Would I Have Recognized Jesus?

As a child, I remember wondering if I would have recognized Jesus as the Messiah had I lived during His time on earth. It is a complex question. As I read my Bible, I read of many intelligent, educated people who completely missed the mark; they did not recognized Jesus as Messiah. People who walked alongside Jesus on this earth, people who witnessed His miracles with their own eyes, did not recognize Him. I could easily end the conversation with the thought that I would have been different; I would have been among those who recognized Jesus. But, that response is just too simple for me.

Biblical prophecy tells us that Jesus will come to earth again someday. This prophecy also tells us that, once again, some people will not recognize Jesus as Savior. To this day, I still consider the question of whether or not I will recognize Him. Not only do I desire to recognize Him, but I also am driven to know Him in whatever circumstance He returns. How is this possible?

2 Peter 1:3-4 tells me that I can recognize Jesus:

"His divine nature has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who has called us by His own grace and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption of this world caused by evil desires" (NIV).

I am studying "Daniel" with Beth Moore in the form of her published study. Daniel is an example of one man who embraced the knowledge given him by God for the purpose of participating in the divine nature. He studied prophecy and recognized the fulfillment of prophecy in his time. As a result, Daniel was a human whom God entrusted to impact the world at a particular time in history.

Based on this example, I take seriously the interests, passions, and desires I experience in my heart. Recently this is related to an awareness I have of our times in connection with Biblical prophecy. I am not a scholar on the subject - just an ordinary person. The desire of my heart is to know God and His Word for purpose of understanding Truth and applying Truth in contemporary culture. I want to analyze the current times based on God's Truth to synthesize Truth with culture, thereby evaluating life choices based on Godly revelation. In my life experience, I know God to impress His guidance in me through themes. As such, I am continually processing Truth, prophecy, and the responses of believers in Christ.

Travis Cottrell wrote "Your Word is Life to Me" for Beth Moore's "Daniel" Bible study. Google the song, listen, and worship. God's Word is life-changing! It is the key to recognizing Jesus....