SEEKING THE LORD -- Tomorrow:
"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near."KJV\ (Isaiah 55:6)
Seeking is an adventuresome occupation, particularly when there is a true object to be sought. To seek for something that is nonexistent is wearisome indeed, and we soon become heavy laden in such vanity. If I should search for a freshly cultured pearl in a swine's snout, I should soon despair, for that is not the place where pearls are developed.
True seeking postulates the existence of the object to be sought, and we should be fools indeed to engage in an ardent probing for something that we were not persuaded was substantial. Experientially we have been brought to the realization that, though presently obscured, there actually exists something worthy of a diligent search. Its location may be held in question, but it has been confirmed to us through some convincing means that the commodity for which we seek actually does exist. It but remains to locate it. Thus do men engage in the most tedious quests for gold, oil, silver, precious stones, and relics. Without, however, the persuasion of the existence of a given object, none would foolishly engage in a search for it.
Men are led to search for objects through means of their conviction and persuasion; precious twins of a most compelling nature.
In no area is the subject of seeking as vital, however, as in that of man's acquaintance with the Living God. Here is a sphere that calls for the utmost diligence and perseverance. God, being Infinite and beyond all human comprehension (to say nothing of His inaccessibility to the "mind of the flesh" (Col. 2:18), the "natural man" (I Cor. 2:14), and the "will of the flesh" (John 1:13)) offers the greatest and most enthralling Subject to be sought! Though His ways are "past finding out" (Rom. 11:33), yet there are offered to men, through grace, occasional glimpses of the glory of God, which are sufficient to draw them to heaven, bringing to them the "Divine Nature" (II Pet. 1:4; 11 Cor. 3:18).
Often the question arises in some minds; "Why do men not seek the Lord with more diligence?" They seek for earthly treasures and fame with such incessant activity that they soon succumb physically because of the strain. Why? Simply because they are persuaded of these treasures, and they are not persuaded of God! They have not been convicted in their heart of His reality!
Our Lord Himself affirms; "He that cometh to Him must believe that HE IS, and that He is the Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Heb. 11:6). Before any individual may approach unto the Living God (seek Him), he must FIRST be persuaded of His reality, His existence in the Spirit.
There are two ways in which this verse may be taken; neither violates the intent of the passage, and both are in conformity with the general intent of Scripture. First, the stipulative or restrictive sense; and second, the lawful and legal viewpoint. By stipulation or restrictive, I mean that no man will have an inclination to seek the Lord until he is FIRST persuaded of His reality. Only this kind of person will even engage in the seeking of which we speak. By lawful or, legal, I mean that God will not PERMIT any but the persuaded ones to seek Him. He is displeased with all activity that proceeds from an unconvicted heart, or one that is not persuaded! Those who are not persuaded that God is, and that He is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, must familiarize themselves with God's revelation of Himself in Moses, the Prophets, and the Apostles - the Bible. It is through the means of "hearing" that faith is induced by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 10:17; 11 Cor. 4:13; Gal. 5:22).
It is quite true that God has placed within man an intuitive knowledge of Himself, as well as resounding testimony to His "eternal power and Godhead (Divinity)" in nature. "For the invisible things of Him from (or in) the creation of the world are clearly seen (to the perceiving eye), being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse; because that, when they know God, they glorified Him not as God . . . and . . . did not like (enjoy) to retain God in their knowledge" (Rom. 1:20-28). The inward sense of God, however, is so obscured by evil imaginations, which dominate man "from his youth" (Gen. 8:21), there must be a spiritual preaching of the Word of God to awaken in man the desire to search God out. By nature, man does not seek the Lord. As it is written; "There is none that seeketh after God" (Rom. 3:11; Psa. 14:1-3; 53:1-3). It follows, therefore, that there must be a Divine work wrought in man whereby he is constrained to seek the Lord with his whole heart. That work is initiated by hearing the Word of God, particularly the Gospel.
It should also be noted that seeking the Lord is the appointed vocation of all men. The Word of God affirms that God has even strategically positioned all men in both time and place in order that they might seek Him. Here is the word. "From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us" (Acts 17:26,27, NIV).
How about you, dear reader? Are you taking advantage of where and when God has placed you? Are you faithful in your appointed occupation, seeking and finding Him in a fuller and more satisfying degree?
PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You in Jesus name for giving me an advantage in both time and location to seek You. Grant me grace to always remember that advantage, and never cease seeking your face.