One of my closest cousins lost consciousness one day. Completely unaware
of what was happening in the conscious realm, she experienced something
unique and delightful. She felt the full extent of God's love, a love
she never experienced before, a love she now hungers to experience
again. She felt completely and thoroughly accepted. She was His child,
and He wanted her to come home.
When she came back to
consciousness, she went looking all over the world for a man with the
same qualities as the One she experienced, but to her bitter
disappointment, she has not yet found him. She isn't interested in what
she called "religious blabla", and she continues her search, looking in
all the wrong places, completely unaware that the One who loves her so
richly is much closer than she thinks.
What do we do with loved
ones who desperately look in all the wrong places? What do we do when
they ignore the advice of those who have personally discovered the love
they seek?
We pray. And we don't ever give up hope. Just as our
Father never gives up hope!
"For God so loved the world that he
gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish
but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to
condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17
NIV)
"He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but
everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9 NIV)
What if there
were a treasure hidden in your field? What would you do? Would you look
in your neighbour's yard, just in case it might have gotten over there
somehow? Would you look in another town? After all, someone may have
made a mistake . . . But to find it, you not only need to be searching
for it, but you also need to be looking in the right places.
Too
often we concentrate our search on "fields" where our own interests are
being cultivated. Some of us specialize in distinguishing different
kinds of soil, others at labeling different kinds of grass or grain, but
we don't realize that the true treasure is within our reach!
If
only we would follow the Biblical instruction to "Ask and it will be
given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened
to you." (Matt 7:7 NIV)
This principle is so true, but few ever
ask, and even fewer are really searching.
If you are lost and are
genuinely interested in that kind of unselfish love, I beg you to
consider asking God directly for His help. He is the only One who will
lead you to genuine bliss.
Remember the treasure you are looking
for is much closer than you think!
Rob Chaffart
Looking in All the Wrong Places. Holding On, Conclusion
Today's Bible Verse:
"I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of
me." (Phil 3:12)
Looking in All the Wrong Places. Holding On, Conclusion
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