“Oh that I knew where I might find Him!” Job 23:3
Dear Ones:
There are many reasons for seeking God. Most of them seem to come from an acute need to be saved, or delivered, from something. For Jonah, it was deliverance from the belly of a fish, an impossible situation. For Job, it was deliverance from almost unbearable suffering and loss. Long is the list of those in the Old Testament, who cried out to the Lord because of a certain need. Among them was Hannah, the mother of Samuel, because she was childless. For David it was what seemed to be a constant cry of his heart to be saved from his enemies. Why is it that people often need to feel, and be convinced of, the absolute need of turning to God, to seek and find Him? Is there not a natural attraction to God? Isaiah reveals the answer to us: “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way.” (Is. 53:6) The Apostle Paul adds a complimentary reason for which we are not “naturally” drawn to God: “There is NONE righteous, no, not one…there is NONE that seeks (naturally) after God.” (Romans 3:10,11) Man is born “going astray,” wandering aimlessly, helplessly, the prisoner of his own thoughts, means, and purpose to live. He cannot seek God unless God seeks him. Jesus once said: “No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him.” (Jn.6:44) If there is any desire for God, any attraction or attention to Him, especially, any desire to seek Him, it is because through circumstances, or the conviction by His Spirit, God is “calling.” The Father is drawing the heart of the individual to Christ in order that he will find Him.
In this matter of how to know Christ, we always begin with Christ Himself, and no other. We begin with what He has declared Himself to constantly BE in His sovereignty: the Creator, Redeemer, Savior of the world, and our everlasting Keeper. This is the revelation of Him in and according to His word. The second thing that we must come to grips with, in order to know Him, is what He declares in His word with regard to His promises. The revelation of God’s person is necessary to see the authority and power with which He speaks. The promises that He gives are essential for faith to lay hold on Him, and Him alone, for their accomplishment. The evidence of His working is revealed in the certainty of His promise: “‘And you shall seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found of you,’ saith the Lord.” (Jer. 29:13,14) Here is the doorway by which the helpless, and hopeless sinner, can be assured to KNOW Christ. From that point on, the increasing knowledge of Christ and the experience of His eternal Life, will depend on the development of an ever-increasing communion with Him.
Just as the initial “beginning” of knowing Christ has its essence in the initiative and work of God, so does every aspect of deepening fellowship with Him. In the Song of Solomon, we find that at two critical times in the love relationship between the bridegroom and bride, the bride “…hears the voice of her beloved,…knocking.” (2:8,4:8) What is the importance of this? The bridegroom ( a picture of Christ), calls the bride higher, to choose between deeper fellowship with Him, by following Him in obedient faith, or to remain in the stationary satisfaction and security of His provision, His blessings. His love for His bride, desiring that which is best for her, and for the glory of God, will not leave her to lesser things. Wesley summed it up so very clearly: “Less than Thyself, O do not give; in might Thyself within me live; come ALL Thou hast and art.”
Dear Father, Give us to hear Thy Son’s voice by the Spirit, according to Thy word. Grant us the grace to respond in obedient faith to His voice knocking at the door of our hearts. Then we shall increasingly know Him, for Thy glory. We thank and praise Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad