6 Seek ye the Lord
while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let
the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and
let him return unto the Lord,
and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly
pardon. –Isaiah 55:6, 7 (KJV)
We have a son who is away
at college and ever so often, the school sends a newsletter in the form
of a magazine to the parents. I sometimes scan this publication
for any relevant information, but I confess I am usually looking to
see if there is something there about our son. I imagine all parents
do this. During my years of study in seminary, my sister received
a newsletter from the school I was attending and she confessed that
she did the same thing; she would peruse the publication looking for
any news about me. It’s nice to be proud of someone, especially
to the point of expecting his or her accomplishments to be noted in
the school paper. This shows we care and are paying attention.
While I may not always
find something about our son in his school newsletter, I will find something
relevant to me in God’s Word. The Bible challenges us in the
book of Isaiah to seek the Lord while he may be found. This means
we are to seek God now. Do not put this search off until we think
the time is right, for the time is right now. Many people make
the mistake of thinking they will seek a relationship with God at some
hazy future time in their lives. If they are not careful, the
years become decades and they reach the end of life having missing the
peace and joy Jesus Christ brings to our lives.
God’s Word further issues
a challenge to those walking in a life direction contrary to God’s
ways. God urges the wicked man to forsake his wicked ways and
seek the Lord. The unrighteous man may renounce his ungodly thoughts
and find peace and contentment in the Lord. This latter challenge
has become even more difficult in the present age. Countless men
fall prey to the insidious forces of evil available on the Internet.
There is much good, useful, and valuable information online. Sadly,
there is also more unspeakable wickedness than we care to imagine.
Those desiring freedom from these dangerous forces practice Spirit-led
discernment and self-control by keeping a safe distance from them.
Never give into the temptation to view something online just to “check
it out.” Countless people have done so only to regret such a
decision.
Remain in daily communion
with God, keep in the Word, pray daily, and maintain healthy relationships
with other believers. Through such spiritual strategies we find strength to resist the temptations
that are all around us. The world is in need of a great spiritual
renewal, which is why the challenge in God’s Word remains in force.
Are you out of fellowship with God? Seek Him today. You
will surely find Him. Grace, mercy, new life, and forgiveness
will follow.
God bless you today.
