I Don’t Know

Do you know what the three most powerful words in the English language are?

Is it…

I love you. I am sorry. Or my favorite: When is dinner?

I think all of these words are powerful.

But I would add a fourth one: I Don’t Know.

We live in a culture where we have to know everything. We have to know who is winning in the Mountain West Conference. We have to know what is the latest trend on Twitter. We have to know what’s going on with our neighbors Bob and Sally (I just made up those names). We have to know what’s going on with our friends. We have to know that the Lakers just made it to the 9th spot in the West. Finally! Let’s go!

We just have to know everything. Why? Because for many of us, we want to fit in or want to be seen as someone knowledgeable or interesting. So we spend a lot of time and energy keeping up. And there is nothing wrong with being in the know. I mean, kudos to you if you are like one of my friends who literally just knows everything.

But we sometimes get into trouble if this desire to know everything creeps into our spiritual lives.

Because the reality is God will not reveal all things to us, and many things are hidden for very good reason.

I don’t know about you, but I stopped trying to know everything about God and what He is doing or not doing. And instead, I find so much peace in the mystery of His sovereignty. I love just saying: “I don’t know.” And that is completely okay. Let me tell you, it is so freeing! Say it with me: I don’t know!

And it is not something I say out of negativity, but out of a deep reverence that God is God… and I am not.

Luke 10:21 says it like this:

“I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.”

- Luke 10:21

There is something about a pure open heart that God desires. There is something about a soul that isn’t a know-it-all, but is always curious and humble.

I’ve talked to many people who don’t want to be a Christian or a Go First Leader because they feel like they need to be a spiritual know-it-all. What if people ask me questions that I can’t answer? Like, explaining the Trinity or what’s with speaking in tongues?

Friends, it’s okay to say: “I don’t know.”

As we approach Easter, we are reminded that the Cross of Jesus was a very confusing situation. Why would the Savior of the world submit himself to the world’s worst way to die?

Why did it have to be this way? Why the way of the cross?

Perhaps some of us have very good answers to this. But for me, through all of my Master of Divinity classes, I simply don’t know why God would love like this. I don’t understand why God would send His son for me by dying on the cross, and I sure don’t deserve it.

But as much as I don’t know, it makes me even more thankful. The Gospel becomes even bigger.

May the Cross of Jesus Christ be even more unexplainable so that it will be even more undeniable throughout our lives.

Amen.

Pastor Sean

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