YORWW Congregation Manuscript #1006: Search For Truth

[Scapegoat (Leviticus 16:10)]

THE SEARCH FOR DIVINE TRUTH -IS IT ATTAINABLE?

YORWW Congregation Manuscript #1006

Luke 17:7-9 states:

"Who of you is there that has a slave plowing or minding the flock who will say to him when he gets in from the field, 'Come here at once and recline at the table?' Rather, will he not say to him, 'Get something ready for me to have my evening meal, and put on an apron and minister to me until...until I am through eating and drinking, and afterward you can eat and drink?"

If one is a true willing "slave" for Jehovah God, he will have to prove it, under a unique "test" situation. He will have to do "double duty" for Jehovah, to prove it. Yes, unknown to most people, above can be found a great mystery, a great "treasure" of thought, about the kingdom of God, and what it will take for us to enter in the "Kingdom of God" and inherit everlasting life. If we do this will be able to "bring out of our personal treasure store," as Jesus said, things that really "new" and "old", both things to fully please God. Both, things taught to us, some "new' and some "old" things too. - See Matthew 13:50, 51

Therefore, the above illustration then reveals something unique about a "servant's" or a "slave's" duties, and when we can truly cease from such duties of the "slave." It refers to the Slave's Responsibility to do... DOUBLE DUTY. We must work in the "field," at the WTS "field" in the hot sun...a hard laborious type of work, indeed for an undisclosed period of time. And next, humbly be willing to regroup and work in the "house" of Jehovah by being willing to put on the "apron" and work under the direct supervision of our Grand Slave Master... Jehovah God...work to acquire Divine Truth....Divine Understanding itself.

Isaiah 2:2-6 shows that there are indeed, two (2) houses ... the "house of Jacob" and the "house of the GOD of Jacob". One Israel owns, and one God Almighty Owns. We invite people, Israelites, to "step over into the light" of Divine Truth, this is the house where we must put on the "Apron" of servitude for Jehovah...till he says the Divine Work is done, completely to His satisfaction.

Back in the "field", the WTS' "field" of servitude [BTG slavery] that we all participated in, yes we did acquire "knowledge", data, facts and figures, and so on. They printed many books, bibles literature, concordances, bible dictionaries for us. So they fed us, while we "slaved" for those wicked tyrants of Babylon. But we did eat there too. We did learn a few things of great value that would eventually help us on our long journey to Divine Truth. - Revelation 18:13

In time, unfortunately, that the WTS wrong on many teachings and practices. So we found that we have to regroup. And if we also were willing to go as Jesus said, ... the "extra mile", yes shoulder the responsibility of doing more "duty" that is required of God's House of Divine Truth, that is more work that is into the "house" of our Grand Master, then we would finally, finally be rewarded for our earnest efforts and be allowed to gain or acquire true UNDERSTANDING of the "facts" we have acquired at the WTS "field", while working there. (Matthew 5:41) We must be willing to do "DOUBLE DUTY," work in the "field" under one Covenant Arrangement, and then be willing to work under ANOTHER COVENANT Arrangement. Two covenants... This what Jesus asked of Peter and first century disciples. Peter and his brothers were willing to do "DOUBLE DUTY" and slave for Jehovah under two different Covenant Arrangements. The Mosaic Law and the Christian Arrangement enacted at Pentecost.

Those of "Israel" that do not want to do "DOUBLE DUTY" under this God inspired test situation, they fall into the category described in Ezekiel 33:12, 13 which says:

"And as for you, 0 son of man, say to the sons of your people, 'the righteousness of the righteous one will not itself deliver him in the day of his revolt..."

Explanation: His unique "revolt" is revealed in that he was not willing to go into the house and put on the Divine Truth "Apron." That is his "revolt" that he will be remembered for.

Moral of Story: With Jehovah, you are always, always remembered for the last thing you do..that's a rule you can remember...so its always about how you finish, finish the race, not how you start it. [Remember the story of the children's fable of the tortoise and rabbit race.]

"...But as regards the wickedness of the wicked one, he will not be made to stumble by it in the day of his turning back from his wickedness...

