There are many asserting they have Bible truth, and who will go on to assert Jesus is here or there. We know they can't all be right, as some such assertions contradict each other. We can also reason that Jesus it not likely to appear multiple times, nor is his appearance to the benefit of just one group. (Acts_10:35) [In reality, he does appear to benefit just one group but we must be careful to recognize that one group is made up of all the righteously inclined men and women from every nation on earth, and who have ever lived (the righteous who have died will be resurrected). It seems hypocritical for any imperfect man (or group of them) to imagine he is judging who those righteous ones are. (Revelation_3:5) (Revelation_4..._-_7...)] How can we know who to believe or put faith in?

Around 1890, after the Wounded Knee native American massacre, a Piaute holy man claimed he had a vision that Jesus Christ had returned as a native American. Likely there was some new church formed based upon his vision. Many religions lay claim, in some fashion or another, that Jesus has returned to their group. How can you know what is true? Such individuals or organizations may be sincere, but does sincerity necessarily mean they are right? (Matthew_7:21-23) Is it reasonable to believe Jesus Christ will appear as someone else? He is Jesus Christ! Most surely Jesus's appearance will be as himself. That is what the Bible teaches. (Matthew_24:30) It is clear the Bible indicates his second coming is as Jesus Christ the king. (Daniel_2:44)

The Bible actually contains warning about those who would assert this one or that one is the Christ, and that the Christ is here or is there. (Matthew_24:23) So how then can we know? Did you note in Matthew_7:21 what Jesus said? He indicated the one doing the will of his Father was the one who would be saved. What then does it mean to do God's will? Jesus said that was the reason he was born: To do God's will. (Hebrews_10:5-10 & John_18:37) Jesus said he came for two reasons: To do God's will by telling the truth, and additionally, to do his Father's will by sacrificing his life for us. We might summarize by saying simply that Jesus came to do God's will. Doing his Father's will was his joy and his chosen purpose in life. (Psalms 40:8) We should try to imitate Jesus: We can strive to be obedient, (1_John 5:3) and we can make sacrifice to our Father through Christ Jesus with the fruit of our lips. (Hebrews_13:15-16) We can try to be helpful and loving toward others. (Matthew 5:43-45) The greatest help is sharing our knowledge of "truth" with them. Don't preach at people, just share truth with them and let them see how you love our Father. That will encourage them to love him as well.

We must try to do our heavenly Father's will, not because we are good people full of glory and light; But because we are not. We must do it because it is the right thing to do; Because it is the only hope for any of us. Jehovah's way of doing things is perfect, so any choice contrary to his will is defective and harmful. We must stand on the side of truth, simply because it is the right thing to do. We must recognize our life is not the important thing. By our doing so, we actually gain our life (Matthew_16:25) because we make ourselves children of God, and we thus come under his protection. We hope we don't have to literally give up our life, but we must be ready to do so rather than deny truth. We actually hope to be among those who will live forever, who will never die at all. (John_11:26) That is another way we can recognize truth, by learning to be self sacrificing. Only truth can help us make improvement in our life. You can never be deceived if you look to God's word for guidance; and your motive for doing so is love of God and love of neighbor. (Luke_10:27) Jehovah will not allow us to be deceived if we remain sincere in examining his word the Bible. Christ Jesus is ever ready to assist us. (John_10:16) If this truly is the end of the world system of things, then the help they provide will likely take forms we can not even imagine. If salvation was plain and obvious for all to see, all would try to join themselves to that salvation, rather than to Jehovah. It seems likely salvation will be seen only personally and individually, and will happen based upon our faith in Christ. What ever form salvation takes, all we need be concerned about is knowing the "truth" as defined by the Bible. Learn what the Bible says and share it with others. If based on Bible truth, our faith will save us. (Matthew_9:22)

We here point out something it is hard for any of us to get to know about ourselves; It is most important though, and at the root of our purpose in life: Do we serve God because He is good and deserves our worship, and because it is the right thing to do? Or do we serve him because he holds out the reward of everlasting life? Of course, to some degree it is both. Which is most important though? It is a difficult thing to learn and know about oneself. Further, we must make that decision as to why we serve God, so as to know who we are in the secret person (1_Peter 3:3-4) of our heart, before God can know it about us. That is our choice to make. With freedom as sons and daughters of God, comes the necessity of that choice: Are we obedient children? (1_John_5:3) What is important to you personally? Is it your life, or the sanctification of our Father's name? (Matthew_6:9)

