Who's Seeking Whom?

Yesterday afternoon I came out to the University of Valley Forge (our regional Assemblies of God college) with three students from our church for what they call, “Breakaway.”  It’s meant to be a 24 hour college experience for high school students—of course, with the hope that some of them might choose to attend the school.  To begin the event, their was a service with a drama, worship, prayer, and an inspiring message by a guest speaker, all to inspire the students to seek God’s will for their lives and to be praying about their future.

The message was about Zacchaeus, the tax collector of Luke 19 who, because he was so short climbed a tree in order to see Jesus through the crowd.  Jesus looks up and sees Zacchaeus in the tree and invites himself to dinner at Zacchaeus’ home (something that shocked the crowd but spoke volumes to Zacchaeus). By the end of the story, Zacchaeus is a changed man because of his time spent with Jesus.  And, Jesus concludes his time with Zacchaeus declaring, “…the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”  (Luke 19:10 – NIV) 

In other words, although Zacchaeus had climbed the tree thinking that he was seeking a glimpse of Jesus, Jesus had actually come to town seeking him.  Or, as the speaker last night put it, “When we think we’re seeking Jesus, he’s really seeking us.”  Wow!

The picture that comes to my mind is that of a parent losing their child in a supermarket or a mall.  The child may be crying out and desperately looking for their parent. But the truth is, the parent is most likely, even more desperately, seeking out their child—running about, calling out the child’s name, calling the police, getting all the help that they can to find their child. In fact, most likely, the child would never be able to find their parent on their own. Yes, the child may be seeking the parent, but the parent is so much more so seeking for their lost child.  And, it will be the parent who will find the child!

 

Yes, “when we think we’re seeking Jesus, he’s really seeking us.”   Thus, when we find ourselves lost, in pain, in need of help, in need of hope, in need of a savior, he comes to our rescue. Long before we can get to him, he comes running to us to answer our cry, to give to us the help that we need, and to lift us out of the sin and the pain of our lives. 

Let’s seek after Jesus. But let’s also recognize that today he just may be seeking after us. He’s that kind of savior!

Have a great day!

Pastor Tim Harris