Robin Mark - All I Once Held Dear (Knowing You) Lyrics

All I Once Held Dear (Knowing You)

All I Once Held Dear (Knowing You) Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration

Released on August 26, 2010, Robin Mark's song "All I Once Held Dear (Knowing You)" arrives carrying a weight of spiritual reflection. The song's essence is a profound meditation on the transformative power of knowing Christ personally, portraying it as the ultimate gain that overshadows all earthly achievements and desires. It captures the heart's reorientation when confronted with the surpassing value of a relationship with the Creator. This isn't just a passive thought; it's an active declaration of re-prioritizing everything that once held significance – accomplishments, status, possessions, even deeply cherished things – and viewing them as secondary, or even as a liability, compared to the richness of knowing Christ Jesus.

This core theme resonates deeply with the apostle Paul's powerful words in Philippians chapter 3. Paul, recounting his impeccable religious pedigree and worldly standing, writes in verses 7 and 8: "But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ." The song echoes this sentiment precisely, articulating the worshiper's adoption of this radical perspective. It’s a perspective born not of religious duty, but from encountering a reality so infinitely valuable that it inherently diminishes the glitter of everything else. The pursuit shifts from earthly gain to spiritual gain – the gain of Christ Himself, His righteousness, and the knowledge of His resurrection power and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings (Philippians 3:9-10).

The song invites us into this same re-evaluation. It asks, what do *we* hold dear? What are our 'gains'? And are we willing to count them as loss for the immeasurable prize of knowing Christ? This isn't a call to asceticism for its own sake, but a recognition that when we truly grasp the glory and worth of Christ, the things we once chased lose their luster. It brings to mind Jesus' parables in Matthew 13:44-46 about the kingdom of heaven being like treasure hidden in a field or a pearl of great price, which a person, upon finding, sells everything they have to acquire. The song is the believer's response to finding that treasure – a joyful, willing surrender of lesser things for the greatest thing.

Furthermore, "All I Once Held Dear (Knowing You)" points towards a spiritual transformation rooted in Christ alone. The knowledge sought isn't mere intellectual assent, but a deep, experiential relationship. It's a knowing that leads to gaining His righteousness, not our own (Philippians 3:9), and a knowing that drives us to share in His suffering and resurrection (Philippians 3:10). This reflects the wisdom mentioned in Colossians 2:2-3, where Paul speaks of the mystery of God, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. The song positions knowing Christ as the ultimate wisdom and treasure, surpassing any other source of knowledge or earthly security. It stands as a powerful reminder that our boast is not in ourselves or our accomplishments, but, as Galatians 6:14 states, "in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." The song encourages us to align our hearts with this truth, singing it not just as a lyric, but as a life posture that continuously chooses Christ above all. Its lasting impact lies in its simple yet profound challenge to examine our allegiance and reaffirm that knowing Him is, indeed, everything.