IDK. It means I don’t know, and it’s modern-day shorthand in texting etiquette so we can expedite communication even faster than talking. Most of us try to give an intelligent answer when asked a question, but sometimes we come up short in our knowledge, and we just…don’t…know. It could be that we don’t understand the question, or that we haven’t gathered enough information to know the answer, but for whatever reason, a shrug of the shoulders and an I don’t know signifies that more information is needed in order to know.
With all the chaos and confusion in the world right now, it’s really important to know the Lord. There’s knowing, and there’s knowing. I knew about Jesus for nineteen years before I came to an understanding of His love and salvation for me, but I didn’t know Him personally or intimately. When that knowledge of the Holy One “clicked” inside my heart, I immediately knew my Savior. A close and intimate relationship has developed between us over the past forty-nine years, and in knowing the Lord on that level, there comes an ever-deepening understanding of His ways. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10 NASB).
We are to, as the Greek word says, ginosko Christ. That is, to properly know, especially through personal experience or first-hand acquaintance. The Apostle Paul said it like this in Philippians 3:10-11 (NLT), I want to know (ginosko) Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
Ginosko knowing is the same type of intimate knowing as in a marriage, where there are no secrets and where covenantal love is understood. Do you ginosko Jesus and have a personal, first-hand acquaintance with Him, or is your response to this question, IDK? He holds all the answers to the trouble and calamity of the world, but without knowing Him deeply and intimately, our understanding of His solutions and ways are obscured. This is what the Lord says: "Don't let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know Me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken! (Jeremiah 9:23-24 NLT).
Get to know Him! He’s the truest Friend you will ever have; the wisest Counselor; the greatest Physician; the one, true God!
© 2021, Chris Werre