The kids in East Africa
race over to us at the slightest glimpse of a camera. They
all want to have their picture taken.
If we aim the camera in any direction, whoever is around will clamor to
get into the space of the view finder. Even
adults thrust their children into the picture.
Camera as a novelty, sure.
But they don’t insist on seeing
the image on the digital screen. Nor do
they expect us to print it off or email them a copy.
So at first I didn’t get it.
What’s the big deal? Why this intense
desire to have their picture taken?
Well, now I have a theory.
It may not be true, of course, but it’s an idea that has spiritual
implications, so follow my train of thought here.
I suspect that these
kids just want to be known.
In fact, I think that wanting to be known is a yearning programmed into each one of us
to some degree.
I dare say it’s even a
characteristic of God, (which makes sense, since we are made in His image).
Okay, so guess what?!
We are known!
Not only did God knit us together in our mothers’ womb
(Psalm 139:13),
He has numbered every hair on our heads (Matthew 10:30).
Even now, He knows when you sit and when you rise, and
He perceives your thoughts before you speak them (Psalm 139:1-4).
And He too wants to
be known by us.
His thoughts are above our thoughts, and much remains a
mystery, and yet throughout the Bible, we are encouraged (and commanded) to SEEK God.
According to Acts 17:27, that’s the reason God gave men life
– “so that [they] would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him,
though he is not far from each one of us.”
God has revealed Himself.
In nature, His glorious creation.
In His Word, the Bible.
In the life, death, and resurrection of His Son Jesus.
He continues to reveal Himself.
Through the acts and words of other people.
He even speaks to us directly through His Spirit!
John 3:16
promises eternal life to all who believe in Jesus.
And John 17:3 defines eternal life as knowing the only true
God and Jesus whom He has sent.
Eternal life is all about knowing God! That is the
whole deal. Our purpose. He created us to know Him. To hang out with Him. To become more like Jesus.
So I eagerly take out my camera for the darling African kids. It makes them happy, and looking at the
picture reminds me to pray for them.
I pray that they
would realize that they are known.
And that they are deeply
loved by the God of the Universe.
The One who created them.
The One who chose to die for them,
reconciling them to Himself through His resurrection.
The One who is actively involved in
their daily lives, even if they don’t
realize it.
I also pray that they
would turn their hearts to God and know Him.
As Father.
As Savior.
As King.
As friend.
