Seek

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Terry R. Baughman

“Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6 NKJ).

The prophets declared the accessibility of God; He is available when we come seeking Him! Jeremiah assured us, “You will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:12-13 NKJ). This promise came right after the passage where it was revealed that the very thoughts of God toward us are of peace and His plan is, “to give you a future and a hope” (vs. 11). The God of Glory is not an angry God just waiting around the corner to catch us in our sin bringing swift judgment, but He is One who is patiently and lovingly waiting for us to turn our hearts to Him. 

The story of the entire Bible is the revelation of God’s eternal purpose. It brings us hope and assurance that God is working all things for good, that He is a good God, and that He is present with us when we seek Him. The character of God is revealed in that His mercy endures to all generations!

Among the many lessons given in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus issued a steadfast promise, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8 NKJ). God encourages prayer and assures us of His attentive response if we will simply ask, seek, and knock. 

To seek is to diligently search for something desire. Answers to our most pressing needs are not always apparent and readily available, but the assurance of His promise leads us to continue looking, searching, and seeking. Jesus said “seek, and you will find!”

In the parables of Jesus, the Kingdom of Heaven was likened to a merchant seeking beautiful pearls. In his search he found one that was so superior to any other that he sold all that he had to obtain it. Some have likened this to our search for God, signifying that Jesus is our Pearl of Great Price. However, we have nothing to give, nothing to sell that would ever enable us to purchase the value of salvation which we have freely received. 

A better understanding of the pearl of great price, is that Jesus willingly gave everything so that He could redeem us from sin and unite us with Him. It was by His blood we have been redeemed and by His sacrifice we have been purchased. He who had everything gave it all so that we who were nothing, might be made something in Him.  

In the reality TV show, “American Pickers,” the stars traveled small towns and distant places to dig through antiques and storerooms to discover things of value. They negotiated a price and bought items for their collections or other antiques they planned to sell. These were people who made a business of seeking valuables. Similarly, Jesus came seeking things of great value to Him that others may have viewed as worthless. Only God can see the true value of the soul. It was written, “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10 NKJ).

Knowing that Christ has done so much to save us, why wouldn’t we seek Him and respond to His great love? Time is of the essence. The prophet admonished the people, “Call upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6 NKJ). He is near and He is available to respond to our cry. Seek Him! He is here!

Theme passage:
“Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7 NKJ).