Do You Know?
Not until halfway through the Feast did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach. The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning without having studied?” Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. John 7:14-18
When I was young, I certainly hoped that I too could have “such learning without having studied!” What student does not dream of following Jesus meaning not having to study? Fortunately, for our character’s sake, the Son of God spoke the very words of the Father, not his own. Jesus’ teaching was amazing, and yet because of how challenging it is there is the temptation to question its authority. Jesus makes a powerful point in this verse - “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.” We live in a society that makes a lot of excuses and often seeks to shift the blame. Instead of seeking to know, we end up seeking ways to justify greed, selfishness, impurity or worldliness. One of the most tasty excuses made about following God’s word today is “I don’t know.”
The real question is, “What are you doing?” If it is God’s will, one thing is for sure - you will know if what Jesus taught is from God or not. So if you “don’t know” if you should really be Jesus’ disciple, or “don’t know” if you can really believe all that God’s word teaches - the one thing you “do know”, it is that you are not doing God’s will, otherwise - you would “know.” So if you “don’t know” then you “do know” that you are not doing God’s will, and that’s a good thing to know assuming you want to know - that is, to do God’s will.
How do you do God’s will? Well - it is a lot like asking for directions. Recently the church here in Eugene went on a camping trip to Alsea Falls. I had the directions and simply did not follow them correctly. When I finally pulled over and asked for directions - I was told to turn around and go back the way I’d came for about 35 miles! Amy (my wife) and I went back to where the turn was and did something very simple - we followed the signs. When there was a fork in the road and the sign said, “Alsea Falls” with an arrow to the right, that’s the way we went. When the sign pointed left - we went left. There was even a time where I’d not seen a sign clearly and took a wrong turn. I had to turn around completely, go back, and make a right turn.
Because I made some right turns I was able to enjoy awesome fellowship at Alsea Falls. The Falls are a very beautiful place - an obvious reminder of God’s paradise. When we make right turns spiritually - it keeps us on the “straight and narrow” that leads to eternal paradise, and the fellowship in heaven is going to be more than we could ever ask or imagine. If we truly desire to “know” the way to paradise spiritually, we must take to heart what Jesus says in Luke 6:46-49
“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
Making a right turn spiritually has everything to do with knowing that you “know” Jesus. The scriptures teach:
“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love[a] is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” I John 2:3-6
The truth is that we will “know” that we “know” when we obey his commands. Where God’s word says to go right, are we going right? We face spiritual crossroads daily - we all have choices we must make about what direction we are headed. Are we going to invest more time in the pursuit of success, career or self? What are we planning in our lives - to me more devoted to God and his people, or to be less devoted? When the scriptures teach to be pure and we are faced with the temptations on the Internet, flirting, or immodesty - which direction are we turning? Are we deciding to turn from fear and consistently and deeply share our faith?
God has moved powerfully in the hearts of several people who have decided to take some right turns and become disciples of Jesus. It was amazing to see the changes that Stephen Rydstedt and Jenny Courtney made in their dating relationship because of God. There was a sincere submission to God’s word that you could see in the decisions they made in their lives. It was inspiring to see Stephen get baptized - and very encouraging for him to baptize his girlfriend, Jenny, just a couple of weeks later. Because of this, now they both “know.” Stephen and Jenny’s right turns inspired David, Stephen’s twin, to “know” God and continue in his own bible studies in order to become a disciple. David dug deep into the scriptures and persevered through roadblocks and spiritual detours before making the decision to be a sold-out disciple. Stephen had the sacred honor of baptizing his brother David. Mandee Shanks, David’s girlfriend also studied the bible so she too could “know.” It was very inspiring to see David baptize Mandee just a few days after his own baptism.
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It is amazing to see what God is doing in Eugene, seeing more and more people “know” and help each other make right turns. The fellowship so encouraging this past Sunday - we eventually had to encourage people to leave because it was getting late. Many of us continued the fellowship over lunch. God is pulling new people into the family; we are so grateful to welcome Sheldon and Crystal Loman, as well as their beautiful 14-month-old daughter Hailey from the Bay Area Christian Church. They “know” Amy and I from “way back” in the early days of the Oahu Church of Christ’s campus ministry. Sheldon is here to be a part of the PhD program in special education at the University of Oregon. After spending this past week with them, we “know” God has plans to strengthen and use them here to help other people “know.”
God “knows” what we need, who we need, and when we need anything. (Jeremiah 29:11-14) It is inspiring to see so many people taking a right turn, and getting on or back to, the one way. It was encouraging to see all the new faces in the fellowship this past Sunday, God blessed us with another record breaking attendance of 83. When we do God’s will, we know that Jesus’ teaching is of God. When we know, it is amazing what God can do and does. When we know - it gives God the glory.
Do you know?
Jeremy Ciaramella
Evangelist
