“But Then” is now                                                                                     August 16, 2015

One of my favorite mysteries is found in this verse: “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

You can find this verse in the book of first Corinthians, chapter 13.  It’s verse 12.  This quote is from the New International Version of the Bible.  I found five different versions of the verse and combined them together; here’s how it comes out:

Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling, dim, obscure, blurred reflections in a mirror,

but then—when perfection comes-- we will see everything with perfect clarity, as if face to face in the bright light of reality.

All that I know now is partial and incomplete, for I only know imperfectly at this time.

But then (when perfection comes), I will know everything completely and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as God has fully and clearly known and understood me.

It’s a favorite verse for many reasons.  There are three parts to it:

1. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling, dim, obscure, blurred reflections in a mirror… All that I know now is partial and incomplete, for I only know imperfectly at this time.

There are times in my life when it seems that situations aren’t going well.  A family relationship may be temporarily damaged, or a loved one has been too sick for too long.  Beyond myself in the world outside the Garden, the terrible events of the day—murders, riots, the apparent rise in mental illness, the chasm of racism that has opened again like a festering wound in our society or the horrible destruction of drug abuse and sexual immorality—who can truly understand these circumstances?  Is there an achievable solution?

Because I believe that God is good, and that He’s working things out for my good (and the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose), I can find peace in uncertain times.  I don’t need to have every answer right now, today.  Believing this verse helps me when I don’t understand how or why God is working things out in the way that I see with my imperfect, blurred vision. 

2. …but then—when perfection comes-- we will see everything with perfect clarity, as if face to face in the bright light of reality… But then (when perfection comes), I will know everything completely and understand fully and clearly…

“When perfection comes” refers to Jesus, Who is the only perfect One.  Some readers think this speaks to the time when Jesus will return (at the end of the Age.)  But I believe that as we unfold our soul and spirit to God, He enters into even the tiniest of moments and reveals Himself.  He enlightens us; His Holy Spirit teaches us a specific new thing.  “Perfection” comes in and sheds light on the matter-- we suddenly understand a new (to us) spiritual truth.  I had a friend who used to say “I know that I know that I know.”

3. But then… I will know everything completely and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as God has fully and clearly known and understood me.

This is so wonderful!  The writer of the 139^th Psalm declares that God knows every single thing about us—that He has known these specific and personal things from the very beginning when He created each of us.  He has known us fully, inside and out, then and now.

To think that an all-powerful and everlasting holy Being personally knows me, knows you—knows everything about each of us and still loves us as deeply as if there was no other—is simply amazing to me.  When we can believe this with every fiber of our soul and spirit, we are continually revitalized, refreshed, renewed.  This is life-giving knowledge!

There’s more—“then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”  Jesus is the perfection of God, but the day will come when each of us will be perfected—this is Christ in me, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27.)  We don’t have to wait for that day, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to seek this spiritual state day by day, moment by moment as we live and move and have our being.  What a promise!  I pray that each reader finds hope in this truth, and calls upon God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit to bring a revelation to their life today.  With love from the Garden…