"And
you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:13
My boys and I headed out to Mission beach early this morning for a little metal detecting. The weather was overcast and cool, and before 9am we had cleaned the beach of tent pegs, coins, nails, bottlecaps, keys, and even a mobile phone. We weren't the only ones scouring the sands of Mission beach: because of the low tide many others searched the wet sand for hidden treasures. I have found metal detecting to be a bit more consistent than fishing. I have been skunked many times without a bite whilst fishing, but every time I have headed out with a metal detector I have found something - even if every target turns out to be junk.
I've had some interesting finds during my time detecting, but I'm still waiting for a discovery of monetary value. This is in sharp contrast to the discoveries I have been blessed with when I have sought the LORD: every discovery and revelation concerning our great God is beyond price. You can't find buried treasure unless you put forth the effort to search and dig with persistence, and seeking God requires intentional effort as well. Prayer, reading and study of the Bible, and fellowship with other Christians are keys which aid us in seeking the LORD.
God has chosen to reveal Himself to those who seek Him. The great irony is we believers can drift from God and become a bit stale - even though we have sought the LORD and discovered Him in various degrees. No matter how much a person knows of God and His Word, we have a desperate need to continue seeking Him. We cannot look to our previous closeness with God to validate our current walk (or lack thereof!) with the LORD. When we sense we are drifting from close fellowship with God, we must repent and return to God and seek Him as we did at the first. Only then will we seek and find Him, when all our heart is captivated in the search.
Praise the LORD He delights to be found! Unless He revealed Himself personally, we could never discover or know Him. We never need to be empty handed or without hope of a future with a great God like ours, for He knows our every need. Should He be concealed from our gaze or seem far away, this should quicken us to draw near to Him with increased tenacity. For us, He is our life!