The Need for a Revelation
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GUEST ARTICLE
The Need for a Revelation
by John Thiesen
From the earliest times of human history, men have
sought God. There seems to be in humankind an
innate need to look to a higher power and to know
the Creator.
In this search for God, people do not have to look
far to see that God exists. Nature is a great
teacher in this respect: "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). God's
creative power, benevolence, order; and love of
beauty are all painted on the canvass of nature.
However, there are many things about God which
nature cannot show us. For example, it does not
reveal God's plans for us, nor His will for us.
Nature does not tell us what to do to be saved
from our sins or how to worship God. It does not
reveal God's past dealings with our forefathers;
neither does it tell about future things such as
heaven, hell, or the judgment day. To know these
things about which nature is silent, we need a
revelation from God.
Many attempts have been made to find God in
various ways, all of which have failed. Some have
turned to worshipping nature itself, but that is
serving the creature rather than the creator (Rom.
1:25). Others have carved, molded, or engraved
images to worship, but these have no breath in
them and are unable to see, hear, speak, walk, or
to do anything to help the worshippers. Others
have tried philosophy and meditation, but these
have also failed because "it is not in man that
walketh to direct his steps" (Jer. 10:23).
At various times in history God has revealed
Himself through inspired prophets and apostles by
miracles, dreams, visions, and signs. These men of
God spoke by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2
Pet. 1:21).
In the fullness of time, God sent His own Son, who
is the ultimate revelation of the invisible God.
God "was manifest in the flesh, justified in the
Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the
Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up
into glory" (1 Tim. 3:16). In times gone by, God
spoke to the fathers by the prophets, but now
"hath in these last days spoken unto us by his
Son" (Heb. 1:1,2).
This revelation has been deposited into permanent,
written form in the Holy Scriptures. The Bible
contains the history of God's appearances and work
in the world, His laws, His teachings, and the
life story of His Son and Savior of the world,
Jesus Christ the Son of God. When we read,
believe, and obey these Scriptures, eternal life
will be ours. "But these are written, that ye
might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
God; and that believing ye might have life through
His name" (Jn. 20:31).
Thanks to The Voice of Truth International, Vol
19.
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