The pursuit of truth.

That was the definition I heard recently for the word education and after contemplating it a bit, I couldn’t think of a better definition.

Think about it. What is the purpose of teaching/learning if you never engage in the process of seeking the truth?

What a pathetic existence we would have if we never asked questions, but how much worse would it be to ask those questions with no hope of discovering the answer.

What father, whose child asks him a question, would leave him hopelessly without direction by telling him there is no answer and hence no concrete truth by which he can gage his compass, morally, scientifically, physically, spiritually or otherwise?

That would be cruel and unjustifiable.

Just as a teacher fosters learning by correcting his or her students and letting them know when they have answered a question or calculated a formula incorrectly, the Creator of the universe has provided a tool by which we can measure truth.

I do not presume to understand the magnificent mind of God, but I do believe he makes his will for humanity clear in Scripture as is evidenced in Romans 12:2 where it says, &uot;And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.&uot;

None of us apart from Christ could ever match the standard of perfection. We all fall short, but the Scripture is loaded with directives of how to live and worship according to God’s will so as to give us guidance, reproof, hope and encouragement.

Recently, in light of the Tsunami tragedy, there has been talk that we are in the end times and although the Bible is not clear about the exact time of Christ’s return, it does give indicators of the end times in Matthew 24, Revelation and several other places.

Though some will likely board the self-righteous bandwagon of believing that the people who lost their lives in the Tsunami somehow deserved their disastrous fate, who can really know?

God’s ways are not like ours, so we couldn’t begin to understand his reasons for allowing certain circumstances to come to pass, but I believe Jeremiah 29:11 affords us a glimpse into his intentions for us as a whole.

The verse states, &uot;For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for a hope and a future.&uot;

Hope and a future, isn’t that what we desire?

Romans 15:4 tells us, &uot;whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope,&uot; no just hope for the heartbroken dejected individuals left behind as a result of the Tsunami, but hope for all of humanity.

Although argument could probably be made for the outpouring of God’s wrath on the people that fell victim to the monstrous surge, I believe that type of perspective would be tremendously cavalier and equally as ignorant, but I’d be a fool not to acknowledge that such an occurrence is within the scope of his power, whether by purposeful intent or passive allowance.

It is evident by the bridge that was built between man and God through the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross as payment for our sins that God’s ultimate will is for none to perish and the Scripture clearly reflects his desire for all to have everlasting life as opposed to perpetual death, but the choice is our own to make.

Regardless of where you stand on the issue of the end times or the Tsunami, God has provided the answers and the truth. We just have to seek it. Just take it from Proverbs 8:17, &uot;I love those who love me; and those who seek me diligently will find me.&uot;