Explanation: wicked "harlots" and "tax collectors" or people thrown away by Pharisees of Jesus' day, or people classified as "worthless" as disfellowshipped ones by WTS "elders" of our time like many of us, will be forgiven their past problems if they are willing to do the "final work" that God requests and put on the "Apron" Divine Truth. - Luke 14:21

"...Nor will even anyone having righteousness be able to keep living because of it, in the day of his sinning. When I say to the righteous ones: "You will positively keep living,"

Explanation: This person has obtained the "crown" of life...he has the DECLARATION FROM GOD that he has "life", God said to him, "you will positively keep living..." So he has obtained God's Own Admission that he is indeed "righteous"...he has worked faithfully in the WTS "field"...so far..but strangely somethings happens...let's read on.

"...and he himself actually trusts in his own righteousness and does injustice..."

Explanation: he takes new liberties before God, trusting in his righteous standing with God...he has the "crown" but, does not know that Satan can still, still "STEAL THE CROWN" from him. He is badly mistaken and has placed way too much emphasis on his achievements of the WTS "field"... - See Revelation 3:11 KJV where "steal the crown" expression is rendered.

PLEASE NOTE: This is what happened to the unfaithful "locusts", the vast majority of those fortunate enough, those "chosen" by God to participate in the "1st Woe" of Revelation 9th chapter. They had their "crown" but allowed Satan to "steal it" from them and lost God's Favor on a permanent basis. - Revelation 9:7

"...all his own righteous acts [while working in the WTS "field"] will NOT be remembered, but for his injustice [the thing he did last] that he has done - for this he will die." - Ezekiel 33:12,13

If you recognize that after working in the WTS "field", you still only have "knowledge" but lack true understanding [the minas or talents] the real "treasure" of Divine Truth, then the bible is still a mystery to you, and you should be trying ever harder, in the most intense search to discover what you lack to fulfill or complete you as a Servant of Jehovah God...but don't stop, with only what you possess from the WTS and go no further. You must be willing to do "DOUBLE DUTY", have humility, search yourself and be willing to do whatever it takes to complete your Divine Task, before God grants you your freedom to do the things you wish, as a "freed" Slave, the things you wish to do for yourself...your will. You can do your "will" when you completely finish God's Will for you.

Therefore, the grand quest for Truth, that is "Divine Truth", the journey itself, is a long, arduous one. It is an odyssey, with many pitfalls along the way. Like the legend of Odysseus's adventures in his 10-year attempt to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. As we recall, it was an adventure filled with hardships and thrills all along the way. But surprisingly, we may find that the road to God's "Truth", Divine Truth, is the same. It is a long, long arduous journey, filled with pitfalls and dangers, all along the way, as it seems for searching mankind.

Like many of you, I walked away from the WTS and Jehovah's Witnesses (more than 14 years ago) wondering, 'Where did we go wrong, as an organization?" And "Where is Jehovah, in all of this confusion?" Today, after much intense scrutiny & study of this matter, its my sense that with so many thousands, possibly 10s of thousands stumbled, spiritually injured worldwide by the constant transgressions and sins perpetrated by the wicked WTS, I've found this to be, NO EASY SITUATION TO FACE or scripturally address, as far as real answers go. No, not at all.

It takes real, real "effort" before truth, Divine Truth can be achieved. It is gained with real effort, "earnest effort". - 2 Peter 1:5

And that's why internet JW discussion boards are so important. Think of all of the righteously inclined individuals, that can be reached by such a public, vibrant medium.

Thinking back, one thing I've found out over the years is, "with all that you acquire, acquire understanding." (Proverbs 4:7)

In other words, with our relentless quest for knowledge, facts and documentation, also we must make a concerted effort to acquire real "understanding" too. You see, from God's perspective, acquiring knowledge and acquiring "understanding" are entirely two different things. But, both are necessary.

First we must acquire knowledge, facts, data and so on. In other words, we must come to "know" our subject matter. In this case, what is stated in the Bible, God's Word per say. I think, if the truth be told, the WTS really helped us in this area, by providing bibles, concordances, bible dictionaries and so on. Because from these, it became possible for us to acquire the "facts". The WTS helped us to better acquaint ourselves with the contents of the Bible itself, of course, by reading it.

But now. for true "understanding". This is another goal altogether. Yes, remember Paul the former Pharisee, actually had "knowledge", he knew facts about God's Word. But did Paul have "understanding", Divine "Understanding" before becoming a "Christian"? I think most would agree, he simply did not.

