“Seek the Lord While He May Be Found.”

More than twenty-five times in Scripture we find the value God places on seeking Him. As we return to Isaiah 55, we pick up on this encouraging promise. God is ready to welcome those who seek His face with a humble, hungry heart. Again, read what God said through the prophet:

Isaiah 55:6-7. 6 Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

That is encouragement indeed. Did you notice the heart of repentance displayed in the seeker? The attitude of the heart of the seeker is important. Here are two passages that talk about seeking God. Please take the time to examine them side-by-side.

Jeremiah 29:11-14. 11 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 'I will be found by you,' declares the Lord.”’

Proverbs 1:23-30. 23 Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 "Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 25 And you neglected all my counsel and did not want my reproof; 26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, 27 When your dread comes like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. 28 "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. 30 "They would not accept my counsel; they spurned all my reproof.”

In the first passage, the seeker will find the Lord. In the second, the seeker will not find the Lord. Why? Solomon supplies the answer in the last verse quoted above: 29 “Because . . .

✔ They hated knowledge and

✔ (They) did not choose the fear of the Lord.

✔ They would not accept my counsel;

✔ They spurned all my reproof.

So, let’s think about the idea that God can be sought successfully “. . . while He may be found.” There came times in Israel’s apostasy when they crossed a timeline of God’s patience. Few noticed. Why. They fell out of love with God because they fell out of love with His Word. His Spirit’s voice was ignored – His knowledge, His fear, His counsel, and His reproof.

Dear ones, let me encourage you to seek the Lord while He may be found. Call on Him while He is near. Humble yourselves before Him. Embrace His Word. He is waiting, eagerly waiting. And let the wicked know that today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:1-2). Do not harden your hearts. Believe what He has said. Come now, humbly, and seek Him while He may be found. Call on Him, because He is right here, right now. And bless your seeking hearts. DN