In Search Of Authenticity In Search Of Authenticity In Search Of Authenticity

Awhile back on a trip to Atlanta, I was talking with a young man who had become quite successful as a producer in the movie industry. He also was newly married to a beautiful young woman he had met and worked with on a film. She came from a protestant Baptist background. His life grew out of the Catholic church. It was plain to see they were very compatible except in this one area. Also, very much in love and supportive of each other.

The young wife was active in her faith whereas the young man had not been since a teen. He began attending church with his wife and was very active in support of her in the music ministry. He was quite gifted as a producer working with other people. Soon his talents were recognized and he began assisiting in various programs, productions and other activities. He possessed a great gift of putting others at ease. He had a quiet way about himself as he moved among people, making sure all was done as needed. He was highly effective yet unobtrusive in his manner. He needed no supervision--quite an extraordinary humble man who enjoyed serving and helping others. He reminded me very much of the character and nature of John, the young disciple of Jesus. (John 13:23)  He was filled with great compassion for others and possessed a very loving heart. He did not speak much of himself nor project an air of self-importance yet all the while possessing something very admirably distinctive.

As we continued to talk, I very cautiously approached the subject of how things were with him spiritually. As he genuinely became engaged in our discussion, I began referring to experiences Jesus had with different individuals He met in His short three years of ministry. Not thinking of his Bible knowledge, I simply asked the young man if he remembered one particular event so I would not have to tell the whole story. He nervously began to speak of his regret and embarrassment of his lack of Bible knowledge. I could tell he was very sincere. He expressed his lack of and need to read the Bible but somehow never seemed to do it. He appeared even a bit frustrated.

I immediately tried to put the young man at ease. I explained to him that what he was feeling was quite normal. It was nothing for which he needed to apologize. He was expecting that desire to manifest itself within him but disappointed because it never seemed to. He genuinely didn't understand why it wasn't so.

Although his parents were very involved in their church life and that as Christians, in the conversation, he talked of how he had some negative experiences growing up within the Catholic church. He was reticent to go into the specifics and I did not press him.

He was quite interested in his new experiences in worship and practice of faith within the protestant church with his wife, and to know more of being born again--to be a Christian and what all that meant. I got the distinct impression he wasn't sure he was a Christian even though he grew up with his parents attending their Church and he was quite happy attending with his new wife. I sensed he was withholding himself from an outward expression of faith because of his perception of his lack of authenticity. I suspected this was due in large part because of his observation of the lack of it prevalent among many who called themselves Christian. He was seeking the genuine, the authentic. He had found it in his wife and her family but not to a large degree beyond. It was my sense, to his credit, that he would not fully commit until he believed he could be authentic in every area of a religious life. He just didn't know that he could not achieve that on his own. That authenticity only comes quite supernaturally from the mysterious work of the Holy Spirit after conversion.

Since our meeting and conversation, I have remembered him in prayer, praying that he would seek to fully come to know Christ, surrendering his life completely to Him for that authentic transformation he was seeking. What I shared with him in conversation that evening in his wife's parents' home in Atlanta, I will share with you in part now.

Please, never look within yourself for that desire to read God's word nor be frustrated with yourself when you cannot seem to experience it. It is a grace from God--a gift. Unless you know Christ, having been born again, it is not there. That desire comes as a gift only after repenting of your sin and trusting Jesus as Lord and Savior. Jesus said unless one is born again they cannot see the kingdom of heaven. (John 3:3)  The truths of the Bible remain hidden to one who remains blinded by their unregenerate old nature. (Matthew 13:13; Luke 8:10)  The Bible remains just as any other book in ones library. In fact, one will have a desire to read any other book there other than the Bible!

Someone uncertain of their salvation or a new beginner in the faith, should not even try to focus on that daunting achievement, and believe me, it is daunting, for I, too, well remember those early days. Rather, one in this position should begin focusing your attention on the Lord himself. (Note: I am not saying you shouldn't read the Bible at all, just don't try to take it all in in the beginning! Bible reading and prayer are essential to any stage of spiritual growth.) The most important thing at this point is to establish the certainty of your salvation, your life as a new Christian and your beginning relationship with God, His Son and the Holy Spirit. One's attention should be more on surrendering your life, as Paul says in Romans 12:1-2, in obedience to the Lord.

This is very important for one to remember. Until we become born again, enter into His Kingdom, there is nothing within us that is good. (Mark 10:18; Romans 3:12)  As such, we are incapable of producing to any degree a desire or even love for the Bible. (A word of caution: do not confuse desire with curiosity.) Everything of a spiritual nature are gifts from God. It is not derived from our intellect, logic or reasoning. These gifts of a spiritual nature do not come until after entering His Kingdom. This includes our desire for reading God's Word! One may read the Bible and study it as any other book but it will become nothing more than any other book--purely academic. If fact, one can become quite the scholar in its historical work, as some have and are to this day! As the Bible teaches: they have the knowledge but lack the power derived from it. (II Timothy 3:5)  What's more, even the fallen angels, demons, know the Bible. Satan quotes it all the time, albeit with his spin on it. (Genesis 3:1)

After one becomes a Christian the degree of your desire for its reading will be in direct proportion to your desire for and love of Jesus Himself. As that love grows through the daily surrender of your life, the greater the power of the gifts He gives. It is at this point I would recommend to the one who is interested in discovering your relationship with God, or lack of it, to begin reading the Bible with the Gospel of John. Although His activities and teachings are found throughout all the Gospels, John presents us with Jesus best as the Son of man and the Son of God. You will see both His humanity and His diety on full display. Be prepared for Him to meet you in this encounter with His Word!

When Christ comes near in His call of one the Father has given Him as a disciple and follower, (John 6:37)  you will detect a sense of being drawn to His Word to meet Him there. This is not the same as one having a degree of curiosity or desire, but a distinct sense of being drawn. Jesus speaks of the only way people come to Him is by His drawing them to Him. (John 12:32)  As such, they will also be drawn to His Word. Once becoming His, He then gives the desire to continue reading His Word. As you desire to read His Word, you then will develop a keen sense of curiosity to know as much as you can about what transpired within His Word.

The sole purpose in the beginning, and remains the main focus, for establishing Adam2.org on the internet was to publish the commentary work on the Gospel of John. Hence its name, Adam2, simply meaning, the Second Adam, the first being the one God created in the Garden. It was because of the fall of the first that made necessary the coming of the Second. (I Corinthians 15:47)  John shows the Second did that which the first did not, live his life wholly devoted to his Father, keeping himself spotless from the world--without sin. The Second, because of the sin in the fall of the first Adam, had to take the sin not only of Adam but of all through death to the grave in order for God to raise Him from the grave to produce and provide for all who would accept, eternal life. It remains the gift from Him to any who will repent and receive today. (II Peter 3:9)