I suppose that we all from time-to-time have sought a perfectly clear understanding of God’s will for our lives. Paul expressed quite plainly what God’s will for every believer is: “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son….” (Romans 8.29a) Realizing that, as a follower of Christ, we are, through the work of God’s Spirit, to be brought into conformity to God’s perfect will for our lives. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2.10)
There are times when it would be nice to be approached by God as He approached those Old Testament figures. How would it be to walk with God in the Garden of Eden in the cool of the day – chatting and listening to Him and fellowshipping with Him. Or, how exciting it would be to be roused from an afternoon siesta to see God walking towards us with a couple of companions. Wouldn’t it be amazing to be interrupted in the middle of our work day to have God appear to us and speak to us as friend to friend?
Hearing instructions directly from God Himself would be more than an honor and a blessing – it would be specific and personal. Just about the time I begin to envy the prophets in time past, I remember the blessing we have as believers under the New Covenant. Imagine something “better” than hearing the voice of God through the prophets – or even from God Himself. Yet, the book of Hebrews emphasizes the fact that we have something “better” in the Covenant God prepared through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The key word offered to us for our understanding of the book of Hebrews is “better.” And, in the opening statement of this letter, we are shown what is better – the Son of God, Jesus.
As one of His final promises to His disciples, Jesus promised to send a “Comforter,” the Holy Spirit, to guide believers into His truth. This Comforter would guide the followers of Christ in understanding Truth (John 14.6) as embodied in Jesus Christ and would “reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”(John 16.8)
In order for the Holy Spirit to lead us in the ways of Jesus Christ, we must first know Christ and what He requires. Paul’s heartfelt desire was to “know him, and the power of his resurrection.” (Philippians 3.10) Only by careful study and attention to the written Word of God are we able to be brought into a right relationship with God’s revelation. Paul writes to Timothy: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (II Timothy 2.15)
So many when expressing their opinions about what Jesus would do or how He would answer society’s nagging questions miss the mark by a great distance. In order to walk in a sweet relationship with our God, we must rely upon the witness He has provided for Himself through the written Word which is the Word of Christ. (John 1.1-5) Should we find ourselves taking a position not supported by the written Word, we should re-think, re-pray and re-consider because God’s will never contradicts what He has revealed in His Word.
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