Following Hard After God

Following Hard After God

Psalm 63:8

{YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMjh51NhSnA}

{Audio: https://mega.nz/file/2FlyXSYS#L68QphP3LphI5VHj765tJX30nagnUT8Y3FCeTfR7y5s}

There’s a doctrine, teaching if you would, that says before someone can seek God, God must first have sought him or her. It states that people are inherently sinful and therefore cannot rightly think about God; therefore God must illuminate their minds and hearts to His presence.

Basically, what this is saying is that we pursue God because God first pursues us and has puts within us the urge, a longing if you would, to pursue Him back. This is seen in what Jesus said.

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:44 NKJV)

It is by this very thing, that is, God drawing us to Himself, that He takes away any credit we might try to take for our own salvation, like somehow we’re good enough, or how we might belong to this or that church or religion.

The Apostle Paul said it this way, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV)

This overall impulse to follow after God, therefore, originates with God, but here’s the kicker and what’s at the heart of today’s message, and that is, even though God is the one who does the drawing to Himself, it is still our responsibility to follow.

We see this throughout the Bible as we’re told time and again to seek the Lord.

The prophet Isaiah said, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6 NKJV)

But there’s no place where this whole doctrine or teaching is more eloquently stated than from King David.

King David said, “My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.” (Psalm 63:8 NKJV)

As we purpose to follow hard after God, He upholds and strengthens us. This is seen in a beautiful analogy given to us by the Psalmist of a deer in search for water.

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” (Psalm 42:1-2 NKJV)

Only a heart longing for God’s mercy and grace can know such a desire. The problem, however, is that such a longing isn’t often seen within the church. Jesus is received as a person’s Savior and Lord, but there really isn’t any special love or desire to follow Him.

Yes, we’re saved as the Scripture clearly teaches, “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Acts 2:21 NIV) But there’s no real hunger or thirst for God, His kingdom, or His righteousness. We’re not like that deer who is in desperate search and need for water; and as a result, we’re satisfied and content, spiritually speaking, with so very little.

Part of the reason may be because people have forgotten that God is a Person, and as a result, they forget that such a personal relationship needs to be cultivated with God, just as it needs to be cultivated with anyone, especially that of a spouse, and remember that as believers we’re espoused to Jesus.

And like any relationship, full knowledge and a close intimate relationship can never be achieved through brief encounters. And those who say that long distant relationship can work; they can’t, especially in our relationship with God. Such relationships can only be achieved when long and loving interaction takes place.

Therefore, having such a relationship with God takes more than brief encounters on Sunday mornings. (Also, please understand that religion can never substitute for this relationship.) Such a relationship can only be achieved through the longing response of a created being, that is, you and me, for our Creator.

Jesus said no less in His prayer to the Father.

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3 NKJV)

God greatly desires this loving relationship, but it can never be achieved through form religion that relies on mechanical responses. Instead, it can only be achieved through a personal intimate relationship with God that is communicated to us through God’s Word, the Bible, and through times of intimate communication, or prayer.

This is how the Lord made us in the beginning. We were made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26), and because of this we have within us the capacity to know Him. But because of our sins, which we have inherited, we lack the power and ability to do so.

But the moment the Holy Spirit quickens us and we become born again, we sense this new relationship with God and our souls leap for joy. Not only are we sons and daughters of the Most High God, but now we can also have an intimate relationship with Him, where we now call Him Abba, which in the Greek is where we get our English word, “Daddy,” (Galatians 4:6).