Most true followers of Christ are so confident and self-assured in their faith and trust in the message of the Gospel, that they have a difficult time understanding how another person could reject that message.
The believer looks at the complexity and beauty and majesty of the world about us and we declare the obvious, that it’s the creation of God. Then the Bible again and again affirms that conclusion, stating unambiguously that “men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,” are clearly “without excuse;” because “what may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead.”
We shake our heads and throw our hands up in frustration as six billion residents of this earth somehow fail to see things as clearly as we do. And we wonder why. But last week, in the midst of a sermon on the Magi’s following of the Christmas star, my Pastor stated a principle of truth, which in its simplicity, provides an explanation for every unbelievers’ unbelief. “If you don’t know what you’re looking for, you won’t know what you’re looking at.”
2000 years ago every Jewish man and woman living in the “Promised Land”, whether religious leader, political bigwig, simple carpenter, farmer, fisherman, tax collector or housewife, each Sabbath attended synagogue and should have had a good familiarity with the Scriptures that they heard recited and discussed. They all should have been looking for the foretold signals of their Messiah’s Coming. But even the “Chosen People” let their family lives, their daily needs and worries, their know-it-all attitudes of religious superiority, their desires for power, wealth, comfort or prestige distract them.
In contrast, a few men from a distant land with a yen to understand the universe about them, were drawn to investigate this new star that suddenly appeared in the heavens. I imagine when they first noticed the unusual star, it was their curiosity and thirst for knowledge that drove them to research its source and meaning and purpose. And at some point they concluded it was a sign from God that they had to pursue.
As 2016 draws to an end, signs of God’s glory are all around us; as are the coming to pass of events long ago prophesied, and the unveiling of each person’s purpose on this earth. Those who know what they are looking for, recognize what they are looking at. Whereas those who choose to turn a blind eye to the truth set before them, will never recognize the significance of what they’re looking at.
The unbeliever is in a real pickle, as he’s imprisoned within walls of unbelief that he personally constructed. The only thing that will break down those prison walls is that first humble step of acknowledgement that “I don’t know everything; I want to know the truth; show me.” And only the unbeliever can, of his own free will, take that step. Scriptures say: “Seek and you will find;” but most out of pride will neither read the Book which contains that promise nor acknowledge its Author.