“I DO NOT KNOW!”

 2 Corinthians 12:2-4                             (ESV)

“[2] I know a man in CHRIST who FOURTEEN YEARS AGO was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body “I DO NOT KNOW”, GOD KNOWS. [3] And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body “I DO NOT KNOW”, GOD KNOWS—[4] and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.”

The thing that initially caught my attention with these Scriptures was that Paul (the man in CHRIST) was caught up in the third heaven FOURTEEN YEARS AGO!  Most would agree that this is a long time.  But FOURTEEN YEARS AGO doesn’t seem that long ago when I remember where I was then.  FOURTEEN YEARS AGO July 09 my brain was leaking causing a 52 day hospital stay where GOD showed out and astounded many!  I will forever be grateful for HIS healing HAND in my life!  

But the other thing that I cannot get around is when Paul (a Pharisee among Pharisees (Acts 23:6)) says “I DO NOT KNOW”, GOD KNOWS twice in two verses!  It has always been a challenge for me to admit that there were things that I didn’t fully understand.  But as my wisdom has increased, I am finding that there is far more that “I DO NOT KNOW” than things that I DO KNOW!  That the Apostle Paul wrote this twice humbles me, that someone with his Scriptural understanding readily admitted that “I DO NOT KNOW” when I sometimes act as though I have arrived!!!

The second part of the same lesson is that GOD KNOWS.....EVERYTHING!  So why do I act like it is beyond HIS capabilities when things appear to be “impossible”?  Matthew 19:26 says “But JESUS looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with GOD “all things” are possible.”  When things appear inconceivable, that is when GOD LOVES TO ACT!

My medical records from FOURTEEN YEARS AGO state “However he has had an remarkable recovery that can only be defined as a MIRACLE FROM GOD”!  Apparently things were looking rather bleak back then, BUT GOD!!!  There are times when I have to admit that “I DO NOT KNOW” for certain exactly what GOD has planned for my life, but walking by FAITH requires me to understand that GOD KNOWS!!!