Those Who Seek, Find

Have you ever sacrificed for someone only to have them ask for more? 

In many ways, that represents mankind's relationship with God.

In Matthew 12:39 and 16:4, Jesus said, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign.” 

He was explaining that no matter how many signs and wonders He did, it would never be enough for some people. They would choose to disbelieve no matter what. 

Romans 1:18-21 says people who reject God "suppress the truth" and are "without excuse" because evidence of God is everywhere.

But those who listen to truth instead of suppressing it, have these promises:

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7 

"If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me." Jeremiah 29:13

If you were a true seeker who found Christ, take a moment to rejoice!

Bible Study 

1. No amount of evidence will convince some people that God is real.

In Luke 16:99-31, a rich man ignores the cries of the poor beggar Lazarus. We know from the context, that Lazarus was a believer and the rich man was not. When the rich man dies and goes to hell, he asks Abraham to send Lazarus from the dead to warn his brothers of the coming judgement: 

verses 29-31: “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

This passage is similar to Christ’s words in Matthew 12. Christ rose from the dead and proclaimed the way of salvation, but most men have refused to listen. 

2. Scripture explains that all men have enough information to turn to God.

Sometimes we question why God judges people who don’t actually hear the full Gospel, but Scripture gives us comfort that all men have opportunity to know the true and living God: 

Romans 1:18-21: The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 

3. This passage in Jeremiah is addressed to the wayward Jews, but we know it’s true for all men.

Jeremiah 29:13: If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.   

This truth is confirmed in Hebrews 11:6 and Matthew 7:7.

These 1-minute devotions further explain this concept:
What About People Who Never Hear the Gospel?
The Prostitute - How God Valued a Single Soul

copyright 2017, Gail Burton Purath, Bite Size Bible Study