The Search Is On

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you

 (James 4:8)

Have you ever lost your car keys or eyeglasses or the remote control to the tv?  If so, you know what it means to search for something with all your heart.  It would be interesting to know just how much time and energy is expended during a lifetime searching for lost items. 

Why are we willing to pour so much of ourselves into such efforts?  It’s because we recognize an immediate need for that which is lost, or because it is of significant value to us.  All other activity halts as we concentrate all our physical, mental and visual facilities on the search.

God was referring to that kind of search when He inspired the prophet to penned You will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart

 (Jeremiah 29:12)

God invites us into a loving relationship with Him that is real and personal.  Through His Son Jesus Christ, He has promised to save us, guide us, and protect us. To comfort us when we sorrow; give us strength when we are weak; courage when we are afraid, and joy in place of sadness.  He offers victory from defeat; peace in times of turmoil, and direction through the confusing maze of life:

He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength 

(Isaiah 40:29)

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning 

(Psalm 30:5)

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying “this is the way, walk in it” 

whenever you turn to the right or whenever you turn to the left

 (Isaiah 30:21)

Time has proven that God is faithful and has everything necessary to keep His promises.  Unlike us, He is not hampered by time, energy, or ability. His way is better than our way because, being timeless, He sees the past, present and future as one expanse:

“for My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” 

says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 

so are My ways higher than your ways, 

and My thoughts than your thoughts” 

(Isaiah 55:8-9)

Because of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, salvation is now free to everyone who believes in Him.  The only string attached to His offer is that we ask His forgiveness for our sin, and accept Him as Savior and Lord of our life:

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart 

that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and 

with the mouth confession is made unto salvation…

for whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved

 (Romans 10:9-10;13)

It is foolish and dangerous to refuse such an offer.  Yet millions are crippled and scarred because they do not recognize or admit their need for God.  If they would search for Him, they would find His Son waiting to receive them into a warm, personal, never-ending relationship with the One Who understands them more than they know themselves:

Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears 

My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and 

have fellowship with him and he with me

 (Revelation 3:20) 

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great 

and mighty (inaccessible) things, which you do not know

 (Jeremiah 33:3)

The search does not end at the moment of salvation. Rather it is just the beginning. The beginning of a wonderful new life as a child of God.  For just as we were born into our physical family, so salvation marks our birth into His spiritual family.  And just as we learn and grow in our earthly bodies, we are to learn and grow as God’s children:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, 

that you present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed

by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove 

what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God 

(Romans 12:1-2)

Lord, Thank You for knocking at my door, asking to come in;
for entering and giving me forgiveness for my sin; 
for teaching me to search beyond the little that I know, 
for truths that nurture me and help me learn and grow.