Pascal mused: "What can be seen on earth indicates neither the total absence of God nor his manifest presence, but rather the presence of a hidden God;" and "I would not have searched for Thee if Thou hadst not found me." The spiritual have dry periods when they had to search for God and wonder about His presence too: "... How long will You hide Your face from me?" (Psalm 13:1, NASB). It's all about seeking God--being found--"I was lost, but now am found!" We don't find Him: Isaiah 65:1 (NASB): "I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me...." He was abandoned on the cross and knows what separation from God feels like. There is no temptation we can face that He hasn't been victorious over and can deliver us from. Feeling alone? God sometimes removes Himself to see what's on our heart, as He did to Hezekiah (cf. 2 Chronicles 32:21).
Francis Schaeffer wrote a book about God and declared: He is there and He is not silent. God doesn't cater to triflers (cf. Heb. 11:6), but only those who sincerely and diligently seek Him with their whole heart and are willing to do His will. We need to listen with the ears of our spirit and see with our hearts, as God opens up our deaf ears to hear Him. "What we do see is Jesus" (cf. Heb. 2:9, NLT): "The eyes of [our] understanding being enlightened" (Ephesians 1:18, KJV). We need God to open the eyes of our hearts and see with our spirits (cf. Psalm 119:18). When Jesus came He couldn't convince the skeptics and cynics no matter what sign He performed, they didn't want to believe (cf. John 12:37)!
You must want to believe or you won't, God doesn't make you do something you don't want to do, though He can change your mind and make you willing--this is a divine paradox of His sovereignty and providence. People who know God see Him manifest everywhere, while the natural man or unbeliever doesn't see God even if He were right in front of his face. The fact is that God's fingerprints and impact are everywhere and all we have to do is look.
Job felt abandoned by God and rightly so, he was undergoing a test of faith from God being administered through the hand of Satan. Elihu wondered why no one asks, "Where is God, my Maker, who gives songs in the night?" (cf. Job 35:10). There does come a time when it is fitting and proper to wonder whether we are walking in the Spirit and or with the Lord. We are to walk by faith, not by sight (cf. 2 Cor. 5:7), but we are to examine ourselves on a regular basis (especially during the Lord's Supper) and see whether Christ is living through us. When we see Christ living in us and we have an exchanged life, not just a changed life, we have the ultimate proof of God's presence. Romans 8:16 says, "The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God."
When we are saved, it doesn't mean we have found God--the spiritual journey has just begun. Seeing God's face is the main business of the Christian pilgrimage. We initiate our search as believers, for the Bible clearly says that no one seeks God (no unbeliever, cf. Rom. 3:11). When people "seek" God, they're looking for the benefits, not the Benefactor: peace of mind, the answer, prosperity, deliverance, fulfillment, or purpose--they don't want God! Christians don't see with their physical eyes, but with their souls. When we are saved, we don't just gain the Benefactor, but blessings as fringe benefits. They want what they can get, or what He can do for them. God has a blessing in mind for us, which we cannot pay back, don't deserve, and can't earn or ingratiate ourselves for. It's a blessing to serve Him (cf. Psalm 103:2; 116:12; Rom. 11:35). Elihu declares the despair of Job: "For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God" (Job 34:9, ESV).
Some may ask the believer, "Where is this God of yours?" We are His hands, feet, voice, heart, and mind on earth and are to do His bidding and work for the lost--He lives in our hearts! When God seems far, we may doubt Him, but it's only so that we can learn to seek Him. David asked in Psalm 10:1 (NASB): "Why do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?" The psalmist goes on to say the wicked are too proud to seek God, they seem to think He's dead and there is no God. What's is appalling today, is that many professing believers say they believe in God, but live like there is no God--they are so-called practical atheists! Our job as believers who know the Lord is to make Him known and seen through us! The world will not deny God is with us when they see God in us!
Isaiah proclaims in Isaiah 45:15 (NASB): "Truly, You are a God who hides Himself...." God doesn't force Himself on anyone and will only reveal Himself to those who seek Him: "But from there you will seek the LORD our God, and You will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul" (Deut. 4:19, NASB; cf. Jer. 29:13; Isa. 55:6;). There is a window of opportunity when God opens the door, so to speak, and we must "seek Him while He may be found" (cf. Isa. 55:6). "Call upon Him while He is near: (cf. Isa. 55:6). Job was in despair and came to doubt God's presence, though he was a godly man: "Oh that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat!" (Job 23:3, NASB). We're in good company if we have searched for God because even Job did!
God is no man's debtor and no respecter of persons: All who seek Him will find Him without any iffy reservations. Psalm 9:10 (HCSB): "... You have not abandoned those who seek You, Yahweh." But He demands sincerity, heart, and soul. Where is God? He is here, never yo forsake us; finding Him makes us realize: He was there all the time! God is never MIA (missing in action)--never doubt the whereabouts of God the LORD Shammah (cf. Ezek. 48:35), "the One who is there." When they say, "...Where is your God" (Psalm 42:3, NASB), we are to reply, "Where isn't He? Christianity is about the God who is here and about the God who is in us.
Don't forget Jesus' name: "God is with us" (Immanuel). The point of salvation is the restoration of our relationship with Him, and to put God in us (cf. 1 Cor. 3:16; Col. 1:27; Eph. 4:6)! Cognizance is our responsibility and fault--grieving Him and not acknowledging His presence. Point to ponder: Guess who moved? God asked Adam where he was! Hint to heed: Practicing/exercising of your spiritual gift will kindle the fire of the Spirit within!
