Seeing, Hearing, and using one's Heart Three steps toward "Finding God"

And the disciples came, and said       unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?" Matthew 13:10 During the ministry of Jesus Christ, the Bible says He often taught those around Him "many things by parables," Mark 4:2.    The opening verse reflects one such occasion in which the disciples were compelled to ask "Why all the parables?" The parables of Christ were stories, allegories picturing spiritual truths, but perhaps, the disciples felt these truths could just as well be explained "in plain English." So in response to His disciples' question, Jesus Christ "Answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath..." Mat. 13:11-12 You may be scratching your head wondering what He meant.   But continuing further along the passage will clarify it:    "...Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand....For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should SEE WITH THEIR EYES and HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, and should UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART, and should be converted, and I should heal them." Mat. 13:13-15 The point Jesus was making is this: Those who

don't want to understand His parables never will. In the same sense, those who don't want to understand the things of God, or God Himself, never will, because: Whether or not a person finds God, has a lot to do with whether they WANT to find God. So, in a way, the parables served as a filter, a sieve, screening out those who truly wanted to learn more about God.   If anybody really wanted to learn what God had to say, all they had to do was pursue Christ and simply ask Him to explain the parable.    His disciples did just that: "All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them... Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, DECLARE UNTO US THE PARABLE of the tares of the field."   Mat. 13:34-36 God is approachable.   He is always willing to reveal Himself to anyone who is genuinely interested.   In another place the Bible says: "If any of you lack wisdom, LET HIM ASK OF GOD, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."   James 1:5 Now, the willingness and desire to find and know God involves the three "human faculties" mentioned by Christ in His response to His disciples.   He said that a person should, "...see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart..."   And there is a profound reason why He mentions: Seeing, Hearing, and using one's Heart . . .

"...behold with
thine eyes, and hear
with thine ears,
and set thine heart
upon all that I shall
shew thee..."
Ezekiel 40:4

DURING THE LORD'S earthly ministry,       anyone willing to see, could have easily       noted the miraculous healings taking place around them. Anyone willing to hear, had ample opportunity to listen to what Jesus had to say.   Anyone tender-hearted enough to admit their guilt before God, could have come to understand their desperate need of the Saviour.    These three "human faculties" play a vital role in the steps someone takes toward finding and knowing God, steps that are just as necessary today as they were during the time of Christ. Step One Seeing His handiwork . . . The first step toward finding and knowing God involves seeing creation as God's handiwork, thus acknowledging His existence.   Creation is God's general revelation.   The Bible says: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork."   Psalm 19:1 Many will try to hide behind science, claiming there is no need to invoke a Creator.   But the Bible warns, "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are CLEARLY SEEN, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE."   Rom. 1:20    How often does one hear the cry: "Prove to me that God exists," and yet the proof is readily all around us?   God proves His existence daily,

with every sunrise, every sunset, and everything else creation reveals throughout the day.   The path to knowing God begins with seeing the evidence of His existence.   One merely has to acknowledge creation for what it proves.   All a person has to do is "see."    Jesus asked those around Him, "Having eyes,        see ye not?" Mark 8:18        Step Two        Hearing His Words . . .        While creation reveals the        Creator, the Bible tells us        what He is like.   The Bible is        God's specific revelation to        man.   Once the eyes have        acknowledged that God        exists, the ears should take the next step, and listen to what He has to say. "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were WRITTEN FOR OUR LEARNING, that we through patience and comfort of THE SCRIPTURES might have hope."   Rom. 15:4 In fact, "hearing" is so important, that you can't even have faith unless you first hear what the Bible has to say.   One must hear the promises of God, before faith can act upon them.   For "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? ....So then FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, and hearing by the word of God."   Rom. 10:14,17 Sadly, some, having first set their sights upon God's creation, will stop there, and cover their ears to what the Bible has to say.   They might acknowledge God's existence, but they won't listen to what He has to say.   My friend, God is not mute.   He doesn't reveal Himself through

"And the eyes of
them that see shall
not be dim, and the ears
of them that hear shall
hearken.   The heart also of
the rash shall understand
knowledge..."
Isaiah 32:3-4

creation only to then stay silent.   God wants to be known, which requires that He be heard. That is why He has given us Creation AND the Bible--God's Word.   Jesus warned, "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear."   Mark 4:23 Step Three Understanding       with the heart . . . God's Holy Spirit convicts the heart of those having taken the first two steps.   The Holy Spirit quietly reaffirms the evidence of God's existence, as seen through the eyes, and reinforces the Words of God heard by the ears. Some, having seen and heard, refuse to take the final step and submit to the Holy Spirit's heart- felt calling.   But, the Bible warns: "To day if ye will hear his voice, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS" (Heb. 4:7).   Time does not allow a complete study of the Holy Spirit and His many offices.   But of all His duties, perhaps the most important one was stated by Jesus Christ, when He said: "And when he is come, HE WILL REPROVE THE WORLD OF SIN..." John 16:8 It is the Holy Spirit of God who exposes our sinful state and convicts us of our sin.   In Acts chapter two, after the Apostle Peter preached what God had to say to several thousand, the Bible says: "Now when they heard this, they were pricked IN THEIR HEART, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?   Then Peter said unto them, Repent..." (Acts 2:37-38). Repentance from our sinful ways is a necessary

part of finding and knowing God.   It is our sin that separates us from God, our Creator. Acknowledging and confessing the fact that we are lost, guilty sinners before God is necessary for one's salvation.   God wants us to see, hear,     and with a heart-felt     understanding, realize that we     need to be saved: "For this is     good and acceptable in the     sight of God our Saviour;     Who will have all men to be     saved, and to COME UNTO     THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE     TRUTH."   1 Tim. 2:3-4     God, the Lord Jesus Christ, is     the ONLY ONE who can save us.   He is the only One who has paid the price for our sin.   It was Jesus Christ who, "Loved us, and washed us from our sins IN HIS OWN BLOOD" (Rev. 1:5). Therefore, "...if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe IN THINE HEART that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. 10:9 My friend, what about you? Do you see the evidence of your Creator's existence?   Do you hear the words of both warning and hope found in His Word?   Have you ever come to a point in your life where the Holy Spirit has convicted you of your sin, and if you have, what was your heart-felt answer?   Please don't let the following be said of you:    "For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should BE CONVERTED, and I should heal them."   Acts 28:27

IF you were to die today, are you 100% SURE you would go to Heaven?   The Bible says YOU CAN BE SURE (1 John 5:13). BUT FIRST, you must realize that what keeps you from going to Heaven are your sins, because: "...your iniquities [sins] have separated between you and your God," Isaiah 59:2. In fact, in God's eyes YOU ARE A SINNER: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23. SECONDLY, you must realize that there is NOTHING you can do to save yourself and earn Heaven: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."   (Eph. 2:8-9)   Baptism, good deeds, church membership, self-righteousness are all examples of good works that cannot save you, because, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he [Christ] saved us," Titus 3:5. THE ONLY WAY you can get saved is through Jesus Christ.   He said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."   (John 14:6)   THAT'S WHY: "...while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."   Romans 5:8-9 THEREFORE: You must REPENT (change your mind); admit that you are a Hell deserving sinner and can't save yourself.   And call upon Christ, and Him alone, to save you.   "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [REPENT], and shalt believe in thine heart [TRUST] that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."   Romans 10:9 SEND THE LIGHT P.O. Box 815   Fargo, ND 58107

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