2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Paul is telling Timothy that there is a real danger of making learning, studies and understanding a focus and not the relationship.

In closing yesterday I encouraged you to understanding what you will be committing to if you should choose to enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ. He is Truth and learning, and belief does not allow you to come to knowing truth that is only formed in commitment to relationship.

From the very beginning I said there has to be a recognition, an acceptance and a choice. Learning can be seen as recognition, belief can be seen as acceptance, and that leaves you with commitment which is choice.

Yearning for knowledge is not yearning for Jesus. Much in the same way that you might express a longing for a life partner and your heart will burst if you cannot have them, this yearning for a relationship with Jesus Christ can only be satisfied by accepting Him for all He is, all He did and all He wants to do for you in relationship. He wants to fill that emptiness in your broken and contrite heart.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

This is relationship, eating of the bread, which as of old is a sign of a covenant contract. That door of entering is your heart.

That is a choice you have to make with your heart by faith.

Matthew 13:20, 21, 23 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

The seed here is the Good News, the Gospel, and is planted. As we all should know, you cannot grow things on stony ground. It must be broken down into good soil to take root and grow. This gets us back once again to the work of the Holy Spirit breaking the hearts of the lost and preparing them to receive the Word.

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

If at this moment, having come only this far, you decide you are ready to be saved, STOP. You are not ready yet to be saved. Look closely to Matthew 13:23 where is says that the word must be received with understanding. We have only just begun to lay down some of the foundational truths. God wants you to understand what you are getting yourself into if you should choose this life of Christ.

How many failed marriages occur simply because one or both parts just want to be satisfied and they do not fully know and understand the other party? Many I would venture, but even if the marriage doesn’t end in divorce, one or both parties are miserable. God does not want an unwilling, unhappy marriage partner for His Son Jesus Christ. He would not allow you to enter into this marriage contract ignorant of what to expect.