The Search for Truth

 Are you searching? Life is full of frustration and uncertainty. You want to find meaning in your life, but there are so many questions without answers.

Atheism focuses on this life, the here and now, but you see increasing chaos in the world.

Many are gripped by panic. Can this polluted planet be saved?

Many look for the meaning of life in various religions.

Some search for a mysterious, magical world in Hinduism or New Age mysticism.

Others seek a resigned serenity in Buddhism.

Then there are people who want to find structure, order and justice in Islam because they feel overwhelmed by the diversity and chaos in this world.

Then we think of Jesus. Many have problems with Jesus.

Europeans are disappointed with the Christian religion. What they see in the churches often bears no resemblance to the life of Jesus of Nazareth.

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 NLT

We see traces of this love and supernatural power in charismatic circles. Unfortunately, there are also some Pentecostal churches in which the love and power of God is overshadowed by legalism and authoritarian leadership.

If we seek the true God, we must not be distracted by the human errors in all religions. If we want to find gold, we must not focus on the dust, but seek the treasure itself.

Some claim that all religions are valid paths to God. But none of the founders of the world's religions taught such a thing.

Buddhists do not believe in an all-powerful personal God. Buddhists are atheists or agnostics.

Mohammed taught that God is the creator and judge, but the God of the Muslims is not a father and has no children. He does not want to have children either.

Buddhists and Hindus believe that we always come back to earth after we die.

Jesus taught that everyone who believes in him and gives their life into God's loving hands will live forever and have a wonderful home in God's heaven.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jn 3:16 NIV

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Jn 14:6 NIV

This is either true or it is not true. If the teachings of Jesus are true, then you can find your way out of the chaos.

If you come to the conclusion that the teachings of Jesus are true, you come to a challenge. Jesus wants to save you, not just teach you.

Jesus was never one to spread theological theories, like the ancient Greek philosophers or many academic theologians.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Mt 11:28 NASB95

What is truth?

 Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him. Jn 18:38 NRSV

Christians have always argued about different understandings of the truth, but in the eyes of the outside world, this hardly looks comprehensible. Postmodern man asks today, as Pilate asked then: ``Truth, what is it?

In Europe, for more than a generation, people have been talking about ``your truth`` and ``my truth,`` but when people talk like this, they are no longer thinking of The Truth, but of each person’s subjective mindset or world view.

If you no longer understand what truth means, it can be a problem to communicate the truth of the Bible.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Jn 14:6 NRSV

But what is truth? People ask in the 21st century.

Some Christians want to give up the battle for truth and focus only on love. The love of God can reach hungry hearts.

But the love of God is not just kindness and helpfulness.
In the Bible, we read: ``God is love.

So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 1 Jn 4:16 NRSV

God is love, but not only loving. God is loving and also all-powerful.
Jesus loved people and healed the sick.

God's love is all-powerful. God's love is by no means just a theological statement of faith.
God loves and God acts. God intervenes to heal the sick, to encourage those in despair and to save lost people.

God can and will reveal Himself if we are willing not only to proclaim His truth but also to release His miracle-working power.

The truth is that God still acts supernaturally and intervenes in human lives as He did in Bible times.

When people see and experience this for themselves, many turn back and believe in the truth they have seen and experienced.

There is a multicultural church in Düsseldorf where the African pastor firmly believes in the truth of God's Word. But his faith does not only consist of theological convictions. He puts the word into practice.

In the New Testament, Jesus healed many sick people.

That evening they brought to him many who were possessed with demons; and he cast out the spirits with a word, and cured all who were sick.
 
This was to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah, “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” Mt 8:16–17 NRSV

We see many miraculous healings in this church.

What is the result? Hundreds of Muslims are converting to Jesus.

What is the truth?

There is only one God, the almighty Creator and the Father of Jesus Christ.

There is no other God. There is no other eternal reality.

There is no other way to God. We must experience and release the power and love of God.

Otherwise most of the people around us will be lost.

What is truth?

 In today's world, our minds are overwhelmed and confused. The current opinions and discoveries of science determine our world view, although many people are now sceptical of climate science.

What the great thinkers of the past taught is, in many people's eyes, long outdated and no longer relevant.

Many consider the mainstream media somewhat reliable. Others think the opposite.

They believe what politicians or newspapers claim is nothing but lies. These people firmly believe in unconfirmed conspiracy theories.

But as I see it, we are inundated with opinions and alleged facts. Is everything in the mainstream media true? Of course, it isn't. But is everything false? Really?

Are all conspiracy theories false? No. Are they all true? Nonsense!

Some claim that the Antichrist will be a Muslim. Others claim the Antichrist will be King Charles of England. Some claim the Antichrist could be Bill Gates.

Are all conspiracy theories true? Simply impossible, because one theory excludes others.

A wise person does not believe everything, but he who believes nothing is not wise either.

The problem is that we cannot know infallibly what is true and what is false, regardless of whether the information comes from the mainstream media or from alternative sources.

