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Searching
for God?
People
of all ages and from all walks of life search for God. Some
wonder if he exists, while others believe he does, but aren't
quite sure how to connect with Him. If you're searching for
God, you might be asking yourself how. How does one go about
the divine quest for an invisible God?
We'd
like to help you. We're excited about your search because
it says that you're hungry for more. We believe that hunger
inside you was planted by a Father God who loves you and has
been pursuing you far longer than you could imagine. The following
questions, intended to probe your heart and mind, may help
you identify-and find-what you're looking for.
1.
Why do you want to know God?
Some people search for God because they want to lead to a
more fulfilling life or attain a greater sense of purpose.
Others look for relief from their pain. Still others search
for truth. What motivates your search for God?
You
should be aware of your reasons because you may be looking
for the wrong thing. Perhaps, for example, you desire greater
happiness. You may find God, but if your circumstances don't
lead you to the sense of happiness you're looking for, you
may feel disillusioned. While believers report that God gives
them greater joy and purpose in life, they will tell you that
occasionally they wrestle with difficulties, as well. In your
search, when you ask yourself-What am I looking for?-it may
help to ask yourself the flipside of that question-What does
God offer me?
The
Bible is a book of covenants, full of promises for your life.
God has everything you need, but He may not give you exactly
what you expected. We want to encourage you to expect the
unexpected. Make it your goal to find God, no matter how your
quest unravels.
2.
Are you placing limitations on God?
When two people fall in love, they don't marry with the intention
to ignore each other's wishes after the wedding ceremony.
Marriage involves commitment and adjusting priorities to build
a new life together. When newlyweds establish their residence,
for example, they talk about the furnishings that will make
their house a home. In the same way, when you search for God,
you need to open yourself to his input. He may want to rearrange
a few things when He moves in.
Of
course, some people are fearful that God wants to throw out
all the furniture and condemn their house as uninhabitable.
Nothing could be further from the truth, though. God created
us to enjoy a meaningful relationship with him and with each
other. Through the Bible, God tells us that he wants us to
take pleasure in our lives in a way that's in line with his
purpose for us. The real question is-Do you realize that
God wants to be a powerful presence in your life, not just
an idea in your head?
Some
people credit intellectual reasoning for their unbelief and
rejection of God and his Word. In truth, though, they're not
willing to give up some activity they know is opposition to
God. If that's you, you need to know that God will take you
as you are, but he doesn't want to leave you as you are. He
wants you to let him make you into what he wants you to be.
3.
What do you think about Jesus?
Most people think the proper order of inquiry is first to
decide if there is a God (a philosophical question) and then
to figure out who Jesus is (a historical question). But another
and possibly more exciting way would be the reverse order.
You might discover that when you deal with the person of Jesus,
you find answers to many of your other questions at the same
time.
Consider
this reality: Jesus is the most influential person in history.
He changed this course of world history. How can any serious
spiritual search overlook Him? For example, today's date is
based on a reckoning that hinges on Jesus' life. Because of
him, people were moved to split world history into two eras
-"before Him" and "after Him" (B.C. and
A.D.). And according to the Bible, until a person comes to
terms with Jesus, he or she hasn't dealt with the issue that's
most important in starting a relationship with God.
What
do I have to do to live forever?
Accept Jesus as your forgiver and your God. See John chapter
6, verse 40: "For my Father's will is that everyone who
looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life,
and I will raise Him up at the last day."
How
can I experience meaning and purpose in life?
By following Jesus and by cultivating your relationships with
God and with other people. Matthew 22, verses 37-40 says:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your mind." This is the first
and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love
your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang
on these two commandments."
4.
How will you respond to Jesus?
It's not enough to intellectually agree with Jesus' claims.
If you read the Bible and recognize Jesus as the true Son
of God, a man who walked the earth, lived a perfect life,
died, and rose again from the dead, you must choose to cross
the line of faith and receive him. This is a once-for-all
decision. A process follows, but you have to start by inviting
Him into your life and accepting that He paid the debt you
owe for your sin-a debt you could never pay yourself.
Salvation
in Jesus is a totally free gift, and receiving it is as easy
as saying, "Jesus, I acknowledge my sin and your payment
for it on the cross. I now ask you to be my forgiver and my
God." But you must respond personally and deliberately,
or the gift will remain unopened and unenjoyed.
Support
for the Search
Here are some practical considerations to guide you in your
spiritual search.
- Ask
God to reveal himself if you're not sure he's there.
- Read
the Bible - start with the New Testament, books of John,
Acts, and Romans.
- Talk
to people who display a genuine relationship with God -
those who obviously love Him and who live by a different
set of principles.
- Spend
time in nature, observing and experiencing God's creation.
- Question
things everybody seems to take for granted - be a lover
of truth.
- Ask
God-followers why they believe what they believe and how
they know their beliefs are true.
- Scour
the shelves at a Christian bookstore or church library for
books that may help you with your questions.
- Remember
that you don't have to know everything to know something.
- Act
on what you decide.
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