There is an amazing thing that happens with the sacred scriptures. Words written to instruct or help a people in a certain time can and do have the power to speak in an equally important way to another people in a completely different situation and a different age.
John uses the words that Isaiah had given to illustrate the accurate condition of the people of Jesus´s day. In John 12: 37-50 he shows that writings from the Living Word have that kind of power and we should celebrate the fact. It is completely fitting that words from the almighty God would also have the same qualities of everlasting and transcending of knowledge.
Our attitude to scriptures should be like our attitude towards all things divine, in that we never set limitations. We are creatures so susceptible to forming conceptions based on the accumulated knowledge and experience we have already attained. This is our nature and we call it intelligence. However, God we have not seen and we have not walked those golden heavenly streets that lie in His spiritual kingdom. Therefore we cannot say with all honesty that we can wrap our understandings completely around the issues of God and would do well not to try.
It is commendable, if perhaps a rare occasion in current religion, to lift up the concepts and issues that deal with the spiritual and the heavenly. When we consider God or religion, we should always attempt to actually and consciously pass every ounce of that before the big heart of God. Always try not to pass judgment ourselves, but hold it up to Jesus and take the instruction only as a response from Him.
Imagine you are faced with a religious issue like the state of the dead. Many people hold their personal views and each would defend theirs strongly. They are sure to use their studies of the Bible to prove and defend their point. This could be a great waste of our time as the answer really lies in Jesus. We would be far more productive if we would spend those precious moments in drawing nearer to Him and listening for His verdict and His voice than we if turn aside to quarrel.
So then, if we are able to see scriptures in this light, it is quite possible that at the same moment that John was describing the people of his day, he can be describing the condition of the hearts and churches of our day at the same time.
Wouldn´t you say that we are a people to whom revelations and the message of Christ had reached? Don´t you think that it seems that our eyes have been blinded or our hearts hardened against the true digesting and believing of Jesus. We say with our lips that we should be like the poor lambs described in the beatitudes, but at the same time we are really puffing ourselves up with self-righteousness or greed.
Didn´t Jesus tell us to come to Him before all things? Then why do we come only when it is convenient, then rush off to dedicate ourselves to our own busy lives. Wouldn´t we all agree that Jesus asked us to come to Him with our very hearts and souls and hand them over to Him? How many of us have gone that far? We cannot seem to force ourselves to give up even the least of our smallest comforts or possessions.
If we would be honest with ourselves, we would see that it is impossible for us to say that we put God before ourselves. We say it in words and perhaps hope somewhere in our heart that it is true. But do we go so far as to see it happen. Have we knelt at Jesus´ feet until we received His verdict and His reassurance directly from Him? I think far too often we accept it as fact because someone told us that it is done. Many people believe that by professing Christ as King all these issues are instantly settled for us and that we simply need to be completely convinced in our own minds. They say this is what faith is.
Unfortunately faith does not have its¨ foundation in strong notions or human intelligence. Faith finds its´ roots in the character of God. God lives outside the realm of our mental capabilities and limited understanding. If we were capable of placing such limits upon Him, He would not be God and for sure not worthy of worshiping Him. But God is bigger and God is more wonderful and amazing that we can hope to imagine. Therefore It is truly worthy of our praise and we do owe Him are all.
That is why we should pay attention when we read of Jesus saying that there is One who will judge whether or not we have taken His instruction to heart, and done what it takes to follow Him. God never in the history of the church or the Bible, asked for men to be simply convinced in their minds. This is an attitude and characteristic we hold today. He asked for people to draw near to Him in spirit and actually with their whole heart.
Don´t you think it is time that we all spent a general and great effort of digging past the daily actions and thoughts of modern religion. Wouldn´t it be nice if each of us would bow before Jesus without trace of keeping anything for themselves. Couldn´t we really afford to make Jesus our goal for today and not for tomorrow? Many will be disappointed in that day of tomorrow because they set their hearts on it and forgot to give attention to today.
This is what Jesus asked for. He is the truth and He is the Light. In Him is life eternal. The issue for us today is whether or not we are ¨in¨ Him. You can say you are, but then you are being the judge. Jesus says in our text that there is One who will judge and it is not us. Wouldn´t you like to draw near and hear His lips give the actual and honest verdict today?
There is a place to go and there is a person to seek. There is a voice and it is a kind and friendly one. Jesus Christ is alive and very much on top of His duties and concerns of His Kingdom. His kingdom is not limited as ours and has spiritual qualities, He is interested in the hearts and souls of men, not just their intellect.
So when He asks for our all, let us seek Him and His power, to show us how and help us do just what He asks. In this manner, He becomes our way and we would want nothing else. To follow Christ this hard and to seek Him this intently, we bring glory and honor to His name and we learn to hear His voice.
Scott W
Searching For Christ 
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