08/01/2021
When we seek God, and Jesus Christ we find them. They do not hide from us, nor do they shield us from the knowledge of them, but when we come to know who they are we must accept the truth that we receive. In the world there are many who twist the truth of not only worldly things, but they deny and twist heavenly truths as well. In this way they doom themselves, and attempt to lead others astray, but for those who fully accept the true knowledge of God and Jesus there lies an abundance of grace and peace.
“May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”
2 Peter 1:2 ESV
Jesus and God reveal themselves to us readily. Not only do they do so by knocking at our door, but they stand at this door, which opens in both directions, and await our knock as we seek them. They will open the door to welcome us in, just as we open the door to them. So we seek them, and they seek us too…
““Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8 ESV
And, they will also knock and come into us when we open this selfsame door to them.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
Revelation 3:20 ESV
There may be mysteries in faith, but how we come to know God, and Jesus Christ isn’t one of them… we simply knock at their door, or answer the door when they do so. Their divine truths are then revealed clearly to us. So why is it that knowing them, and knowing their truths, do we turn away by denying them, suppressing their truths, or misrepresent them in blasphemous ways? We know the consequences of such actions, and yet we are tempted and deceived by Satan and our own sensual desires into unrighteousness.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
Romans 1:18-21 ESV
Our salvation is like the door that leads us to know God, and Jesus, it swings towards us as they knock and call out to us, and it swings inward towards them as they open the door Themselves, and welcome us. They welcome us, but we must accept them, and we must acknowledge the truth we hear.
However, sin, the unrighteous temptations of the world, and sensual desires, are strong adversaries of truth, and righteousness. We weigh them in our fleshy hands, and try to smooth the difficulties in following God’s truth by twisting His truth, and denying the commandments that are hard for us to navigate as we seek to indulge ourselves in bodily pleasure. Suddenly we find that the abominations before God are called acceptable, and the commandments He has demanded of us have become negotiable.
“Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
James 1:13-15 ESV
So how do we receive the abundance of grace and peace we are promised in God? We do so by immersing ourselves in the Word of God, the gospel of Jesus, and by acknowledging their truth. We do so through unceasing prayer as we ask God to strengthen us in our faith, to remove us from temptation, and to increase us in understanding Him as we seek righteousness in all aspects of our lives. Are we ready to know God and Jesus, to accept their commandments and truths? Are we prepared to obey as we should?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for making the way to you easily travelled, and for answering our knock at your door as we seek you. Thank you Lord for coming to us when we are lost, and knocking on every door as you search for us. Help us Father in our unbelief, and strengthen us in our faith. Make us worthy and righteous as we resist temptation, and obey your commandments. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who loves us, and seeks us out to save us. Praised be your name for every door that opens to you, and for answering each knock as we search for you. Merciful are you Father because you sent Jesus to redeem us while we were yet sinners, and standing behind closed doors. Steady our resolve Father as we stand firm in your truths, uphold as sin those things you call abominations, and obey your commandments. Wash us pure and clean in the blood of Christ as we enter at your threshold, and find us worthy to know you, call you Father, and receive your grace and peace forevermore.
Rich Forbes