Thursday, July 14, 2011
It has been quite a while since I have been able to write due to health problems I have been facing. So, I would like to say thanks for your patience.
In my Bible reading today, I came to I Kings and the story of the Queen of Sheba visiting Solomon. Here is what the Word of God tells us from I Kings 10:
"And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. 2And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. 3And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not. 4And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom, and the house that he had built, 5And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. 6And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. 7Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. 8Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. 9Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice. 10And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices very great store, and precious stones: there came no more such abundance of spices as these which the queen of Sheba gave to king Solomon"
There is much to learn from this account. The Queen had heard of the greatness of Solomon. She had heard that his kingdom was greater than her own. She had heard that he was wiser. She had heard so many wonderful things about Solomon and rather than saying, "You are lying! I don't believe any of this!", she decided to go and search out the truth for herself.
How often do we meet folks when we are out witnessing who have heard of Jesus Christ and His wondrous works to change lives, yet they scoff and mock and do not believe? They do not try to find out the truth for themselves. They just assume they are right and the Christians are wackos. They dismiss the truth without seeking answers. This is a deadly mistake that many make. It would be better to search out these things to see if they are true than to never seek the truth and wind up in Hell when you die.
The Queen came to meet this king, to find out if what she had heard was actually true. She came in verse one with "hard questions". This is what the lost do. When you are out witnessing to them, they come up with questions like "How could a God of love allow suffering and death?" These types of questions come from the lost because they are trying to establish their own goodness. We are told that Solomon had the answers. We who know Christ have the answers as well. The answers are found in the Bible, but the lost cannot understand them unless the Spirit of God opens their eyes. If you cannot understand the Word of God, you may not know the Word (John 1:1).
After asking her questions and seeing the wonders, the Queen admitted that the truth had not been told to her in the beginning. She learned that Solomon and his kingdom were even greater than she had been told. She said, "I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it." This is what happens to all who come to Christ, seeking to find truth. You must first come. You will find out that your own kingdom is nothing to Him. You come to see that He is everything and you are nothing without Him. He opens your eyes to see the truth found in Him. This is when you believe on Him. Lastly, the Queen witnessed to others of what she had seen. She also gave of her own treasures. Imagine that! Giving treasure to a king who already has everything. That is exactly how we do when we become believers. We witness of Him to others and we give of ourselves to Him. What is a treasure to you? Is it your time and talents? What can you give to God? He does not need anything we could possess. We need to give. Christ came to give His life for us to live. We owe Him.
If you have not yet found the truth about Christ, I urge you to not just dismiss these things. Find out for yourself if they are true. Search the Scriptures! If you seek Him, you will find Him and you will not be disappointed.