If you were given a puzzle in pieces to assemble without the picture on the box, and all you had to go by were the pieces, it would take time and effort to reach the point where the picture was correctly comprehended. However, once it was completed up to a certain point, the picture would begin to manifest. So likewise, after we are born, we begin gathering and putting together knowledge to create a picture of what we perceive life to be.

For most people, if not all, growing up, the picture becomes distorted for a number of reasons. Not every puzzle piece encountered is part of the true picture. Many pieces are created through traditions and falsehoods, which creep into cultures and become a basic template for those born into those cultures. Thus, the truth becomes more difficult to sort out and attain.

Nonetheless, the Spirit of God moves upon the waters, and wisdom cries without in the streets—there is no place where her voice is not heard and God is not. For as the scripture says, the true Light lightens everyone that comes into the world, even the spirit of truth.

For those who are drawn by that spirit and come to the knowledge of God, at times it may seem difficult when attempting to share the picture of Christ with unbelievers. You can tell them what the picture of Christ and salvation is, but you can only give them a piece or a few pieces of the puzzle at a time. They cannot see the whole picture like someone who has assembled many pieces, and what are a few puzzle pieces standing alone? The pieces you present could be many different things to them, and how can they be sure that what you offer is even a real part of the true picture?

It is therefore necessary for the Christian to study the Bible, learn, understand, put together, and memorize the pieces that fit together to be able to present enough of the picture to convince unbelievers that what is being preached belongs to the true picture. For those who have studied and are grounded in the word of God, the picture is clear: no story so simple yet so complex, with so many connections and intertwined mysteries that run so deep over such a period of time, could be anything other than the work of God. For the knowledgeable, there is no other alternative. “[W]e know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life” (1 John 5:20)

Even so, as challenging as it is to win over unbelievers, the greater challenge often comes in discourse with other Christians, some who may agree on fundamentals but seem to run ashore on other things that, to you, seem so clearly laid out in scripture with numerous conformations throughout the Bible. This, too, may be the way they perceive you. Either way, the body of believers becomes fragmented, and many divisions between Christians arise. Even when many views are very close, everyone has their own picture of the truth, for the puzzle is great, with innumerable pieces that create an invisible picture for each unique individual. You have your puzzle pieces, and everyone else has theirs. The pieces we seek are truths, but the devil tries to convince us that certain falsehoods belong in the picture.

Even before we become believers, throughout our lives, one by one, we have gathered up puzzle pieces. We may not have understood at the time how they fit together, but we knew there was truth in them, and somehow they all fit together. Over time, God began to put these pieces together for us, and we began to see a picture of the truth of God emerging. Sometimes the process was longer, but other times, it was as if the pieces were almost put together all at once for us. Although unknown at the time, God was teaching us throughout our lives in preparation for salvation. Wisdom cries without and utters her voice in the streets.

For those who come to know God, the pieces gathered were given by the Spirit. Other foreign pieces must be discerned and cast away. However, the truth of God, unlike worldly puzzles, has no corners or straight edges to establish a border to begin with and work inward—the picture of God is not finite.

Therefore, we begin assembling the truth wherever we are in life; that is the middle of our personal puzzle, and we work our way outward as far as we are able. The knowledge of God is endless; there are no boundaries or set number of pieces other than what God has determined for each of us to have. We have no picture to follow, but a description of the picture in the Bible. The picture appears as the pieces come together, and we have been given a helper—without whom there would be no hope of seeing the picture as it is—even the Spirit of Truth.

Only the Spirit can reveal the true pieces and teach us how they go together. A single piece of a puzzle means nothing alone, so likewise, we see nothing when presented with words of truth until other pieces are connected, which gives each piece context.

However, you cannot pick up a puzzle that has been assembled and show it to someone else; it all comes apart—how much less one that you can see and understand, but the other cannot. You must pick up one piece at a time and fit it into the other pieces that connect. As it is written in Isaiah 28:9–10:

“Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.”

Because we each are responsible for assembling our own puzzle, whether the differences are great or small between us, everyone has some variation in the parts of the puzzle they assemble and the things they see. Thus, even when we share knowledge, there will always be things we do or do not see that others do or do not. There will also be pieces taken in unknowingly that do not belong to the puzzle; the enemy has planted them. This is why it is good for Christians to communicate and assemble together to share with each other according to the scriptures. We can correct each other where the picture is wrong, and we can share knowledge with one another to enlarge the picture.

Since God has granted all souls independence, everyone alone is responsible for the picture assembled. There are no two pictures that are exactly alike. Therefore, as Christians, we should not demand that everyone adhere to our own work. The Lord hates discord among the brothers. Causing discord over doctrines on issues that are not salvational is a greater evil than waiting and praying for the Lord to make matters known. Bear one with another as much as possible. “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations” (Romans 14:1). Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Only those things that are salvational should we defend to the utmost, not tolerating any damnable heresies. We can have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. “A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself” (Titus 3:10:11).

However, we should strive to keep conversations respectful and be circumspect in discussions, especially in forums that host an audience of both believers and unbelievers, so that we are not a stumbling block to any.

The true picture is the word of God given context in Spirit and in Truth. If any part of a picture is wrong, there is always something to suffer. Only perfect truth brings no harm.

Those who do not love the truth will not assemble the pieces of the puzzle correctly, for they dread seeing the true picture. And once enough of the true picture is assembled, there is no going back without condemnation. You cannot unsee what you have seen, regardless of what you do with it afterwards. It is written that man lives by every word of God. Take heed; therefore, how you collect and assemble the truth; it is the difference between life and death. Pray always and ask the LORD.

“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. (Matthew 7:7-8)