Seeking Truth

Have you ever watched a small child putting together a puzzle? Sometimes the child will take a small piece, put it in a larger space, and declare that it fits. From your experience, you know that fitting requires more than just laying flat against a board. In truth, fitting means snapping exactly with the pieces around it. So you lovingly show the child what fitting means.

In the same way, our heavenly father patiently teaches us truth. We have some concept of truth from nature—objects fall due to gravity, sunlight beaming through a prism splits into various colors, and lightening flashes before you hear thunder. But our understanding of truth is incomplete. Contrast this with God, who designed the world and spoke it into being. He understands the physical realm as well as the spiritual realm. The spiritual realm is not obvious to us, yet it exists and affects our daily lives. God understands it perfectly, like he does the physical realm.

Despite our vast scientific knowledge, our understanding of the world is small. The more scientists study, the more questions they have. The layers of God’s knowledge are infinitely deep. So, if we want to understand the hows and the whys of life, we must search for truth.

“It is the glory of God to conceal things but the glory of kings is to search things out.”

Proverbs 25:2

How should we search for truth?

If you read an informative book, one way to learn more would be to talk with the author. God is the author of life. So talking to God, listening for his answer, and reading the Bible are ways to search out truth. Talking to wise people is another great way. We learn about the character of God through our life’s experiences and those of others.

In addition to knowing where to look for God, knowing how is just as important. Our attitudes mean everything to God.

Consider two children who need help. If one demands your help and has a stinky attitude towards you, you will probably not teach that child much. But if another child comes to you genuinely seeking your input, that child will learn much. God wants us to highly desire his input and his righteousness. To me, this hunger for righteousness is more important than one’s intelligence.

Consider the prophet Samuel when he was searching for God’s choice for the next king of Israel. (I Samuel 16:1-13) God did not select the man who looked kingly to Samuel. Rather, God looked at hearts and chose David. (I Samuel 16:7) God is more impressed with genuine faith in him than in our social status. After all, whatever we might take pride in—good looks, nice bank accounts, intelligence—ultimately comes from him.

If you are having trouble hearing from God, take a look at your heart. Remove any obstacles that might be there (pride, selfishness, etc). But, at the same time, realize that God doesn’t work on our time table. Sometimes, he waits for another piece of life’s tapestry to be put in place before he speaks.

The key to searching for truth is to keep seeking God. Attach to his vine (join God’s family) and remain there.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things (earthly needs) will be added to you.”

Matthew 6:33

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:1-5

Simple, yet profound. The secret to an abundant life is to join with the one who created life and to live the way he says. Too often we are consumed with going our own way, to be our own person. But living contrary to God’s laws brings misery. He knows how life is designed to work. You would be in trouble if you tried to fly an airplane contrary to the way it was designed. Harmony comes when we live within the bounds of God’s design. God didn’t give us laws to frustrate us, but to show us how his design works.

When we go our own way, we cut ourselves off from the vine. Joy comes from living in a harmonious relationship with God, which is why we were created. Verse 11 says, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

Living inside a love relationship with God, where you know you are loved completely despite your flaws, brings joy. And joy is the deep-seated sense of well-being; everything will ultimately be okay because God is in control. (Thanks, Chad.) You are loved, and God has your back.

So pursue the truth. There is a right and a wrong. Choosing to live rightly in God’s eyes is how we pursue truth. Ask God to reveal truth to you, and listen. When he does reveal truth, act on it.

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

John 4:23-24

Do you desire God to seek you? Pray to him, and hold him in the place of holy reverence that he deserves.