A word to the wise is sufficient: Wise men still seek Him! "Be still and know that I am God" (cf. Ps. 46:10). Soli Deo Gloria!
Francis Schaeffer wrote a book about God and declared: He is there and He is not silent. God doesn't cater to triflers (cf. Heb. 11:6), but only those who sincerely and diligently seek Him with their whole heart and are willing to do His will. We need to listen with the ears of our spirit and see with our hearts, as God opens up our deaf ears to hear Him. "What we do see is Jesus" (cf. Heb. 2:9, NLT): "The eyes of [our] understanding being enlightened" (Ephesians 1:18, KJV). We need God to open the eyes of our hearts and see with our spirits (cf. Psalm 119:18). When Jesus came He couldn't convince the skeptics and cynics no matter what sign He performed, they didn't want to believe (cf. John 12:37)!
You must want to believe or you won't, God doesn't make you do something you don't want to do, though He can change your mind and make you willing--this is a divine paradox of His sovereignty and providence. People who know God see Him manifest everywhere, while the natural man or unbeliever doesn't see God even if He were right in front of his face. The fact is that God's fingerprints and impact are everywhere and all we have to do is look.
Job felt abandoned by God and rightly so, he was undergoing a test of faith from God being administered through the hand of Satan. Elihu wondered why no one asks, "Where is God, my Maker, who gives songs in the night?" (cf. Job 35:10). There does come a time when it is fitting and proper to wonder whether we are walking in the Spirit and or with the Lord. We are to walk by faith, not by sight (cf. 2 Cor. 5:7), but we are to examine ourselves on a regular basis (especially during the Lord's Supper) and see whether Christ is living through us. When we see Christ living in us and we have an exchanged life, not just a changed life, we have the ultimate proof of God's presence. Romans 8:16 says, "The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God."
When we are saved, it doesn't mean we have found God--the spiritual journey has just begun. Seeing God's face is the main business of the Christian pilgrimage. We initiate our search as believers, for the Bible clearly says that no one seeks God (no unbeliever, cf. Rom. 3:11). When people "seek" God, they're looking for the benefits, not the Benefactor: peace of mind, the answer, prosperity, deliverance, fulfillment, or purpose--they don't want God! Christians don't see with their physical eyes, but with their souls. When we are saved, we don't just gain the Benefactor, but blessings as fringe benefits. They want what they can get, or what He can do for them. God has a blessing in mind for us, which we cannot pay back, don't deserve, and can't earn or ingratiate ourselves for. It's a blessing to serve Him (cf. Psalm 103:2; 116:12; Rom. 11:35). Elihu declares the despair of Job: "For he has said, 'It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God" (Job 34:9, ESV).
Some may ask the believer, "Where is this God of yours?" We are His hands, feet, voice, heart, and mind on earth and are to do His bidding and work for the lost--He lives in our hearts! When God seems far, we may doubt Him, but it's only so that we can learn to seek Him. David asked in Psalm 10:1 (NASB): "Why do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?" The psalmist goes on to say the wicked are too proud to seek God, they seem to think He's dead and there is no God. What's is appalling today, is that many professing believers say they believe in God, but live like there is no God--they are so-called practical atheists! Our job as believers who know the Lord is to make Him known and seen through us! The world will not deny God is with us when they see God in us!
Isaiah proclaims in Isaiah 45:15 (NASB): "Truly, You are a God who hides Himself...." God doesn't force Himself on anyone and will only reveal Himself to those who seek Him: "But from there you will seek the LORD our God, and You will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul" (Deut. 4:19, NASB; cf. Jer. 29:13; Isa. 55:6;). There is a window of opportunity when God opens the door, so to speak, and we must "seek Him while He may be found" (cf. Isa. 55:6). "Call upon Him while He is near: (cf. Isa. 55:6). Job was in despair and came to doubt God's presence, though he was a godly man: "Oh that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat!" (Job 23:3, NASB). We're in good company if we have searched for God because even Job did!
God is no man's debtor and no respecter of persons: All who seek Him will find Him without any iffy reservations. Psalm 9:10 (HCSB): "... You have not abandoned those who seek You, Yahweh." But He demands sincerity, heart, and soul. Where is God? He is here, never yo forsake us; finding Him makes us realize: He was there all the time! God is never MIA (missing in action)--never doubt the whereabouts of God the LORD Shammah (cf. Ezek. 48:35), "the One who is there." When they say, "...Where is your God" (Psalm 42:3, NASB), we are to reply, "Where isn't He? Christianity is about the God who is here and about the God who is in us.
Don't forget Jesus' name: "God is with us" (Immanuel). The point of salvation is the restoration of our relationship with Him, and to put God in us (cf. 1 Cor. 3:16; Col. 1:27; Eph. 4:6)! Cognizance is our responsibility and fault--grieving Him and not acknowledging His presence. Point to ponder: Guess who moved? God asked Adam where he was! Hint to heed: Practicing/exercising of your spiritual gift will kindle the fire of the Spirit within!
A word to the wise is sufficient: Wise men still seek Him! "Be still and know that I am God" (cf. Ps. 46:10). Soli Deo Gloria!
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