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Knowing the True and

Living God

Ultimately it is God Himself who calls us into an understanding of the true
faith, yet we are told, at the same time, to seek Him with all our heart and
soul. God must put within each of us a "new heart and a new spirit," while
at the same time we are told "make yourselves a new heart and a new
spirit" (compare Ezekiel 11:19 with 18:31). In some mysterious way, our
will works together with God's will for us, and those who are His re-
spond in kind. As Yeshua often said, "Let the one who has ears to hear,
hear."

James D. Tabor

I write this article with great feeling for our heart and soul. God must put within each of
those who will have eyes to see, and ears to us a "new heart and a new spirit," while at the
hear, and the inner spiritual motivation to actu- same time we are told "make yourselves a new
ally return to the true God, and to the original heart and a new spirit" -- compare Ezekiel
faith of the Bible. I realize these will be few. 11:19 with 18:31. In some mysterious way, our
The pressures of tradition and the comfort with will works together with God's will for us, and
what one has always believed are too much for those who are His respond in kind. As Jesus
most. Others have been too burned out by chas- said so often, "Let the one who has ears to
ing down this or that claim to Biblical truth hear, hear."
over the years.
The foundational pillar of Abrahamic faith
For one to make an honest and absolutely is to know the One true God. Our problem to-
open commitment to "the truth, the whole truth, day is that when we use the very word "God,"
and nothing but the truth," is truly rare. Still, or even bring up the concept of the Divine, we
there are those who will be drawn to this an- invite endless confusion and controversy.
cient Way, of that I am certain. And in being There are as many ideas and concepts of God
drawn they will turn directly to God, not to as there are people who hold them. Who or
any human being or organization. The re- what is God? Is God a force, a Cosmic Mind, a
wards and satisfaction are great. It is like hav- metaphor for our inner selves, the Life Princi-
ing a veil lifted from the eyes, which brings a ple, the process of evolution?
clarity of understanding and a renewed pur-
pose in life (see Isaiah 25:6-7). Over the centuries humans have believed in
and served multiple thousands of gods and
Ultimately it is God Himself who calls us goddesses. I have before me the Larouse
into an understanding of the true faith, yet we World Mythology, a lavishly illustrated 500
are told, at the same time, to seek Him with all page survey of the myths and beliefs about

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