Finding God

In Luke 15:4-6, Jesus said, "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'" When just one of this man's sheep was lost, he dropped everything, left the other ninety-nine sheep alone in the field, and went to search for that one lost sheep. He didn't stop looking until he found that sheep. Then he rejoiced over it and called his "friends and neighbors" (v. 6) to come celebrate with him.

And again, in verses 8-9, Jesus said, "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!'" When this woman lost one of her coins she searched the house thoroughly seeking to find it. When she couldn't find it quickly she never gave up the search. She kept on looking. She looked everywhere. She lit a lamp to help her see better. She swept the house to make sure she didn't miss anything. She searched until she found it. Then she, too, called her "friends and neighbors" (v. 9) to come and rejoice with her.

What I want to point out here is the diligence with which these two people searched for that which was lost. They never gave up the search. They searched with all their heart until they found the very thing which they were seeking. You see, it's all about the heart; seeking diligently with the whole heart. If your heart is not in it, you will likely fail to find what it is you are seeking.

This leads us to our main text: "Then 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). With these words God renewed His covenant with His people Israel. Verse 12 reminds them of His promise to them: "Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." In exile in Babylon, the people will begin to seek after God. He promises here that when they turn again and pray to Him, He will "listen" (v. 12).

Although this promise was given specifically to the people of Israel while exiled in Babylon, the principle is universally true. Hebrews 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Again, it speaks about diligently seeking after God. God is real and He rewards "those who diligently seek Him" (v. 6b).

In Jeremiah 29:13, we are told that "you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." When you "seek" God (v. 13a) "with all your heart" (v. 13b) and you "pray" to Him (v. 12a), He will "listen" (v. 12b) and you will "find" Him (v. 13a). That is God's promise to you. Amen.