fully. We will be able to understand the great “why” of life.
In human relationships, we are all looking to be both fully known and fully loved because the craftsman made us to be this way. To be loved but not known is nice but it’s not the real thing. To be fully known yet unloved and rejected is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and yet fully loved, this is what we long for. This verse tells us that God fully knows us, better than we know ourselves. The craftsman understands the workings of the kitchen table better than the table does itself. And God as our maker understands us on a level that we cannot even realize. And the most wonderful thing is that He loves us still. And on that day, we will see God as He really is: the King on the throne who knows us more completely than we could ever know ourselves.
Travis Harms serves locally with InterAct Ministries of Canada and Midway Bible Camp.
