Today’s headlines that should send you looking for a true
church that will lead you to the true God through faith in the true Lord Jesus Christ:
A mother beating her stepchild toddler with a stick, with her
hands, and with her feet, because the child dirtied her pants (the video has
been given to the police, but no word on charges against the step-mother). This
is a reminder that child abuse in its many forms affects many children all
around the world (this account had taken place in China, but is not unique to
anyone country or culture). Jesus heals the brokenhearted and binds up their
wounds (Psalm 147:3). Find a church where he is doing this. Go there yourself.
Let brokenhearted children know that Jesus still takes the little ones in his
arms, puts his hands on them in blessing to heal the pain of hands that abused,
and carries them close to his heart (Isaiah 40:11; Mark 10:13-16).
The Islamic State continues to behead people who do not share
their belief in Allah. Why would the threat of death drive someone to look for
the true Lord Jesus Christ? Because faith in Jesus Christ gives us eternal
life, even if we lose our head for such faith (John 3:16; Matthew 10:28); while
living a murderous life that survives its victims puts people on that wide road
that leads to death (Matthew 7:13).
A Christian woman in Pakistan under a sentence of death by
hanging because of her faith in Jesus Christ. Why would I encourage a faith
that in many countries has a death-sentence hanging over it? Because it is the
only faith that has a life-sentence that contains such hope as this: “You make known to me the path of life; in
your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures
forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
Jesus continues to call out to people from his true churches.
He says, “Come to me, all who labor and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn
from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
If you want to know if the church you have found is a true
church, show them Matthew 11:28-30 and ask them if they can lead you to know Jesus
like that. If their response is to teach you something that sounds like this, “For God so loved the world, that he gave
his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”
(John 3:16); or, “For by grace you have
been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of
God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9), or,
“if you confess with your mouth that
Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you
will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth
one confesses and is saved” (Romans 10:9-10), you may have very well found
a true church.
While there is no such thing as a perfect church (that only
happens when the whole church is taken up to be with Jesus forever), there is
still the true church of Jesus Christ all over the world. Ask the true Lord Jesus
Christ to lead you into a true church where you can know the true God by faith,
and you will receive his help leading you to know him and walk in his ways (Matthew
7:7-8).
If you aren’t sure about a true church, but you are quite
sure you know a true Christian who lives by the faith you have heard of in the
Bible, ask them to help you, and pray with you, and open God’s word to you.
Such people exist. If you don’t know any, ask the true God to set up a divine
appointment with one of his children. He will do it. His true children will do
his will in helping you.
© 2014 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517,
Merritt, BC, Canada, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted,
Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good
News Publishers.)
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