Finding God

When telling people that Jesus is the only way to Heaven, some ask...

What about the isolated Buddhist?

Or...

What about those in remote tribes in Africa?

Wouldn’t it be impossible for them to hear about Jesus?

The Buddhist is told Buddha is the only master.

The wisdom of a man vs. God’s wisdom.

We all face that obstacle in finding truth.

While the Buddhist has to reject the wisdom of one man and one religion,

we have many men and many religions that we have to reject to find God’s truth.

The Buddhist is told that the world is not created and ruled by God.

We are told the same thing.

We have to look to the heavens that declare the glory of God

and know there is a creator God and seek to find His truth.

We have God’s law written in our heart and our conscience so that we are without excuse.

Is it any easier for you or me to believe than for the Buddhist??

Is it any easier for you or me to seek and find truth??

How do any of us come to know God??

Psalms 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork.

Romans 2:15 God’s law is written in our hearts and our conscience also bears witness.

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Isaiah records God’s humorous thoughts on the foolishness of worshipping idols, Buddha for instance.

Isaiah 44

Hebrews 11:6 …he who comes to God must believe that God is, and that God is a rewarder of them who diligently seek him.

How does God reward those who seek Him? By letting them come to know Him.

Examples in Scriptures:

(This is not a complete list, just examples of each.)

A. God sends someone:

1. Philip and the eunuch – Acts 8:26-39

The eunuch was reading scripture and he didn’t understand what he was reading. God sent Philip to explain the scripture. The eunuch was reading Isaiah and Philip told him that Christ was the fulfillment of that prophecy.

2. Rhahab and the two spies – Joshua 2 and 6:20-25

Rhahab was a Gentile in the city of Jericho. She was also a prostitute. She had heard of the God of Israel. She had heard of the show of God’s power and how through these mighty works, God had delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Joshua sent two spies to Jericho. Rhahab hid the spies and asked them to save her. She told them that she believed that their God was the God in heaven above and the earth below. When the Israelites destroyed Jericho, Rhahab was saved alive.

3. Ruth – The book of Ruth

Naomi and her family went to Moab because of the famine in Israel. Ruth came to know Naomi’s God and He prepared Boaz’s heart to accept her as his wife.

B. God sends the one seeking to one with the answers:

1. Saul/Paul and Ananias — Acts 9

2. Cornelius and Peter – Acts 10

Cornelius was a Centurion in the Italian band.

God sent Cornelius to Peter to learn the truth of who He is.

C. God prepares the witness:

1. God prepared Peter (through a vision) to receive Cornelius.

2. God prepared Ananias (through a vision) to receive Saul/Paul.

D. God can speak to us through an angel:

1. Joshua - Joshua 5:13-15

2. Zechariah - Zechariah 2

3. An angel appeared to Mary – Luke 1:26-37?

4. An angel appeared to Zacharias – Luke 1:5-25,57-80

5. John saw an angel fly in the midst of heaven,

having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth,

and to every nation, kindred, tongue and people,

Saying with a loud voice,

Fear God, and give glory to him; because the hour of his judgment is come:

and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Revelation 14:6

E. God sends a dream:

1. God spoke to Joseph (son of Israel) in dreams. Genesis 37:1-11

2. An angel appeared to Joseph (carpenter, husband of Mary) in a dream three times.

Matthew 1:20-21, 2:13, 2:19-20

F. God speaks directly to someone:

1. God initially spoke to Moses from the burning bush. Exodus 3:1-4:17

Then spoke to him many times after that.

2. Jesus spoke to Saul/Paul on the road to Damascus. Acts 9:1-9

G. Through his written Word, the Bible.