Are You Searching In The Right Places?

Good News – May 2012 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Are You Searching In The Right Places?

In search of gold, a poor man traveled to a hillside in Burkina Faso, West Africa. After learning of a healer in town, he went to him for help. The healer, a medicine man, made a big promise. He said that if the man would buy his medicine and drink it, he would soon find gold and be rich.

The man paid the healer and drank the medicine. He then went out to dig for gold. But instead of getting rich, he hurt himself and could not work. He did not find gold. Filled with regret, he said, “I’ve searched for a long time, but still haven’t found what I need most.”

This man had a sincere desire to find gold, but he searched in all the wrong places. No matter how hard he tried, he came up empty. His situation is similar to many people in search of God – they look in all the wrong places. According to the Bible, “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov. 14:12 NKJV).

People often choose a path in their search for God and then discover it’s the wrong one. Some people believe that all roads lead to heaven, and that all religions offer a way to God. Some believe that sincerity is enough. Others believe that we can find God through good deeds, a moral life, or intellectual enlightenment.

People who hold these views may be sincere but they are searching in the wrong places, and that’s a serious problem. When it comes to knowing God, and having a personal relationship with Him, choosing the correct route is important.

Without God we are lost. If we continue on the wrong path, we will never find Him. This means we will remain in our sins, and this will lead to God’s judgment. The Bible says we are all sinners: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). It also tells us that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).

The fact is there’s only one way to find God. There’s only one way to be saved from sin and have peace with Him. That way is Jesus, God’s Son. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me” (Jn. 14:6).

Jesus is the source of eternal life. He said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10:10). The life that He provides includes peace, forgiveness of sins, removal of guilt, and eternal joy in God’s presence. The life He gives is more than we can imagine, and it lasts forever!

But how do we receive this abundant life? By trusting Christ alone to save us from our sins. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16). Jesus died on Calvary’s cross, was buried and arose from the dead three days later.

When we believe what Christ has done for us and accept His free gift of eternal life, He declares us “not guilty.” He makes us right with God and gives us peace. “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).

Do you want to know God? Do you need His forgiveness? If so, ask for His forgiveness and His gift of everlasting life. The Bible says, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13). Do this today, and you’ll find yourself at the right place for the thing you need most. We can tell you more.

By Roscoe Barnes III