“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.” Isaiah 11: 1-10 KJV
“Philip findeth Nathaneal, and saith unto him, we have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” John 1:45
The words “we have found him” indicate great joy! They are found in the first book of John. They refer to the Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. After a long wait, He has been found! He was foretold and now He has come. He will come again and He will not have to be found for His coming will be no secret, everyone will know!
People search everywhere to find love and a purpose for their lives. Many flock to meetings and seminars and gatherings and groups all over the world looking for solutions to their problems. There are support groups, circle groups, activist groups, retreats, centers, and foundations. Many solutions are offered and much money and effort is expended, but ultimately they are found to be vain and fruitless. They treat the symptoms of the disease, but cannot bring about a cure.
Then the people look to a leader, someone who can bring direction and order out of chaos. They look for someone to meet their inner needs, someone who will make them feel good about themselves, and offer hope for a brighter future. Entire religions have been founded as a result, and many are the members. I imagine some even call out to their friends, “we have found him”, meaning the latest guru or whiz. But still the answers elude them. For after all, these are merely men who profess to know the truth that holds the answers to life and life’s problems. Their “truth” is founded on some new revelation or experience and requires rituals and rites. (II Corinthians 11:13-15)
But revelations and experiences, no matter how sincerely offered, are empty and deceitful and are but a poor substitute for truth. We may feel confident and capable for a time, feeling firmly planted on the path of success. However, our feelings lie to us, elevating us to the pinnacle of rapture for a time, then leaving us in the pit of despair. Good feelings do not solve problems. Positive thinking will not bring about a brighter future. These are not truth.
However, truth is known and can be found. We have only to look around us at creation to know that there is something better than ourselves, more intelligent, more able, and more powerful.
Yet rather than seek the unseen, they seek the obvious. Truth is here, but goes unheeded. It is too painful. It reveals who we really are and what we are really like inside where no one sees us. Who wants to be reminded of our shortcomings? Who wants to discover that we do not measure up? So we discard the standard and the standard bearer.
Is there no help for mankind?
If we are willing to seek after truth, then there is Good News! Jesus was the standard bearer and the standard. (Isaiah 49:22) He is truth!
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32
Jesus offers us more than answers to life’s questions. He gives us His abiding love, His presence, His help in our times of need. He gives us joy and peace and hope regardless of our circumstances. He walks with us through the hard times of doubt and despair and sorrow. We are never alone. He offers us a personal relationship with Himself; fellowship and companionship. While we cannot control our world, He can and does. Comforting to know that nothing is without purpose-His purpose, and everything is part of a plan-His plan. He conforms us to His image. (Romans 8:28-29) Because we are loved, we are able to love even our enemies, for love is of God. (1John 4:7)
We are to be perfect as He is perfect. Seem unattainable? (Hebrews 12:23-24, Hebrews 13:20-21) What relief the disciples must have felt when they uttered those unforgettable words, “we have found him”! The disciples knew that in Jesus anything is attainable, even eternal life and forgiveness of sin.
“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 5:4-5″Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.” III John vs 11
Originally published in 1999 in Words of Encouragement by Linda Hull
