Is This Real?

One of my students, in all honesty, confessed that she did not want to spend time praying, meditating, or reading Scripture if it wasn't "real."  By that question, of course, we would have to include church attendance, following the 'law' given to us by Jesus, or any other religious or spiritual practice we might name.

Actually, Jesus answered this question Himself:  If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own (Jn. 717).

In other words, the pre-condition for being able to know the truth is willingness to obey God.  Without that, we will never know whether Jesus' words are true or not:  He who belongs to God hears what God says.  The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God (Jn.8:47).

Studying the Scriptures could, and often does, take a lifetime.  And they will give us wisdom, knowledge, and understanding; they will keep us from the crooked paths and preserve our lives (cf. Proverbs 1-3 and Wisdom 1&2).  But until we "belong to God," we will not comprehend the Truth.  Jesus told the Scholars of the Law:  And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me.  You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.  You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life.  These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life (Jn. 5:37-40).

Knowing what is real and true requires worship, adoration, prayer, connection with the Living God, and with the One He has sent, Jesus Christ.  Only the author of the Scriptures can open them to us, shine on them the light of illumination.  After His resurrection, He was able to "open their minds," and the disciples said, "Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke?" 

To have an experience of God, we need to (1) believe that He exists, and (2) that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Heb. 11:6).  We have to trust that Jesus IS the "author and perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2), and that if we come to Him, He will give us everything we need -- including the assurance of Truth in what we believe.

Is this real?  We will never know whether it is or not unless we bow down before the Lord who made heaven and earth and receive from Him the word of Truth, the Word that is alive and has the power to cut through the thoughts of our minds and hearts.