“I was reading in Luke’s gospel the other day,” Stan commented, “and I saw a simple statement in one verse that reflected the exact opposite of me for way too long.”
“The exact opposite? How?”
“People were searching for Jesus,” Stan replied.
“So?”
“In the particular verse I was looking at,” Stan responded, “it says that the multitudes were searching for Jesus and they came to Him.”
“Why were they searching for Him?”
“I can’t answer for all of them,” Stan replied, “but it seems that some of them were just looking for what Jesus could do for them with physical healing. It could be that some were looking for spiritual healing, but that’s not where I was.”
“If that’s not where you were, where were you?” I asked.
“In my search for Jesus, I was nowhere,” Stan said. “I wasn’t searching for Jesus for anything. I simply was not looking for Him, and I’m concerned that it’s the same thing for many people today.”
“In what way?”
“They are not searching for Jesus in the first instance to gain life eternally with God the Father when it’s time,” Stan replied. “And, even if they have the assurance of salvation and redemption, they’re not searching for Jesus in the sense of wanting an ever-deepening relationship with Him while they remain on this side of eternity.”
“If that’s true, do you have any idea why?”
“I do,” Stan replied. “Based on way too much personal experience, I can say that the failure to search for and find Jesus in the first instance is because Satan blinds the minds of the unbelieving so they can’t see the truth.”
“Excuse the pun,” I said, “but I can see that!”
Stan smiled, laughed, and said, “Again, based on way too much personal experience, I can say that many believers, although they have the assurance of salvation and redemption, don’t search for Jesus to have an ever-deepening relationship with Him and God the Father.”
“Based on your personal experience?” I questioned. “How and why?”
“Failure to be a disciple who is pursuing discipleship.”
“You mean like not denying self, not taking up what’s to be taken up, and not following?” I said. “Is that it?”
“You got it, my friend,” Stan replied. “Seems to me that’s what searching for and finding Jesus is all about!”
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Bible verses to consider:
And when day came, He departed and went to a lonely place; and the multitudes were searching for Him, and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from going away from them. Luke 4:42.
And in the early morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place, and was praying there. And Simon and his companions hunted for Him; and they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” Mark 1: 35-37.
Seek and you shall find. Matthew 7:7.
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:3-4.
And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.” Luke 9:23-24.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for sending Jesus into the world so that all who believe will have life eternally with you when it’s time. Thank you for those who brought me to the truth of your provision so I could accept it and know that my search for you has been satisfied for eternal purposes. I confess that too often I don’t search for you and for all you have for me on this side of eternity because that’s what I choose. Please forgive the foolishness of trying to live this life for you and your kingdom without searching for you and for all you have for me. Help me follow every step of your lead so I do, in fact, keep on searching for all you have for me. Help me to search for, find, and live for you and your kingdom. Thank you that I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Have you searched for and found Jesus so you know you will spend eternity in God’s presence when it’s time? If no, why? What’s in the way of such searching and finding? Do you really want to spend eternity separated from God? If you are a Christian with the assurance of salvation and redemption, how are you doing with searching for and finding all that God has for you as He keeps you on this side of eternity? If you sense the need for change, how is that going to happen? Is that what you want? Why or why not?
Waiting for the Train 