Pekka Ervast: No Religion is higher than Truth (translated by Marko)

In Matthew 7 there are well-known words of Christ: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." In Luke 11 there's quite literally the same passage.
What might Jesus mean by this asking and seeking? Does he leave it to every one himself to decide what one ought to seek and ask for, or does he determine that by himself more precisely? When we examine the gospel we'll notice that Jesus won't leave us without help and guidance in this respect, but on the contrary with clear words he brings forth what is the most important thing a man has to seek and ask for, above all. The third one from the next verses in Luke is as follows: "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"

So it is the Holy Spirit that Jesus tells his disciples to ask for. Gospel according to Matthew repeats this idea by following, slightly vague words: "...how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" From the previous chapter, verse 33, it is clear that neither Matthew means just any "good" when he tells to seek first "the kingdom of God". Therefore one may assume with every reason that these three things, "the Holy Spirit", "good", and "the kingdom of God" are in some close connection to each other.
What might Jesus mean by "the Holy Spirit"? He gives the two more names for the same thing: "The comforter" and "the spirit of truth". And most clearly his thought comes forth in the following verse: "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your rememberance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
It is the spirit of truth "which shall teach all things", in other words, wisdom, truth, that Christ commands us to seek in that joyful hope that we shall find it, that Father in heaven shall give us what we asked for.
Precisely in a same way the same issue is presented by the apostle James in his epistle (1:5): "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

Therefore the words of Christ, "Seek and you shall find", are not only beautiful and vain talk that we may overlook with due delight. They are noteworthy words and important key to him who wishes to break through to the spirit of the New Testament and to find out what is included in the concept of "religion" at all.
By these words Christ prooves that truth or wisdom is not (such) a thing that is achieved by anyone under any circumstances, or that is available for all without difference as completely formed faith. By these words he raises religion above outer and daily life - great and high and mysterious - making it the kingdom of God, the gate of which is opened only to him who knocks. We shall find the truth only if we seek for it. "The kingdom of heaven is taken by the force", i.e. by one's own personal efforts.
By these words Christ also points out the real relation of true wisdom to a man. It is not a doctrine or system of thought that educated mind could comprehend and judge any time; it belongs to invisible region. Every one must personally make an effort to seek for it by "asking" in his own innermost being; then his reward will be a personal, spiritual enlightment, personal comforting knowledge of "all".

At the same time when Christ emphasizes that the truth is unavailable without man's own efforts, he brings forth the certain knowledge that it exists. True wisdom dwells in nature, it is spiritual, invisible nature, "the kingdom of God". That's why it is an area of exploration, and by his words Christ has made religion a spiritual science.
Like a scientist is seeking for the law of nature by means of experiment and logical deduction, so must the student of religion seek for the truth by asking or by inner experiences of life and exploration or by thinking intellectually. Difference is that the area of investigation in previous case is the outer nature, that of later it is on the contrary the invisible world of the soul. Similarity reaches even further. When a scientist after thousand failed experiments finds his law of nature, it happens suddenly as if by chance; The one and only well-succeeded experiment has once and for all confirmed the truth his genius foresaw; and now he only has to specify his conviction. It is same for religious seeker for truth. He's seeking and asking and knocking, until he's at the edge of desperation; The only thing supporting him in this fight is the faraway glittering star of hope, which as a presentiment is foretelling of future light. And suddenly like a strike of magic, the seeking student will find himself in the light of truth. Revelation from above has once and for all given him much longed for knowledge of "all". Both the scientist and the disciple have found. They don't know how; they only know they have asked and knocked. And so suddenly they have been given what they have wanted, for them the gates of the kingdom of truth have been opened.

But even more will be revealed by these remarkable words. By them Christ prooves that he is not a religious fanatic who offers his faith as merchandise, only trying to convert the people, but rather he is a profound philosopher and a man who has a clear eye of a scientist. Christ does not only speak for the feeling, he does not only wake up the sleeping conscience, he also appeals to the reason. "I have come to say the truth and if you with sincere heart will seek for it, you will see that my talk is truth."
This is the talk of a man who knows. And that inspires trust.
He is a man who explains the declaration of truth in his life's mission, and he tells all to believe his words promising then liberation and bliss. Yes, he claims that the only way to truth is to believe him, that what he says is true. But he won't appear as tyrant who insists that his personal will must be fulfilled; he won't speak of himself. He has fount the truth, and he suffers because his brothers walk in the darkness and ignorance. That's why he shouts at them from the bottom of his heart: "Seek, seek and you shall find!... And then you shall understand that i'm not talking of myself but the truth."
This really should draw our attention - of the one who's ignorant as well as the one who's self-confident and doubtful.

A man suffers hatred, persecution and all kinds of troubles and finally the death of a martyr because he's preaching the truth. He quarantees with his life that there is a truth. He awakens the ignorant, he warns the self-confident, he encourages the doubtful. He comforts the sorrowful, he calls the doubtful, the burdened, to him. "Come to me, all of you, I will revive you! Blessed are you who are mourning: your joy will be great. Behold, there is a truth in this world of suffering, fighting and unjustice. Only you go blind, the light is shining around you. But I have found the light, therefore listen to my words."
And that's why the first advice he gives those who listen, is this: "Seek, seek - with all your heart, with all your soul!" Won't this encouragement revive the forces of our soul? "Turn away from useless struggle! Awaken from your numb ignorance! Step on the new way that is pointed to us and seek for the truth! The knowledge of truth is higher than all faith, and in that knowledge there is eternal life." Strongly urging words, but wonderful, full of promise. We stand amazed, wondering in front of these new perspectives opened before our spiritual eyes. Suddenly the whole life is lighted by the supernatural brightness.
We are reaching for all things possible, but rarely we seek for the truth. For the most of us the meaning of life is fight for material existence. How different is Christ's idea of life! His idea is this: "Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, what shall we drink? or, wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."