Abraham was a faithful and obedient man, and was used extensively by Jehovah. He became the father of the nation of Israel; The nation to whom the law code was given. It was through Abraham's line the Christ was born. There was no indication Abraham was ever disobedient in anything he did. Didn't that lifelong obedience and service mean he truly loved God? Throughout his life, Abraham lived in hope of the promises by God: That Abraham would become a great nation blessing all the earth, and finally that the seed of promise would come through his line. (Genesis_22:15-18) Abraham lived his whole life in expectation of that son of promise. (Genesis_13:14-16 & 18:18-19 & 22:15-18) Finally, in his old age, Abraham miraculously fathered Isaac. After that lifetime of obedience and loyalty by Abraham, in Abraham's old age and after the son of promise finally arrived, Jehovah gave Abraham a command: Kill the boy! How would Abraham respond? The culmination of his whole life's hope was tied up in Isaac. Surely God must be mistaken! Without hesitation though, Abraham went about the three day process of sacrificing his son according to God's instruction. When Abraham did not waver, and lifted the knife to put the boy to death, God stepped in to stop him. Jehovah then said something very interesting. He said: "Now I do know that you are God fearing, in that you have not withheld your son, your only one, from me." Until that point, God did not know if Abraham was serving him completely out of love, or if selfish longing for the promises of God was a part of his motivation for obedience. A wonderful thing about this is that Abraham probably didn't know either. When God pronounced Abraham righteous by calling him friend, Abraham could know for certain about himself that he was righteous. Jehovah had seemingly hinted He had in mind to produce the Christ through Abraham's line, but He did not specifically say He would do so until after Abraham offered up Isaac. It was then Jehovah stepped in to stop Abraham, "with an oath" (Hebrews_6:15&17) that He would produce the messiah through Abraham. What a blessing Abraham's faithfulness proved to be for him. It is the same opportunity for obedience being afforded us all. In our day, through Bible knowledge, and then through a life of faith based on hope of promises not seen, (Romans_8:24-25) we have opportunity to demonstrate and prove ourselves Jehovah's friends by our patiently waiting. Rather than seeking riches and glory with all our heart, we sacrifice that life on the alter of our hope in Christ. While many in the world may scoff: "What is truth?"; Those who have faith recognize it is the Bible. (John_17:17)

Regarding Abraham: What does the fact that God did not know Abraham was truly God fearing until after he offered up Isaac tell us about Abraham. Abraham must have been unresolved in his heart as to his absolute loyalty to Jehovah. God can immediately know what is in our heart once we decide. However, whether we are truly God fearing is not in our heart until after we decide it. That is the gift of freedom as sons that Jehovah gave us. Is there anything in the secret person of your heart that you love more than God? Are you sure? You must be trying to learn in order to have hope of life. You must be trying to make your heart over using your power of reason. (Romans 12:1) It is a difficult thing to get to know about ourselves, and it can take a long time to decide. Apparently it took Abraham over 100 years. Abraham willingly offered up the second most important thing to him; Thereby proving Jehovah was actually most important. Is there anything you would not give up for Jehovah? Just as God stepped in to stop Abraham from killing Isaac, Jehovah does not want you to actually give up anything good. But you must be willing. That is the thing that defines us as God fearing. You must come to know there is nothing more important than obedience to our Creator; only then can He know. That is the only way Jehovah can depend on us to grant us freedom and power to act in his behalf. Jesus said: "If only YOU have faith and do not doubt, . . . if YOU say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and cast into the sea,' it will happen." (Matthew 21:21) Angels have power that is unimaginable to us. One killed 185,000 enemy soldiers in one night. (2_Kings_19:35) When Jesus was alive as a man, he walked on water and healed sick ones. He raised the dead back to life. All of these feats were accomplished through faith and by holy spirit given those creatures by God. These ones surely magnify Jehovah. Before Jehovah puts you on the list to control such power, He must be absolutely certain of your loyalty. This is the greatest story ever told! It is Bible truth. Some will suggest that moving a mountain is just an illustration and that even if Jesus could do it, men could not. Jesus walked on water and Peter joined him in doing so; Until Peter's faith wavered. (Matthew 14:29) Apparently, nothing will be impossible to those who manifest faith in Christ and see the need to accomplish something in God's will.

It has come to our attention some believe it was harsh or even petty for Jehovah to ask Abraham to kill Isaac. They feel it was some selfish desire on God's part to have Abraham demonstrate his love. Remember though, Abraham received protection and blessing at the hand of Jehovah all of his life. Jehovah actually spoke to him in vision. He had miracles performed in his behalf. God knew Abraham very well. If Abraham had not fully decided in his heart whether he loved Jehovah without reservation, whose fault was that? Remember too, Jehovah was watching to be certain no harm actually came to Isaac. It was a test allowing Abraham to finally and fully decide if he absolutely loved his Father, so Jehovah could continue extending the blessings to him. Of course Abraham loved Jehovah and Jehovah knew he did. But what was real to Abraham? Was it his life with his wife and son and their wealth, or was it his life with Jehovah that was most important? That's where obedience to our Father comes from; From what is truly real to us, and therefore most important to us. What do you believe and what is real to you? Do you believe Bible "truth?" That is the decision Abraham faced. It is the decision we all face. (John_11:26) [As an illustration, imagine a man with a house full of children. One of his children started to kill his brothers and sisters. Would the father just allow the murders to continue. He would surely protect his other sons and daughters, and stop the rebellious and bad son. That would leave a problem though: All his children would have to live in fear of one of their other brothers rising up to start killing them again. What if the father could test and evaluate them all to be certain they were faithful children, while still not taking away their gift of freedom of choice. Wouldn't that be best? All could then rest in surety all their brothers and sisters were upright and would never harm them.] Please consider also, does anyone imagine God was in someway elevated, or made more holy by Abraham's faithfulness. Abraham's faithfulness was to the benefit of Abraham, and to the rest of mankind. (Isaiah_48:17) This drama also served to illustrate what Jehovah would do for mankind as he allowed his own son to sacrifice himself in our behalf. (John_3:16) Jehovah was not made more by Abraham's faithfulness! The test of whether we truly love our heavenly Father (1_John_5:3) in this old system of things is an opportunity to define ourselves as friends of Jehovah by our faithfulness. Even the perfect Jesus was able to learn from his experience of sacrifice. (Hebrews_5:8) It is nearly too wonderful to comprehend! Hallelujah! Praise Jah you people! (Psalms_113:1)

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