How can I find the sure way to be pleasing to God? How can I discern between all the organizations that claim to be “the church”? These questions perplex many people, but others are oblivious to the dangers of never knowing the right way to God or to His son Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, “I will build my church.” He did not say that He would establish dozens of religions or 5,000 or more denominational groups from which we may choose. Those who may claim to preach the truth will take their followers up to the verge of baptism, and then, they tell them to go join the “church of your choice.”
No one can just choose to “join” the church that Jesus built. The choice is that of obedience to the teaching of Jesus Christ. Jesus, then, adds to the church all who desire to follow Him in His kingdom. When one completely yields to Christ and becomes His true disciple, the Lord Jesus adds that person to His church.
Some may ask the question, “How can I find, know and understand who God is? How can I know the right way?” Those who ask these questions are usually directed to Matthew 7:7-8, which reads, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” It should further be pointed out that Colossians 1:15 says, “He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible image of God.
Those seeking to know, see and understand God should be directed to Hebrews 11:6, which reads, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
I would also suggest that all who seek to find God direct their questions to the Son of God Himself. In John 14:6-7, Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
I would, then, suggest to you that if you are seeking to become a disciple of Jesus Christ, if you have sought Jesus Himself, studied His life, absorbed His teachings and followed Him as a true disciple, when you have searched the Scriptures to gain faith, have laid hold of that faith and yield in full obedience to the will of God and His Son Jesus, then and only then, will Jesus add you to His church. Finally, you will know Christ and truly know God as well.
It is my prayer that you have already or will soon yield in obedience to all that Jesus has taught us by His life, death and resurrection. May you, then, truly know both the Father and the Son.
