The other day I was reading Acts 17 in my New King James Version bible. Paul was in Athens, speaking to the philosophers there regarding an idol he saw titled "The Unknown God". Paul was using this opportunity to tell these people of the truth of Jesus Christ. Here is what Paul told them.
Acts 17: "24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
Here is a part of the scripture (verse 27) that really gripped me, and has stayed with me: "so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us..."
This is what I do every night and day, in prayer. I "grope" for God. I grope to get a sense of His presence, and this verse tells me that even as I grope, He is already with me. I grope to know of His will for me. I invite Him to search me and know me. I invite Him to indwell me, and reign upon the throne of my heart. I invite Him to direct and place my every step. I invite Him to guard my eyes, my ears, and to guard my mouth - and, not only to guard my mouth, but to touch my mouth as He did the Prophet Jeremiah, keeping my communications to His Word, alone. I recognize that God's words are life. My words are death. I implore God that He walk with me - abide with me - as I seek (grope) to abide with Him. I implore Him to indwell me with His Holy Spirit that I may be Holy as He is Holy, and that it be to His good pleasure and His glory. I desire that God take pleasure in me, as I have grown to love Him with all my Being. I grope to become One with Him as Christ Jesus, my Lord and Savior, is One with the Father.
I come to the Father by means of the Son. Christ Jesus is the ONLY Way to the Father of our Creation - in Whom we live and move and have our Being! Christ Jesus holds the keys to Heaven and Hell. He is the King of all Kings, and Lord of all Lords. And, He - the King - came to earth in the most humble of circumstance to identify Himself with the homeless, rejected, poor, and meek, of the earth. When Christ Jesus took our penalty of sin upon Himself, at the Cross, he went down into the grave and took His place with the rich.
Isaiah 53:9 "And they made His grave with the wicked - But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth."
What does this scripture infer about the rich? What did Jesus tell the rich man who wanted to follow Him? Matthew 19:21 “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” What instruction did Jesus give to His Follower? Matthew 5:48 "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." How is it possible, then, that any of us can be saved?
Matthew 19:23-30 Christ Jesus tells us, "23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” 28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
Christ Jesus told us to seek, FIRST, the Kingdom of God, AND His righteousness, THEN all these things (of our earthy concerns) will be added unto you (Matthew 6:33). Jesus tells us that God, the Father, knows what we need before we ask! When God is our first love we need not worry over provision. Yet, our Father will not give us anything that will hurt us - including wealth. Am I seeking (groping for) healing of my physical body, or am I seeking (groping for) God? Am I seeking (groping for) financial provision and abundance, or am I seeking (groping for) God? Am I struggling to preserve my life? Or, am I joining my Savior in death so that I may resurrect with Him, a New Man, in Eternal Life? Jesus tells us we must be born again. Can I say, "It is no longer I that lives, but Christ that lives in me"? If I want to live I must be willing to die, for the sake of Christ Jesus. If I struggle to preserve my life, for my sake, I will lose it.
May I always be groping for God - His righteousness, and His Kingdom. He will meet me there, for He is always with me, in truth. He has given me His Holy Spirit that I may have the power to live Holy, as He is Holy. He has given me of His Son, my Lord and Savior Christ Jesus, so that I may be forgiven of my sins. He calls me, continually, to repentance so I may be made whole, and Holy, in Him. Repentance is good for the Soul, yet we often balk at it so. ALL of God's instruction to us is for our good! Because He is merciful, and He loves us... and, He is Holy, above all. God is good.
Psalm 23 "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Amen.
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