Many people today claim to be checking out, even “trying out” Jesus Christ.  They are looking for answers, and wonder if Jesus might be the answer for them.  Research has shown that their numbers are growing around the globe—rapidly, in some areas.  Given the perilous and perverse times in which we live, this should come as no surprise.  What IS a bit baffling is the high rate of failures to connect.  This seems rather strange, since the seeker wants to find Him and He very much wants to be found.  So, what’s the trouble?  Where’s the breakdown?

There are at least two readily apparent problems.  The first, is looking for Christ in all the wrong places.  He won’t be found in a manger.  The manger is empty.  Jesus is not there.  He’s no longer hanging on a criminal’s cross.  The cross is empty.  Jesus is not there.  Yes, His body was buried in a rich man’s grave.  But praise God, the tomb is empty!  Jesus is not there.

Sadly, there are multitudes who still haven’t heard of Jesus.  Their hearts, their minds and their lives are empty, because Jesus is not there.  Christians could help them by sharing the Gospel.  The tongues of God’s people should be filled with the good news about Jesus.  But all too often, their lips are empty.  Jesus is not there.

So, where is He?  During His earthly life, Jesus declared to the Jewish religious authorities who opposed Him, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” (John 5:39-40)

In other words, ‘You think that by reading God’s word and trying to keep it perfectly, you will be deserving of eternal life.  But those very scriptures point to, identify, and reveal Me.’  If you really want to find Me, your Messiah, open your eyes.  Abandon the path of self-righteousness.  Eternal life comes only through Me.  But you refuse to come to Me.’

Jesus underscored this in a post-resurrection encounter with two very downcast followers on their way back home from the big city of Jerusalem to the little village of Emmaus.  Jesus listened patiently while they explained the reason for their despondency—His own crucifixion!  When they finished the sad tale of their freshly dashed messianic hopes, Jesus, very much alive, chided them: 

“Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”  (Luke 24:25-27)

Jesus told these two in effect, that had they known and truly believed the holy scriptures, they would not only have expected the Messiah to come, but to suffer and die for the sins of the world, be buried and on the third day, be raised to life again.

This point is critical, and it is urgent, because according to God’s word, Jesus is coming again soon, for those who are His.  As with His first coming, God’s word gives us hundreds of clear prophecies about Jesus, unveiling who He is and the role He will play in the end times.  If we know and believe the scriptures, we won’t be shocked, dismayed or disheartened by current events.  Instead, our faith will be strengthened and our confidence in Jesus will grow, as we eagerly await His return.

I’m speaking of course, of the Jesus of the Bible, not some custom-made knock-off.  No substitutes accepted.  No others need apply.  That goes double for all of the speculative and spurious fakes, imitations, updates, ‘new and improved’ versions, recently rediscovered models, artificial inventions, near-death bungee jumps into paradise, and of course, the stuff of unbiblical dreams, visions, and personal revelations (please).

Jesus warned about all of this deceptive and deadly nonsense.  It was, in fact, at the top of His list of signs of the end times:

“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ [that is, ‘I am the Messiah’]; and shall deceive many.” (Matthew 24:3-5)

Jesus also predicted that the world would joyfully embrace one imposter in particular, who will fool “many”:

“I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” (John 5:43)  Most of the world is not looking for Jesus Christ, it is looking for Antichrist (meaning both against and in place of the true Christ).  Don’t make the same mistake.  It is far better to be eyes to the skies, looking for Jesus, than to be caught looking for someplace to hide from Jesus. 

The second major problem impacting the seeker success rate is lack of commitment to the goal.  God has made it clear that ‘certain terms and conditions apply.’  What are they?  Let’s listen.

“Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:12-13)

This principle appears many times in the Bible, such as Deuteronomy 4:29, “But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.”

Look carefully.  Notice that those who earnestly seek the Lord “call upon” Him [to save them from death and hell].  Note that they also “pray to [Him]” (for mercy and forgiveness of their sins).  See also that God promises to listen to the prayers of those whose whole being is surrendered to Him.

If you are seeking the Lord, are you doing so “with all your heart and with all your soul?”  Have you acknowledged Jesus as YOUR Savior, and confessed that He is Lord of YOUR life?  Have you repented of your sins, and accepted His gift of pardon, purchased with His own blood?  Or are you just going through the motions, insincere and unserious?

Do you want to be close to God?  Scripture says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you…” (James 4:8)  Have you drawn near to Him?  If you are by chance an unbeliever or perhaps a backsliding Christian hoping to find your way home, don’t let fear of a chilly reception stand in your way.  Jesus taught that the Father loves the prodigal son (or daughter) and is always ready to welcome and forgive.  He invites you to drop everything, every pretense, every excuse, every last ounce of pride, and come.  Come just as you are.  Come now.  These are His instructions and His personal assurances to you:

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)

What are you waiting for?  Start home.  You have my prayers every step of the way.  Yes, the hour is late.  But go ahead and knock.  He’s expecting you.  

HOW TO BE SAVED:

• Admit to God that you are a sinner (that you have not kept His moral law to perfection; in your thoughts, words, and actions you have done what His law forbids and have failed to do what His love demands).  This is seeing yourself from God’s point of view and agreeing that He is right about you.  Be as specific as you can.
• Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead.
• Sincerely repent (turn away) from your sins, asking God to forgive you and to use His power to help you resist temptation, no matter how strong the pull of sin may be, at first.
• Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of your life.  Invite Him to move into your heart and take up residence there, so that He can change you from the inside out.
• Trust His promise to save you and give you a new spiritual birth and a new nature (thoughts, desires, priorities, hopes, dreams, and character).

SOME KEY TRUTHS:

• “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)
• “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.”  (Romans 3:10)
• “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)
• “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”  (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
• “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”  (Revelation 3:20)
• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  (Romans 10:9-10)
• “Verily, verily, I say unto you; He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  (John 5:24)
• “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.”  (John 20:31) 
• “These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  (I John 5:13)