BY REV. STEPHEN HAMMOND
Senior Pastor of Bethel Community Church
“God knows people’s hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith,” Acts 15:8-9.
We know so little in this life. We can spend our lives studying and learning about everything we can find to try to figure out this world that we live in.
The concept of the omniscience of God, meaning God knows everything, has always been a difficult idea to wrap my finite brain around. I see it on display constantly as life unfolds before my eyes; God knew the whole time.
Just when I think I have things figured out, it turns out far different than what I imagined, so I have learned to trust in the one who already knows what is going to happen, why, and what is in the hearts of people.
When a newborn baby comes into this world, God already knows the life that child will lead and the moment when that life will be over. We are never prepared for that moment, but God knows the whole time when it will come.
Our lives would be better prepared for whatever comes our way if we would simply put our trust in the One who knows our tomorrow and what will unfold before us. God knows us because it was He who created us.
The discourse occurring in this chapter of Acts was about whether the Gospel would be preached to the Gentiles, everyone who was not a Jew, or not. Thank God it was decided to go with God’s plan and make salvation available to everyone.
The key reason why God made that His plan was because He makes no distinction between people. God made us all, so He values us all.
As we celebrate the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once again this year, this important point is paramount for us to consider. People tend to look on the outward appearance and make a judgement of others, God looks on the heart of mankind and sees what we cannot.
People put on a mask much of the time and make their lives look one way when it really is another, but God knows the heart of us all. I encourage everyone in light of the MLK holiday, to consider looking at one another like God looks at us, see deeper than just the outward appearance and look upon the heart of others.
We miss the beauty of God’s creation when we choose not to see what He sees. If you are having trouble seeing the good in people, then ask God for help because God knows.
