Finding the Truth

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. -John 14:6

A man who is not seeking God, and who consequently is not seeing God, is living in the world without a true sense of reality.

God...made the world and all things therein,...and giveth to all life, and breath, and all things'...For in Him we live, and move, and have our being'...He now commandeth all men every where to repent: because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained (Jesus); whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He has raised Him from the dead. -see Acts 17:24-31

Ignorance of this reality is a guarantee that life will be filled with emptiness, restlessness, and frustration. An unbeliever is content to seek his own solutions, apart from God. Any attempt to solve the problems of life apart from God is both arrogant, and in the long run, ineffective. Living in the real world requires a man to know the God who has revealed himself to us in His word. Man cannot create within himself a desire for God. God must take the initiative if a man is to know Him. Renewing the mind starts with God. God places within us a desire for a relationship with Him.

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. -Jer. 31:3

God's Spirit must personally show us the realities of God as we ponder the Scriptures if we are to be changed. Knowledge of the truth moves us to greater assurance and humility, a desire to praise it, and an urgency to obey it. So many believers are not seeing God because they are NOT seeking Him.

Revival does not come when God's people start doing right, it comes when God's people start seeing God.

Wholehearted pursuit of God is rewarded with a view of God Himself. As we behold His glory and illumined with the truth, we grow in Christlikeness. If our view of God is not right, nothing can ultimately be right in our lives. To live in the real world, God must be central in our thoughts.

Not only does knowing God require that we desire Him, it also requires that we seek Him passionately. Everyone is passionate - either he loves himself , or he loves God and others. In the Beatitudes, Jesus said that the pure in heart will see God. The word pure here denotes singleness of heart. God takes double-mindedness very seriously. If we are to know Him in a personal, intimate way, He must have first place in our lives.

But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. -Deut. 4:29

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. -Heb. 11:6

But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. -Matt. 16:2-25