Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, have never abandoned anyone who searches for you. (Psalm 9:10)
This is a pretty strong statement. It says that if you search for God, you can’t not find him. If you search for God, you can’t come up empty.
Yesterday we talked about the fishbowl theology of the human predicament. We had five fish in a fishbowl swimming around looking everywhere for God when all along, God is the water they swim in. (“…for in him we live and move and have our being.”) (Acts 17:28)
It’s almost comical if it weren’t so tragic. God is all around us but we can’t see him. So we’re searching, reaching, trying to find what is right under our noses.
It can be so confusing, I know. Do we find him or does he find us? Is it our choice or his? Well, the answer is, Yes. It’s both of these at the same time, and anyone who claims to fully understand how this works has got a less than adequate explanation for it.
If God opens the eyes of some and closes the eyes of others, then why bother searching? Because that is the mystery. In spite of all this opening and closing, God has clearly stated that those who seek him will find him. Given a promise like that, wouldn’t you have to conclude that only a fool would not seek him? Wise men still seek him; fools do not.
For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:10-13)
John Fischer The Catch 
John, O’Fischer of Men,
I enjoyed and was uplifted by your words today. As a former musician and radio operator, not to mention a sinner as well, I find we are on the same wavelength about the “Spirit” but, maybe, not the same frequency. We seem to be singing the same song but not necessarily at the same time
or key. I sometime use the words resonant or congruent with the Spirit in communion with God.
Our late Banjo Club used the idea that it was most pleassant if we all played the same song in the same key at the same time but two out of three was better than not being there.
I sometimes feel enthused. When I try to analyze the feeling, I often lose it.
God is on all frequencies, wavelengths and tempos always, even now. Praise, worship, glorify, honor, obey, respect and love the creator. He,she or it is “The ONE,” don’t you know?
The “Fruit for the Day” is Joy and enthusiasm. How sweet it is!
Shalom Brother John,
Jay T. Basinger
A few years ago I heard from a friend about a co-worker of his who announced that he was giving God two weeks to make a connection. As I remember the story nothing happened in that time period so he gave up on God and went his own way.
I have often wondered what might have gone wrong. Was it his issue or God’s.
Good word, John. I agree in principle, but your thoughts got me thinking.
The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
There are biblical qualifiers to seeking and finding. It seems to me that all may seek God, but not all will find him. Every human being bears the image of the creator God who has “set eternity in the hearts of men” (Ecc. 3:11). That eternity that once was filled with God before the Fall, now because of sin is filled with mystery and the unknown. It is a soul-void that all mankind is driven to fill. All will seek God, or a god of some kind, because we must. However, Scripture seems to say that only those willing to believe the truth that God has revealed about himself will truly find him.
Faith, or belief, is the key that unlocks the door to the mystery of finding and knowing the God of creation and eternity. Many will seek him; only those with faith will find him. How much faith? I believe God will “reward” the smallest mustard seed of faith, even faith that cannot be seen with human eyes of the heart. God is not arbitrarily choosing some for eternal joy, and abandoning others to eternal separation; he is longingly and lovingly listening for the heart cry of faith in the seeker of truth. No matter how weak or troubled or broken or bruised or lost the soul from which it comes may be, I believe God is waiting patiently to respond. He hears and is near in our seeking, but he responds to and rewards our faith and belief. That is why he sent Jesus: “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself” (Jn 12:32). God draws, we seek, we believe, God rewards. Just some thoughts. As always, I reserve the right to be wrong.
These discussions are always so hard. That’s why I try to frame them in a certain way. For instance, it can be argued that even the faith to believe God comes from Him. At that, one could say, well then, it doesn’t matter what we do, it’s all up to God. But you can still argue human responsibility because the Bible teaches both. That’s why I like to stress what we can do something about even though we will later find out it was God who did it through us. That’s the mystery.
I also find it very hard to believe that God is going to stand at the gates of heaven and say to anybody… “Oooops! So sorry. You sought me but you had the wrong god! Down you go!”
I wasn’t trying to disagree; just thinking out loud. Personally, I’ve never bought the “faith is a work” argument because I don’t see that language anywhere in Scripture (we are saved by grace through faith). I also don’t believe that God’s core nature is his law, justice, and wrath; but rather it is his his grace, love, and forgiveness. Though we still must preach the gospel, it is presumptuous for any of us to say whose faith is or isn’t acceptable to God. Though we seek him and find him by faith, in the end it will be his grace that saves any of us, no matter how small our faith. Who are we to think we can define what the extent of the creator God’s grace and mercy will be?! I’m with you on that.
I agree.