Deuteronomy 4:29-31
But even there, if you seek God, your God, you'll be able to find him if you're serious, looking for him with your whole heart and soul. When troubles come and all these awful things happen to you, in future days you will come back to God, your God, and listen obediently to what he says. God, your God, is above all a compassionate God. In the end he will not abandon you, he won't bring you to ruin, he won't forget the covenant with your ancestors which he swore to them.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In the movie Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, the lead character, Oskar (played by Thomas Horn) searches for the lock that matches a mysterious key he finds after his father (played by Tom Hanks) perishes in the Twin Towers on 9-11. One of the clues Oskar has is a newspaper clipping from his dad that contains the words “never stop looking” circled in red… or so it appears.
I won’t give away the story line, in case you haven’t seen the movie. But suffice it to say that Oskar looks with his whole heart and soul for the lock to this key. In the terrible, awful tragedy of losing his dad in such a horrific manner, Oskar draws strength from the lessons his father taught him… how to examine and investigate mysteries… how to “read” the clues and follow the signs to find what he is seeking… and how his dad is always with him every step of the way – even if he can’t physically see or touch him.
There are a lot of parallels in this movie to our life in Christ. We are often the scared, frail, flawed little boy who seeks answers to life’s questions and mysteries. We are mired in grief and confusion, heartaches and disappointments… and the uncertainty of what lies ahead. And God is with us every step of the way. He is protecting us and leading us in the right direction. He is giving us all kinds of nurture that we cannot even imagine… much less see.
We often have a little pity party and feel downright sorry for ourselves. We imagine that we are all alone in this big wide world, and that God has abandoned us. Nothing could be further from the truth. If we knew all of the things that God protects us from each and every day, we would be astounded. We tend to deal only in what we can tangibly see, hear, and touch. Yet God is always with us… often working in the background… but working all the same on our behalf.
Our job is to seek God - not just in the logical places… but also in the intangible. We must open our eyes and ears to His clues and guidance… and never stop looking for Him. We must trust – and expect – Him to always be with us… and to honor His commitment to protect us with grace, mercy, and abiding love. God has given us the “key” to unlock all that He has in store for us. Our job is to never stop looking. Are you searching for Him with your whole heart? How serious are you about finding Him?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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