The Word

John 1:1-5 (NKJV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

2 He was in the beginning with God. 

3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 

4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 

5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

People of faith have quoted these scripture verses from the Holy Bible since they first had the faith to believe that Jesus was God in flesh and walked with us on this planet.  People of faith believe in a Creator, a Supernatural Supreme Being, Father God, Almighty God, and so many other names and descriptions of the One True God.  Some people have a faith in others gods but not the one True God that Jesus spoke of.  Not the One Jesus called his Father. People of faith believe the Holy Bible, though written by many men, is the word of God given to the people of his kingdom, of his family in order to live a life of purpose.  

In verse 1 the Apostle John, who lived longer than any of the other apostles, and wrote these words himself, and who walked with Jesus during his ministry on earth, placed Jesus at the beginning of time and the beginning of creation.  The word John used was "logos", meaning Divine Expression, Christ, Messiah.  In the beginning Jesus was with the Father and the Father was with him. They were together as one.  Not two separate supernatural beings but one in two divine expressions.  God and Word.  One.

Then in verse 4 John brings in the Holy Spirit, the Light that shines in the darkness. Jesus came to earth and the Holy Spirit was with him.  Jesus taught in his ministry that he was the light of the world.  

John 8:12 (NKJV) "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Even Isaiah spoke of the Light hundreds of years before Jesus was born.  He spoke of the Messiah.

Isaiah 9:2 (NKJV) 'The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.'

People of faith read these verses and know that God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit are one and the same and that all three Divine Expressions are one and the same working and living in the people who have this faith to believe.  Each One is separate but they are One.  People without faith are unable to comprehend this just as John says in verse 5.  Without faith there is no belief and without belief there is no Divine Expression (God) in that person's mind, heart or soul.  The Word and the Light are not understood so they are discarded as myth, legend, fable, fake, non-truth, nothing but meaningless nonsense.

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) 'But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.'

Believers are set apart, different from this world because believers believe in an unseen God but to them He is seen.  He is seen in their lives through love, kindness, generosity, and servitude to other's in the world.  They shine His light to a world filled with darkness, evilness, selfishness, greed, power and all of the other sins of the world that lives in the hearts of mankind that have no belief or accountability for their actions.  Unbelievers are why believers still walk this earth.  God has not given up trying to reach the people of unbelief that He loves.

The Book of John was written by John the man with the help and inspiration of the Divine Expression. Creator, Word, and Light. Father, Son, Holy Spirit.  Each unbeliever that searches for the truth about the One True God should begin their search reading the Book of John. Over and over and over until that little bit of Light starts shining inside of them.  Believe me, that Light will shine if one truly seeks with an open heart.

Jesus said, 

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) But seek first he kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 7:7 -8 (NKJV) Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

The Times of Testing

Most of us remember being in school and those tests that were given in science class, history class, math class, and all of the other subjects we were being taught.  Scores ranking from A to F.  Those who studied hard and retained the information scored far better than those who did not.  

Scripture tells us as we live life on earth we will be tested to see how we score in the eyes of our Lord.  Here are a few of the many verses that speak of the test.

James 1:3 (NIV) because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

Ezekiel 21:13 (NIV)  ‘Testing will surely come. And what if even the scepter, which the sword despises, does not continue? declares the Sovereign Lord .’

Acts 20:19 (NIV) I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.

I don't know about you but I was never a fan of school tests.  I could study my heart out and then still fail the test.  Retaining what I had studied the night before would leave me when the fear of the test came.  I panicked.  Panic does not help in a test.  

In our walk of faith we have these same tests happening.  One day we are flying on a cloud with the Lord God, feeling His love and knowing we can do all things in Christ Jesus.  The next day we are in a puddle on the floor begging for His mercy because someone we love is suffering from a horrendous medical discovery or the money is gone and the rent is due.  These are the tests of our faith.  These are what mold us into the person God intends us to be.  It is easy to say we have great faith but it is another to live it.

When we continue our walk with Jesus we learn and we grow.  He never promised us there would not be really, really hard tests.  In fact He promised us we would have severe tests in our lives.  Yes, there are times of peace and harmony.  Tranquility and beauty.  Rest and relaxation.  But we should always be prepared for that test to pop up.  Teachers called them "Pop Test's".  Pop tests were scary!

Romans 5:3-4 (NIV)  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. 

Paul the apostle teaches that our sufferings, our testing's, are what build us and make us into the mature child of God that we are to become.  Testing brings us to hope and being firm in our hope that the Lord will do as He has said.  

Jesus spoke about the storms (tests) that would come to the people on earth but reminded right off the bat we have to be wise and put the word of God into practice in order to stand and endure the tests.

Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)  “24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Each time one of those "Pop Tests" come into our lives we have to believe there is a reason.  Sometimes the test will account for 50% of the grade.  Sometimes it's a pass or fail test.  Sometimes it is a simple test with simple answers.  It is always a test for a reason or for a season of life. 

We do not ever question the Teacher. He is the Author and the Finisher. He is Almighty God who knows all things.  He is the Father who loves us so deeply that He wants us to pass the test and receive the price of all He has in store for us, His children, His family.

Romans 8:18 (NIV) I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

2 Corinthians 4:17 (NIV) For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.