Since I was a very young teen, I have searched diligently for truth. It has been a driving force in my life and as such has brought me many sorrows, joys, ponderings and travails. It has not been an easy road but it has certainly been a worthwhile journey. I have, in the process buried myself in books, studied foreign languages, been pushed, prodded and punished by others and been hailed as hero when I discovered a missing piece of the God puzzle. Paul considered his similar meanderings to be “filthy rags” and in the end, just like Solomon, I also concluded that the truth is really just very simple. If it previously seemed complex, it is I, and not God who made it so.In the following posts, I write only of things of which I am fully persuaded. If I am not I will certainly try to say so. Since our walk to perfection in Christ is not always clear, I cannot speak definitively of many, many things. As the scriptures say, “for now we see through a glass darkly”. Because I do in fact see through a clouded glass there is very little I can speak about dogmatically except the grace, mercy and truth of Jesus Christ.
I urge you to devote your life to the pursuit of truth. It will seem at times a muddied swamp but it is out there. Winston Churchill once said, “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened.” I have found this to be sadly true. Words can sometimes be like a stone that causes a person to stumble or be offended. I am much better now at allowing myself the proper space and time to investigate any stone that causes my stumbling. I used to just chuck them over my shoulder and then continue on my own way. Now I pick them up; turn them over, study them closely and seek out their truth. If they do prove to be false when exposed to the pure message of Christ then I reject that stone but I am much more cautious in my rejection now because I have found that the stone that causes my stumbling may in fact be the cornerstone of the temple of God itself.
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 1 Peter 2:7-8
It is simply not possible two persons will ever see eye to eye on all things. We are all too different and have differing perspectives. I do not expect you, the reader, and I, the writer, will ever see completely eye to eye on every point of which I write. I ask of you, the reader, that you seek God and His Christ with all of your heart and strength. Before accepting my words, or your own presumptions, compare them with Christ’s original message. He is the author and finisher of my faith and only He knows all of the answers.
It is also not in my power to grant life or death, salvation or condemnation, and I am more than pleased it is not in my hands to do so. It is not possible I can lay any sort of judgment at the feet of another person as One much greater than I fulfills this task. I am happy it is in His much more capable hands because I am quite certain I would probably get it all wrong.
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. But we speak wisdom among them that are mature: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nothing: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him. But God has revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, except the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:1-16
Note: On October 25,2004 I put a free e-book on this website. The first few posts are remnants of that document but I have learned a great deal since that date and most of that document was chopped out and disposed of. I have discovered that Jesus Christ is truly a man of mercy and grace, not the man of condemnation I had once thought. Thr previous document reflected only negativity and pridefulness and no longer seemed fitting for public view. Having an e-book format also allowed no method of feedback. I do not profess to know it all and I sincerely welcome your comments. Please feel free to comment as you wish or e-mail me privately.