So though, even after acquiring knowledge of God, facts if you will, still Paul had to work for true "understanding". He had to work for "Divine Truth". And today, so do we. The WTS could not give this to us. Because God didn't give it to them. His choice. And therefore, they could not give it to us, this Divine Truth. And this is what we all found out, the hard way.

Only Jehovah can reveal this. And it takes, real effort on our parts, and real faith... Real faith to believe what God is showing us.Matthew 13:11 shows us something. God's Divine Truth, which can be explained concisely, then is Jehovah's Special "Understanding" of matters pertaining to Himself and His Grand Purposes, His "confidential matters" is rightly called: God's "Sacred Secrets" or the Great "Mysteries [Greek: mysterions] of God". Therefore, for one to gather such special information from God, from Jehovah God, he will have to make a genuine, real "effort" to acquire such. That is a simple fact that we must all accept to get anywhere. We must "seek" for it, to "acquire it", as God's Word says. - Proverbs 4:7; Amos 3:7; Matt. 7:7,8, 14

One such area that should be of great concern to all of God's Servants, should be the "kingdom" of God itself, the one described at Daniel 2:44. (More about this later.) Even today, this subject matter, is still, a "sacred secret" to God's Servants, thus far. Also, its mysterious connection with the "birth" of the "Male Child" Government that will rule the earth, in eternity persists still as a mystery too. All of this, is still, a "sacred secret", hidden from the eyes of all of God's True Servants today. - Revelation 12:5.

PLEASE NOTE: Therefore, for one to find Divine Truth, knowledge of "sacred secrets" like described above, then one must be at least willing to "knock". Willing then, to put forth some effort to find and better understand these bible "truths." That one must put forth the effort to "seek", if we expect to "find" true understanding from God - Divine Truth. Real effort is needed to gain a genuine "understanding" of God's purposes -- these "hidden" purposes within the prophetic books of the Bible. We should want to know more about the subject matter. And we show this by asking questions. By inquiring. As they say, "inquiring minds want to know!" So, we should want to grow, expand our minds in learning. - Matt. 7:7,8, 14; Romans 16:25, 26; Ephesians 3:9

Proverbs 9:9 says,

"Give to a wise person and he will become still wiser. Impart knowledge to someone righteous and he will INCREASE in learning."

This should be all of our attitudes, as servants of God. This is how we grow in "understanding". This is how we "increase in learning". So after we've accumulated the facts, the data while we were Jehovah's Witnesses, and now that we' have LEFT the WTS, its time to move on to the next phase of our journey. We should now be willing to put "earnest forth", real effort to acquire "understanding", just as Jesus directed. We should seek to gain knowledge of God's "sacred secrets" [Greek: mysterion], as revealed in the "prophets" of old. --Matt. 13:11; 2 Peter 1:5; Rev. 10:7; 22:6

We live in an age when this special "understanding" can become our possession. The mystery "Chieftain" as revealed at Ezekiel 44:1-3 then is, I believe, a good place to begin that quest, to begin our search for Divine "Truth."

Remember, Jehovah God has done His All-Important part. He has provided. So then, its up to us, individually, as God's Name People, Jehovah's Witnesses to search for it. To search for Divine "Truth."

The "Chieftain" -- Donald C. Burney (yorww)

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Review Questions For Article: The Search for Divine Truth – Is It Attainable?



1. What is the point of Luke 17:7-9 in reference to our service to Jehovah?

2. How do these verses apply to Jehovah’s Witnesses?

3. Isaiah 2:2-6 shows that there are two “houses” where worship to Jehovah is rendered, the “house of Jacob” and the “house of the God of Jacob.” What do these two houses represent?

4. What did we acquire while working at the “house of Jacob?” What will we acquire while working in the “house of the God of Jacob?”

5. What would it mean if we decide that we do not want to do “double duty” according to Ezekiel 33:12, 13?

6. If a person recognizes that, after years in the Watchtower Society’s “field,” he lacks true understanding of the Bible, what must he be willing to do if he wants to be complete as a servant of Jehovah?

7. Will the quest for Divine truth be an easy one to attain?

8. Why were we unable to acquire “understanding” of God’s word while in the Watchtower Society’s “field?”

9. What does this special “understanding” pertain to and how may we obtain this information?

10. What attitude should we all cultivate in harmony with Proverbs 9:9?



To get the answers for the review questions CLICK HERE.


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