Wednesday, 5/15/19 – Pressing on…

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” (Isa. 55:6)

“Star” was a little black and white kitty we had years ago. She got her name because of a tiny star-shaped white spot on her forehead. Star was an indoor cat. There were rumors of coyotes in our small local service district just outside Fredericton, and the community mailboxes were frequently adorned with notices describing someone’s missing cat. Most of these cats were never found.

The day Star went missing we scoured the streets, calling her name, but she did not come. We set out cat food, water, and jangled cat treats to tempt her home, but nothing. We persisted in this for several days, called the SPCA, posted pictures and spread the word, but Star never returned. Eventually we gave up the hunt. We stopped looking, and moved on to other pursuits.

I’ve often wondered about Star’s perspective during the days of our quest. Did she hear us calling, but chose to continue exploring this alluring new world? Was she trapped somewhere in need of outside intervention but too weak to call? Had she strayed so far she no longer could hear our pleading cries? Or had the prowling coyotes found her an easy and naïve prey and devoured her?

Perhaps she had got herself completely lost, journeyed days away, and by the time her thoughts turned to her loving home, warm bed, kitty toys and ample dinner dish, we had given up the search. She may have sought us, but our voices no longer called, we could not be found, and the coyotes leaped.

Perhaps Star feared our displeasure and ran further? But how wrong she would have found herself to have been if she had but sought us and returned. We would have welcomed her with open arms and joy-filled hearts!

Jeremiah writes these chilling words, “The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.” (Jer. 8:20)

Friend, God loves you! The harvest is not quite yet past, there are yet left a few days of summer. Do not run from Him. Do not fear His call to a higher walk with Him.

C.S. Lewis comments,

Now God, who has made us, knows what we are and that our happiness lies in Him. Yet we will not seek it in Him as long as he leaves us any other resort where it can even plausibly be looked for. While what we call ‘our own life’ remains agreeable we will not surrender it to Him. What then can God do in our interests but make ‘our own life’ less agreeable to us, and take away the plausible source of false happiness?’ – C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

Perhaps you’ve never thought of God in such a personal way.  — C.S. Lewis again,

It is always shocking to meet life where we thought we were alone. “Look out!” we cry, “it’s alive.” And therefore this is the very point at which so many draw back….. An “impersonal God”—well and good… But God Himself, alive, pulling at the other end of the cord…– that is quite another matter… There comes a moment when people who have been dabbling in religion (“Man’s search for God”!) suddenly draw back. Supposing we really found Him? We never meant it to come to that! Worse still, supposing He had found us! – C.S. Lewis, Miracles

But we need not fear Him if we answer His call NOW. Pastor Andrew and Isaiah beg us, “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” (Isa. 55:6). O… let Him find you! Seek Him out… You will only be glad if you will.

“I have never known a man who received Christ and ever regretted it.” – Billy Graham

Press on…