No One Seeks God!
I have always steered clear of the foreknowledge, predestination, divine election debate. I turn off the radio, I walk out of the room, I admit I am in denial. I have stated my understanding of this free will vs the sovereignty of God subject elsewhere on this blog site. But today I read the words "no one seeks God" and it really got me going. It's been good. I have been taking notes, looking up verses, I pulled out a Philosophy book, and even now I am praying for wisdom.
Pascal, a philosopher who was a contemporary of Luther, wrote that all people are born with a "God shaped hole". It logically follows that people are born with a desire to fill that hole. And one of the things that makes humans human is that they are from birth on a quest to find purpose, meaning, fulfilment, enlightenment, and yes...Truth. I think everyone seeks God. Philippians 2:12 - 15 "So then my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling of disputing, that you may prove yourseles to be blameless and innocent children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as light in the world. I see this day and age very crooked and perverse. Yet at the same time I see Psalm 24:6 This is the generation of those who seek Him. Which leads me to Psalm 105:3,4 Glory in His holy name, Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad. Seek the LORD and His strength, Seek His face continually...Don't you see? Every living soul, every human soul, from the first to the last are known and loved by their creator. He would not let any child be born, be conceived, whose fate was sealed and whose damnation to a devil's hell was predestined. He didn't want another form of animal that operates on instinct. He wanted family. He wanted children. And He wanted them to chose to love Him. So He gave them a choice. Every human being is predestined to live eternally with God Almighty. Every human being is created with the call of the Father on his heart. But some choose to walk away from that destiny, some choose to fill the hole with conterfiets.
Jesus told us that God was our Father. That He was always willing to forgive, always ready to take us back, to give us another chance. He hasn't wound us up like watchwork toys, He hasn't preprogramed us like a computer/robot. He has given us life and a free will and He interacts with us. Is that heresy? I am not a theologian. Neither is the person who wrote the words that got me started "no one seeks God". I know he has verses to support his statement. But then again, I have verses to support mine. Ecclesiastes 3:11...He has also set eternity in their heart without which man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end. "And the bottom line is Jesus, born, crucified, risen, and coming again. I believe that with all my being. I was seeking truth, I was seeking enlightenment, I called out to Him and He answered, "I am here!" Yes and Amen!
11 comments:
I think your absalutely right. There is a mystical bod between God and man. But can you say that everyone seeks God? If you believe that then you must believe everyone finds God. The Bible says if you seek me you'll find me. Are you a Universalist?
my personal view is that everyone seeks something. They want what God ca give them they just don't choose to seek God. the reasons for not seeking God very but I think the biggest reason may be because the people who've found Him or say they have don't show it. The biggest reason people aren't christians is other christians.
Ilove your site. thanks for blogging on mine.
No I am not a universalist...not everybody that hears the message of the Gospel chooses to accept it, so not everybody who seeks God accepts the truth about him...sort of Romans where no one has excuse...Jesus is the one who makes the ultimate decision ... some who think they have it made will be told sorry, what about the millions of people who died without ever hearing...i don't believe they were damned for not hearing...did they worship the creator or the creation?
I understand what your saying...could we say god with a little g, or enlightenment, which the mystics like to call it.
Maryellen,
If I may quote you:
"Pascal, a philosopher who was a contemporary of Luther, wrote that all people are born with a "God shaped hole". It logically follows that people are born with a desire to fill that hole. And one of the things that makes humans human is that they are from birth on a quest to find purpose, meaning, fulfilment, enlightenment, and yes...Truth. I think everyone seeks God."
and this:
"I believe that with all my being. I was seeking truth, I was seeking enlightenment, I called out to Him and He answered, "I am here!"
Let us say that Pascal is correct.
We are all born with a God-shaped void. I would alter the conclusion a bit though. Yes men will seek purpose, fulfillment, enlightenment, and perceived truth.
My question is, are these things God?
Men seek the thing, no one seeks God. Since Scripture does not contradict itself, otherwise it is not Scripture, what doe the verse in Ecc 3 mean? It means the same as Romans 1.
Men recognize the thing,i.e. creation, eternity etc. but not one of them seek the One who made these things. Therefore all are without excuse.
Your very last statement answers the dilemna.
You called out to Him and He answered. You called out for truth and enlightenment and He said I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.
Jesus also said if you have seen me you have seen the Father. The point is ,all through the Bible God says it is HE who chooses to reveal Himself to whomever He chooses. All our seeking is useless unless He allows us to find Him. I left several scriptures on Ingrid's blog in reply to your comment there so I won't take up anymore of your blogspace. All of this "conversation" is good.
Chris, I'm not sure that this "converstaion" is good for me. No offense to you, you are a friend and a brother in the LORD, but I don't like how I "feel" when I get into this discussion. Like I said, I'm in denial
Chris, I'm not sure that this "converstaion" is good for me. No offense to you, you are a friend and a brother in the LORD, but I don't like how I "feel" when I get into this discussion. Like I said, I'm in denial
Maryellen,
You know that it is not my intention to offend, so I apologize if I did.
We can look at this from the other side, so to speak.
A sovereign God who reveals Himself as HE chooses, to whomever He may choose, is a God of assurance. Most of our churches preach Jesus as insurance, and we grab our talismans and perform our ceremonies when we need Him. However, He is assurance, which means no matter what, HE is there; faithful to complete all that He has begun. In terms of our salvation, we teach it's not by works, and then act as if it is.
If it is all up to God , (and it is), to do it all on my behalf; then that means no matter how much I have blown it in the past I am saved by Him. I even have the assurance that my future sins will not be held against me. Of course, as Paul said, we do not continue in sin and then claim grace. His "kindness" leads us to repentance. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for all who are in Christ Jesus. What a wonderful Word! This is why I do not believe that salvation can be "lost" and I do not believe that the scriptures teach that. Whatever we have done, whenever we fail in our walk, He has me covered. All things work together for good to those who love Him, because He has called us.
I love Him because He has done this. I worship because He has done this. Eternity will be filled with many that we would have, or already have written off.
This is the sovereign God I proclaim. I don't have to seek Him for salvation, He reveals Himself to me and then I seek Him forevermore. Our pre-salvation cries for redemption, are the stirrings of faith from the hearing of the Word, and the working of the divinely sent Holy Spirit. He has worked it in so we can work it out. I will leave this alone, now, as you wish.
here is another "Ya, but Chris..."
What about those people who are not predestined to be saved? What is their assurance?
Mary Ellen - make sure you visit Ingrid's blog. She really "took you to task." At least you can still comment on it - I'm "banned".
Maryellen,
The souls of men and their salvation are the domain of God and God alone. Romans 9.
However we have no clue who is going to accept the good news and who isn't. Therefore we are required to proclaim the Word to everyone.
I do not support the classic definition of Calvinistic double predestination.
All I know is that some will and some won't. There is nothing we can do about all those who have already gone on to whatever awaits them. According to Rev 20, some don't make it. I would never point out those who I think are in and those who I think are out. These are the things that are for God and we need to be about the businees of what He has given us to do. My focus has always been that He is sovereign which means He can do whatever He pleases. The question still is, what is He actually doing?
Deut 29:29
One final thought.
Let's say for the sake of argument that I am one predestined for damnation. What need for assurance would I have, and what is it that I would need to be assured of? If I never come to belief in Christ, then the thought of eternal condemnation would not bother me one way or the other, as I wouldn't believe or care that such a thing exists.
I am not using this example as an argument for predestination. It is just a response to the question you asked.
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