Dear Lighthouse,
We could not find Mr. Potato Head’s arm. You might think this is funny, but to my son, it was serious business. After all what is a Mr. Potato Head without his arms? Well,
we kept searching and eventually found the abandoned appendage resting by the back patio door.
All was well and great was the celebration!
Have you ever looked for something – I
mean really looked? A lot of thoughts go through your mind. Where did I see it last? Is it really somewhere I can find
it or did it get thrown out? What will I do if I can’t find it? You get anxious and frustrated. But, if you find it, oh, man,
what joy – what a feeling.
So many people in the world are just like us
when we are looking for something. They are anxious and frustrated. They know they’re missing something in life, but don’t know what it is. They’re mad if this is all there is to life – and rightfully so. They don’t know where to begin to look, what to look for, or even if it can be found. Sounds like my life before I really met the Father. How about
you?
There is good news in all of this. We, fallible and weak Christians, harbor within us a message of truth and hope that is like the missing
piece in humanity’s puzzle. It’s an answer that so many are looking
for. Are you ready to take part in sharing it?
The good news is that God is available. I Chronicles 28:9 makes this statement, “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge
the God of your father, and serve Him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart
and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be
found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever”. You
see, God is not hiding, He is just waiting to be found. He has sacrificed and
worked overtime so that those who are willing can find Him and have the salvation that He Himself has purchased.
But you must be committed to the search. You must have a heart set on finding the answers in life. This world is dark. You must be willing to leave it behind
as you seek the Light. Consider these two statements:
“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.” (Heb. 11:6)
“To those who by
persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life.” (Rom. 2:7)
The search for God is for the faithful who are
willing to sacrifice the comfort of what they can see for the hope held out to them by the unseen Hand of God. The Christian life is not for the timid and weak; it is a challenge.
Everyday brings new dangers, new forks in the road, and new obstacles. But,
oh, what a prize and what joy lies at the end of our struggle!
You see, just like finding something you’re
searching for, joy awaits you when you find the Father. Jesus told the parable
of the woman who lost a coin to illustrate this very idea. “Or suppose
a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep
the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she
calls here friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who
repents.” (Luke 15:8-10) Can you just see Heaven watching, sometimes
on the edge of their seat, waiting to see what we will become if we will just earnestly start seeking Him. We seek so many other things – power, fame, money, pleasure – that our attention is focused
on all the wrong things. Too many goals in life spoils the palate, dilutes the
drive within us that we should have to grow in Him. It’s important to get
our priorities straight. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt. 6:33) If
we put God at the center of our pursuits everything else will fall into place.
But what if we look and we cannot find Him? What if it’s too hard and God has hidden Himself from us? Then I challenge you to not grow weary and to not give up. Consider
this guarantee, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
(Matt 7:7). You can find Him. He is not hiding from you. In fact, He
has done far more than give an invitation, He has already sought you out to give you the individual calling that you may need. You see, Jesus was God’s invitation to come.
He was God’s Redeemer, one who seeks out and buys back the lost. Jesus
makes it clear, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19:10). Still think the Father can’t be found? Try reading the
story of the prodigal son and not seeing the love that father had for his wayward son who came home. Note especially Luke 15:20, “So he got up and went to his father.
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his
son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” God is looking
for you!
So, today, if you feel distant from God or rub
shoulders with those that are seeking Him but may not even know it yet, consider God’s character. Evaluate your life and cut out the sin that may be stealing away the intimacy you desire between yourself
and God. Remember, the prodigal son repented, have you? Then, seek Him in prayer, in Bible study, and in talking to others about Him. Surround yourself with the Father’s words, His presence, and take on His character. Then I’ll bet that your joy will return.
Let’s seek Him today while He may be found.
(Isa. 55:6) And let’s show Him to everyone around us as we do!
Serving with you,
Evan