By Dick Blackford
Does the Bible teach that if one is truly trying to find God that God will make it possible for him to do so? I am firmly convinced that it does.
The Old Testament
The children of Israel were told, “But if . . . thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all they heart and with all thy soul” (Deut. 4:29).
David told Solomon, “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee . . .” (1 Chron. 28:9). He was also told that if he forsook the Lord “he will cast thee off forever.” However, we learn that the “Lord hath not forsaken them that seek thee” (Ps. 9:10). “Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually” (1 Chron. 16:11). Jehovah says in Proverbs 8:17, “I love them that love me; and those who seek me early shall find me.”
The New Testament
Jesus says, “If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself” (John 7:17). He also said, “he that seeketh findeth” (Matt. 7:7, 8).
Cornelius sought to do the will of God and to please him in every way he knew. God made it possible for Cornelius to hear the truth. We don’t know what Cornelius prayed for, but God’s answer was to send an “earthen vessel” (Simon Peter) to preach unto him the truth that would save him (Acts 10:4, 5; 11:18).
The Ethiopian eunuch was a man seeking to know God’s will (Acts 8). God’s answer to him was to send Philip who taught and baptized him.
Saul of Tarsus was a sincere seeker after God. He had a “conscience void of offense toward God and man always” (Acts 24:16). God knew that about Saul and he sent Ananias to tell him what he must do. Saul did it and became a Christian (Acts 22:16).
Conclusion
Where is the sincere seeker after truth whom God turned down? God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34, 35). If he allows some sincere seekers to find him but not others then his love is arbitrary. These Scriptures help us to learn better. God is “a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).
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