As a teenager I liked (and still enjoy), listening to a contemporary singer/songwriter by the name of Keith Green. He came from Sheepshead Bay, not far from our church here in Canarsie. In a documentary of his life, he told how before his conversion, he used to perform at little clubs and cafes in the city. At that time, everyone was singing songs about the meaning of life, and searching for answers. His songs were well received… until the day he found the answer. When he started singing about the new life he found in Jesus and the satisfaction that knowing Him brings, they didn’t want to listen to him anymore. Evidently, they loved the search and didn’t want it to end. People are funny that way. Jesus had them in His day as well.
Many a Jew spent much of his/her life awaiting the appearing of their long-promised Messiah. To this very day, most are still waiting. However, when questioned, it is soon revealed that they are not at all in agreement as to exactly who or what they are waiting for. For some, “The Messiah” has become no longer a person, but perhaps an event which will restore their nation to the prominence they once enjoyed. They take pride in their seeking. We are all like that at times. Skydivers never want the fall to end. Hunters call it the “thrill of the chase.” Seeking becomes more important than finding.
Speaking as God’s mouthpiece, the prophet Jeremiah tells us, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jer. 29:13) Could it be that our half-hearted seeking has kept us on this endless road to nowhere and blinded us to the truth that is staring us right in the face? In Luke chapter five, Jesus returned from His Temptation in the power of the Holy Spirit. He immediately began to teach in their synagogues and made quite a favorable impression with the people - that is until He came to His own town of Nazareth. On the Sabbath, He entered the synagogue and opened the scroll to the book of Isaiah. Reading the passage from the sixty-first chapter, He proclaimed Himself to be their long-awaited Messiah. That didn’t sit well with many of them; they wouldn’t receive it. “We may not know who the Messiah is, but we are sure he couldn’t possibly be you!” So offended at the thought, they attempted to throw Him off a cliff. How tragic. So willing was Jesus to “open the eyes of the blind,” but they refused (and so their search continued).
Jesus left Nazareth in search of those who would receive Him and His message. By His gracious words and miraculous signs, He found them - even among the Gentiles. Even the demons recognized who He was and obeyed Him. How sad that the devils had more discernment than His own people. Could that be said of us as well? The rest of the chapter tells us that for a time at least, Jesus had much success ministering in the surrounding towns and cities. Multitudes came out to meet Him and He healed them all. The chapter that began with rejection ends quite differently - “And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them … “(vs. 42)
Why is it that we have so many in our churches who have become “professional seekers” (for years in some cases), but never “finders”? They hear His words and consider His claims but never take Him as their own. Maybe it’s because finding requires much more from us than seeking does. Once we find Christ, we have to do something with Him – or rather let Him do something with us. Not everyone is willing for such an upset in their lives. Seeking is much more comfortable for the time being, but everyone’s seeking will come to an end one day - that’s for certain. It will either end in our finding Jesus to be our all in all, or Him finding us to be wanting (i.e., lacking) in that day. Isaiah said it best – “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near.” (Isa. 55:6)
To know Him is to desire Him,
To desire Him is to seek Him,
To seek Him is to find Him,
And to find Him is everything!
L.M. Judd
Prayer: Gracious God, don’t let me get lost in the seeking – draw me into Your Presence today.
