We live in a world where it is becoming increasingly easier to find out almost anything about a person. Regardless of how you feel about it, the more connected we become through electronic/digital methods, the more likely our information is to become discoverable – even if we think things are being kept private. Even our conversations held within the privacy of our own homes run the risk of being transmitted beyond our homes if we use voice-activated services on our phones or television remotes.
None of us has a right to know absolutely everything about anyone else, and frankly, none of us would ever want someone else to know absolutely everything about us. We may not have ever done anything illegal, and we may not be overly concerned with our most embarrassing moments being revealed, but that doesn’t mean that we should be required to share our most intimate moments, our financial information, or our passwords with anyone who wishes to have that information. As much as we may want to know everything about someone else, we inherently recognize that we don’t want anyone else to have access to everything about ourselves.
For a variety of reasons, we keep various information beyond the view of others. One reason is because we want to have some control over what other people think about us. I don’t mean this in some nefarious manner, but simply that we know that if we build up a relationship with someone, that person is more likely to give us the benefit of the doubt when some of our less-than-stellar information is revealed. Ultimately, the person who loves us the most is also most likely to know the most negative things about us, and are willing to look past those things because of their understanding of the more complete context of our lives. When shared with someone else when they first met us, that same information might stop a potential relationship in its tracks, but when revealed slowly, the rest of our character might more than compensate for those shortcomings.
Remarkably, there is one who knows even more about you than those most private or hidden moments. Not only is God a witness to all that you have ever done, He also knows every thought that you have ever had. Even if all our actions have never betrayed us, there’s a solid chance that our thoughts have been less than flattering. Our thoughts reveal the bad things that we refrained from actually doing, but were still willing to entertain. Our thoughts also reveal the good things that we thought about doing, and decided not to for reasons of our own personal comfort. More than our actions, our thoughts reveal the true nature of our character, which then gives God the greatest reason to judge us as unlovable.
While that would be God’s right, He instead looks upon us with grace, mercy, patience, and love. The famous line from John’s Gospel declares: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God’s Word also tells us that we are to love others as he has loved us (John 13:34). Therefore, even as we learn more about others than they might ever have wanted us to know, the commandment to love them remains in place. So put aside judgment, and extend to others the same grace, mercy, patience, and love that God has extended to you.
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron