God Isn't Hiding, But See Him Anyway

GOD ISN’T HIDING BUT SEEK HIM ANYWAY Isaiah 55:6-9 NASB.

When we were kids we liked to play “Hide And Seek.” We all had our favorite hiding places. Under a bed, behind a couch, in a closet, behind a shower curtain.

We didn’t want to be the first one found because it meant we’d be seeker next, but at the same time we kind of hoped we’d be found pretty soon for a restroom break and to get out of our stuffy, crowded hideaway.

If you think you have looked everywhere and can’t find God, let me tell you, kindly, you’re looking in the wrong places.

He is not found in alcohol or narcotics; He is not found in immorality; He is not found in secular riches; He is not found in religions, He is not found in transcendental meditation or trances.

The Lord is not playing Hide and Seek, but seek Him anyway! He desires that everyone seek and find Him. Isaiah spoke God’s words. “Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.’” Isaiah 55:6-9 (NASB).

And Jeremiah wrote, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 (NASB).

Let us seek the Lord and let us:

I. SEEK HIM EXCLUSIVELY:

A. You can readily see that’s what He means: “Seek the Lord; Call upon Him; Return to the Lord.” Not Baal, Molech, Ashera, Dagon, or Isis.

1. The Bible all the way through expounds the exclusion of gods who are not God.

2. So how does something become a god to us?

a. Something becomes a god to us when it lessens our attraction, commitment, and obedience to Jesus.

b. Something becomes a god to us when it becomes more important than Him. It could be good things out of proportion.

(1) Participation in Sports to the neglect of your spiritual life.

(2) Pursuing Recreation to an obsessed level.

(3) Possessions that we think form our basis of security.

(4) Popularity and social status even if we compromise to attain it.

c. Something becomes a god to us when it displaces Jesus as our master: Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Matthew 6:24 (NASB). He truth is you can put anything in place of wealth and it’s still true:

(1) You cannot serve God and sexual promiscuity.

(2) You cannot serve God and addictive substances.

(3) You cannot serve God and Christless religions or philosophies.

(4) You cannot serve God and Self.

(5) You cannot serve God and popularity or status.

B. Hear these words:

1. “Serve only the LORD your God and fear Him alone. Obey His commands, listen to His voice, and cling to Him.” Deuteronomy 13:4 (NLT2).

2. Samuel said to the people who had sinned by demanding a human king when God was already King, "Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. You must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which can not profit or deliver, because they are futile.” 1 Samuel 12:20-21 (NASB).

3. Satan was tempting Jesus to worship him. “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only Him.’” Matthew 4:10 (NLT2).

4. I found this article on Sermon Central, and though I can’t vouch for its authenticity, the final statement is right on. “Following the news of ex-Beatle George Harrison’s death, ‘Today’ show anchor Anne Curry interviewed Anthony DeCurtis, a writer for Rolling Stone magazine. DeCurtis talked at length about Harrison’s search for a meaningful spiritual life. Curry said, ‘Apparently Harrison was the most spiritual of the group. In a recent interview, he said, “Everything else in life can wait, but the search for God.”’” Whether or not he said that, it is a true statement.

C. Why do we seek other things to the neglect of seeking God?

1. It’s a control thing. “If I don’t seek God, I can run my life as I please.”

2. It’s a fear thing. As a small boy the thought of God brought up images of someone like the Wizard of Oz or the Queen of Hearts. The old hag who ruled Wonderland with an iron fist. The Queen is severe and domineering, continually screaming, “Off with his head!”