What about the excitement of treasure hunts? One of the stores in our city hosts a treasure hunt and about 50 local merchants sponsor the event. Each week, a clue is posted in the paper, sending participants scurrying all over town, eager to be the one to find the coveted treasure. What fun!
I always think about these things, and the joy of finding what we are seeking, when I read Jeremiah 29:13 & 14a.
"And you will seek Me and find Me,
when you search for Me with your whole heart.
I will be found by you"
when you search for Me with your whole heart.
I will be found by you"
Somewhere, I think we've picked up the notion that God is far away, distant. That He dangles Himself over us, teasing us with His goodness, then pulling away, at the last moment - like we do when playing with a cat with a chaser toy. Wait...wait...wait... then yank it out of his reach! Maybe because it's the way we sometimes do, we think He does it, too.
But that isn't possible, because there is no deceit - no guile - found in Him.
And He says, "I. will. be. found. by. you."
I think it's interesting that he didn't say "you will find me", because that would have been a passive form, indicating that He really didn't have much input in the result, putting most of the effort on the seeker. But because He said, "I WILL be found by you", He is indicating that He will actively engage and participate in being found. It's like the person playing hide-n-seek, 'hiding' in full view of the seeker.
Now, He does say, "When you search for me with your whole heart, I will be found by you", so there is a measure of the responsibility for the results falling back on us. We do have to make sure our whole heart is engaged in the search. We need to eagerly anticipate the find, be totally focused on the treasure! And when we do... He places Himself in full view, allowing Himself to be found, by us.
But that isn't possible, because there is no deceit - no guile - found in Him.
And He says, "I. will. be. found. by. you."
I think it's interesting that he didn't say "you will find me", because that would have been a passive form, indicating that He really didn't have much input in the result, putting most of the effort on the seeker. But because He said, "I WILL be found by you", He is indicating that He will actively engage and participate in being found. It's like the person playing hide-n-seek, 'hiding' in full view of the seeker.
Now, He does say, "When you search for me with your whole heart, I will be found by you", so there is a measure of the responsibility for the results falling back on us. We do have to make sure our whole heart is engaged in the search. We need to eagerly anticipate the find, be totally focused on the treasure! And when we do... He places Himself in full view, allowing Himself to be found, by us.
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