The song ‘Good Good Father’ begins with the words, “Oh, I’ve heard a thousand stories of what they think You’re like.” There are many versions of Jesus going around the world. Which one are you believing in? Do you know the real Jesus?
Some non-Christians feel very confused when they see the number of denominations in Christianity. Which is the real church? Who follows the Lord Jesus Christ completely and truly?
A House Divided
Mark 3:25 says, “And if a house is divided (split into factions and rebelling) against itself, that house will not be able to last.”
Matthew 12:25 says, “And knowing their thoughts, He said to them, Any kingdom that is divided against itself is being brought to desolation and laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will last or continue to stand.”
The Lord Jesus said in John 13:35, “By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].”
We need to ask ourselves why do we see differences, division and separation among those who say they follow the Lord Jesus and uphold His teachings?
Seek and You will Find
Jeremiah 29:13 says, “Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
Amos 5:4 says, “For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: Seek Me [inquire for and of Me and require Me as you require food] and you shall live!”
We need to seek Him with more urgency as a ‘vital necessity,’ something we need for our very life, the way we require food. The Lord longs for us His children to seek Him.
The Spirit of Truth
John 16:13 says, “But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth).” He has provided a Teacher for those who seek Him.
He has sent the Holy Spirit to teach us and help us understand the Truth. John 14:26 says, “But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.“
A Journey of Seeking the Truth
I remember how my journey of knowing the Lord began 20 years back. I had faced crushing failure in my life and had many questions in my mind. I had to find out what went wrong and why I was suffering the way I did. At that point of time, thankfully I did something right! I had a hunger within that could not be pacified so I began to read God’s Word.
I remember saying a simple prayer, ‘Lord I don’t want to know You from what others say about You. I want to know You the way You really are. Dear Holy Spirit, You inspired the writers who wrote the books in the Bible, You teach me Your Word. Help me understand it, the way You wrote it and the way You meant it to be understood.”
I began to read the Books of Wisdom in the Bible first since I had many questions. I read one chapter a day. I was soon to realize that the Bible actually has all the answers to the questions we have about life, relationships, money, power, fortune, good and evil and more! I got hooked on to the Bible and it was the best thing that happened to me!
The Word of God – The Remedy
Soon I learned the value of beginning the day with the Word of God and ending the day with a Word from God. It gave me great peace of mind and heart considering all the turmoil I was in. It helped me sleep better and gave me a grounding I did not have in my life. God’s Word became the foundation of my life.
There were times when I lost count of time and kept reading for hours in the night. Reading the Bible led me to understand God and His heart better. He was not some distant ‘entity’ or ‘power’ He became a ‘Person’ – Someone Who loved me immensely and Someone I could love back without restrain. Someone Who would never cheat me, hurt me or lie to me. I learned I am perfectly safe with Him.
A Time to Heal & a Time to Break Down
As I learned the Truth from the Lord himself, healing took place inside my wounded and broken heart. It also meant that I reached a point where I had to separate myself from old habits, patterns of thinking and activities that did not hold any meaning for me anymore. I had to search my heart for hurts, wounds and forgive those who were responsible for them. I had to release them to the Lord.
I had to question my own motives for thinking the things I did and let go of those things that did not align with God’s Word and His standards. The Holy Spirit is such a thorough ‘Gentleman’ that He brings about these changes so suttly and gently that it doesn’t feel difficult. I looked back after some years and realized that I had changed! ‘Wow! When did that happen?” I thought with amazement. I was so thankful to the Lord for plucking out the thorns embedded in my soul that were causing me so much pain.
A Time to Unite
I keep thinking about how much it would grieve our Lord’s heart that Christians who say they follow Him do not concur about the interpretations of His teachings and the standards He upholds. How much it must grieve our Lord when He sees division inside the Church, the Body of Christ.
Ephesians 5:27 says, “That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless].” When Jesus returns He wants the church to be His spotless bride! When He returns will He find her so?
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:3, 4 saying, “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.”
Do You Really Want to Know the Truth?
The only way to know the Lord is through His Word and by studying the personal example of Jesus Christ Himself. We can learn from all that He said and did. We can ask the Lord to reveal the truth about why He did the things He did and follow His example. This is the only way to know the Truth about Him.
Jesus promised us that if we seek Him, He will meet up with us. He said in John 14:23, “If a person [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching]; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him.”
The Fruits of Seeking & the Reward
How blessed it is to learn from the Holy Spirit Himself! To receive revelations and inside information about what the Lord is doing around the world in this time is the greatest privilege that is available only for those who have allowed the Lord Jesus and His Father to make their home within them. There are more privileges – He protects, He guides, He leads, He corrects, He teaches, He provides and takes care of everything for His beloved child. He does better than any earthly father, family member or friend could ever do!
Jesus said, “Because you have guarded and kept My word of patient endurance [have held fast the lesson of My patience with the expectant endurance that I give you], I also will keep you [safe] from the hour of trial (testing) which is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell upon the earth. I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one may rob you and deprive you of your crown.” Revelation 3:10,11
The Joy Set Before Us
Our Lord Jesus has given us His assurance that no matter what happens in the world, whether there are trying times or times of disruption, it will be well with us. Moreover, what a great joy to know that when we finish our time on earth, we will leave this world to enter His presence for eternity!!
Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ, please do everything you can to know Jesus the way He truly is. The journey is worth it, you will never regret it. It is time all the churches in the Body of Christ truly honored the Lord by teaching His Truth the way the Holy Spirit teaches it while upholding His heart, His standards and values in all we do, for our Lord is truly worthy of all honor and praise. Glory to our LORD GOD!
Henrietta Decruz
Henrietta is a writer, singer-songwriter and social worker based in Kerala, India. Having encountered God closely through life's many ups and downs, she has a passion to use her God-given talents for His glory and to see social change across her nation.