Jesus lived in Israel 2000 years ago. For many modern and post-modern people, this means that the story of Jesus is a trivial legend.

But the Bible is still relevant. All over the world, there are 7 days in a week. One day is supposed to be a day of rest. It wasn't like that everywhere, and not always. 

The seven-day week comes from the Jewish scriptures, the first part of the Christian bible.

There are many religions in the world, but only a few so-called ‘great religions’.

Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The founders of the great religions claimed to teach eternal truth and reality. All were human, but all but one claimed to be only human.

Only one claimed to be God himself, Jesus Christ.

“You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”
“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” Jn 8:57–58 NIV

Many people have claimed to be God, but none has been recognised throughout the world as a great teacher.

In Islam, Jesus is said to be a great prophet. Many Hindus, Buddhists and humanists respect the teachings of Jesus, but they ignore what Jesus said about his identity.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Jn 14:6–7 NIV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Jn 11:25–26 NIV

No wise person can say this without being God himself.

Who was Jesus? A wise man? A wise man must be humble. Jesus said he was humble. A humble man does not say what Jesus said if it is not true.

I once heard a funny story. A man was visiting a psychiatric hospital.

    A patient came up to him and said:

Do you know who I am? I am Napoleon.
The visitor asked who had told him that.
The patient replied proudly, ‘God told me!’
Then a loud voice was heard from another patient: ‘I never told you that!’

Jesus was more than a great teacher of wisdom.  

Jesus was either a mentally ill egotist, or a brazen deceiver, or he was and is God's eternal Son.

Political Partisanship is Dangerous

 Are you a socialist? Careful. The devil is also a socialist.

Are you a conservative? Watch out! The devil is also conservative.

Are you an idealist who wants to save the environment, who believes in a new world order. The devil also marches in your movement.

Are you a nationalist who wants to save your nation through resistance. The devil also belongs to your party.

The devil manipulates us without ceasing. He stirs up dogmatism and contention everywhere.

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 

idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions… Galatians 5:19–20 NIV84

What do I see in political parties? Enmity, strife, ... discord, factionalism.

If we look too closely at the schemes of the devil in this world, we will be tempted to join in any religious or political movement. Then we become spiritually blinded so that we can no longer clearly perceive the truth of Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Many years ago my father was invited to join an anti Communist association. My father had no sympathy for communism, but he refused. Why? My father did not want to define himself by what he opposed.

I firmly believe in a government which encourages business enterprise and also actively cares for poor, sick or disadvantaged people.

Some politicians favour the strong but neglect the weak. Others want to care for the weak, but discourage enterprise. 

I am looking for leadership which is fair and balanced. I am often disappointed by what I see.

When we passionately fight for an ideology, our patriotism or idealism can become a false god without our realising it.

idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions. Galatians 5:20 NIV84

We see these unfortunate tendencies everywhere, unfortunately among many devout Christians.

Where do you fix your eyes, on the schemes of the Antichrist on earth, or on Jesus?

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1–2 NIV84

We have an election coming next month in Australia. I am finding it extremely difficult to practise what I preach at this time. 

It is so difficult to pray for national leaders when you see serious faults and corruption on both sides.

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 NIV84

Voting is a trial if you live truth, justice and mercy. I usually find I must vote for the lesser evil. That can be a difficult decision.

YOU CAN HEAR GOD IF YOU REALLY WANT TO

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." John 8:31-32 (NASB)  

Jesus was not talking only about reading and studying the Bible. 

• The Jewish Rabbis of the time knew the Jewish scriptures by heart, word for word but many did not recognise Jesus as the Messiah promised in the very scriptures they studied.

You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. John 5:39-40 (NKJV)  

Jesus was the Living God walking the earth as a man. 

He was constantly speaking as God to anyone who would listen in faith.

God is still speaking today. 

• As He sent Jesus to be born in Bethlehem, so now He has sent His Holy Spirit to speak to anyone who is willing to listen in faith.

You can study the Bible all your life and miss what God is saying to you. 

You can go to the best churches and hear the best preachers and not hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. 

• The person sitting next to you in the same meeting may hear the voice of God clearly but you can miss it.

There was a woman in Iran who was open to hear from the true and living God. She had lived her life as a Muslim but her heart was hungry for something more. She watched a Christian TV program beamed to her house by satellite. She was so thirsty for freedom that she risked prosecution, as many do, by having a satellite TV receiver dish on her roof.

The preacher quoted the words of Jesus from Revelation.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Rev 3:20 (NKJV)  

She longed to know God. She believed. 

• She went to her front door and opened it. She saw Jesus standing there and invited Him to come in. She offered him some food and He ate with her. 

  • From that moment she was a new person, a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, willing to risk her life in an oppressive Muslim country.

If you read the Bible with an open heart, Jesus will speak to you, probably not with an audible voice and possibly not in a vision but your spirit will come alive to the loving heart of God speaking through His words.