If I Know You

One of the things I try to do in my notes is offer hope for hard times. Sometimes it feels like I’m beating a dead horse; but then I remember how many times in the Bible the word “remind” is used, or derivatives thereof, and I’m compelled to press on.

The other day I wrote about meeting Bruce Carroll, who co-wrote the song “Sometimes Miracles Hide.” Around that time I also met Scott and Christine Dente, better known as Out of the Grey. The first song on their album “Diamond Days” is “If I Know You.” Here’s the chorus:

If I know You
You will turn this day
Into a perfect surprise
If I know You
Like I think I do
The worst of times will work out right

The last two times the chorus is sung, Christine sings “If I know you/And I know I do/The worst of times will work out right,” and then she says: “Lord I know there’s hope in sight/You will get me through if I know You.”
Have you ever read a passage of Scripture or heard a song dozens of times, only to have the meaning suddenly sink in? That’s what happened with me today when listening to that song. Look at the very last line again:

“You will get me through if I know You” (emphasis added)

One of the most misunderstood and misapplied verses in Scripture, in my experience, is Romans 8:28. There’s a scene in the movie “Pure Luck,” starring Martin Short and Danny Glover, where Danny says, “Something good’s gonna come out of all this; I don’t believe it, but I know it.” That’s a pretty obvious reference to Paul’s words:

“And we know that all things work together for good...”(KJV)

However, note the ellipsis. Here’s the entire verse:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (emphasis added)

Here’s how the ESV renders the verse:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (emphasis added)

To hear a lot of preachers -- I won’t name names, but I’m sure you can think of at least one or two -- you’d think life was supposed to be a bed of roses. But if you read the entire Bible and the history of the early church, you’ll find that’s more like the exception than the rule. Here’s what the writer of Hebrews says:

“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.” (Hebrews 12:32-38, NIV)

Again, I’m not saying all this to tempt you to despair. Instead, remember the words of Jesus:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV)