Seek Him Diligently

Thora Evans

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him (God) for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” – Hebrews 11:6. We want to consider the last part of this verse, concerning a diligent seeking after God.

The word translated “diligently” here comes from the Greek “ekzeeto” and this is the only place in scripture where it is translated this way. The word diligent found throughout the New Testament is derived from an entirely different Greek words. Strong’s concordance defines “ekzeeto” as meaning – to search out or investigate, to crave or demand also to worship. In Luke 11:50 we find it translated “May be required,”  in verse 51 of the same chapter it is “shall be required.” The thought here seems to indicate a demand. In Acts 15:17 the translation is “might seek after,” this seems to indicate the thought of desperation. We find “ekzeeto” again in Rom. 3:11 translated “seeketh after,” and in I Peter 1:10 it is translated “have inquired” indicating an investigation. Lastly in Heb. 12:17 we find the words “sought carefully” coming from the same Greek word. Here the thought seems to be of a craving.

These different references, then, ought to give us an understanding of all that is involved in the though of diligently seeking God. We are not involved in an idle question or two, but rather a thorough investigation. Much more is involved than just a casual interest, it is a life long search. It was far more than just wistful dreaming of something nice to have, it is that which the soul demands. Far more is involved then a passing interest, it is an all consuming passion, again more than just a pleasant thought, it is a Holy obsession. Notice also that our text reads “seek Him.” We are not just to seek knowledge but a personal, intimate fellowship with God Himself.

For an example let us look at Abraham, in Gen. 14:17-24 and in 15:1. In Melchizedek’s blessing on Abraham, he introduces God as “Possessor of heaven and earth.” I do not believe that Abraham did not have some prior realization of this fact, but suddenly the full light of this glorious revelation flooded his soul. His response is a wonderful lesson to us of faith in action. In verse 22 Abraham confessed this revelation but it involved more than just a confession of the lips, he was staking his claim on that fact even it is meant offending the king of Sodom. In chapter 15 verse 1, God appeared to Abraham and gave him a glorious promise, a further revelation. Not only was he possessor of heaven and earth, He was also Abraham’s shield and exceeding great reward. (Revelation received is a stepping stone to more light. Revelation refused becomes a stumbling stone and leads to darkness). God told Abraham “I am thy shield and EXCEEDING GREAT REWARD.” The Lord is the reward of all His dear people, but the exceeding great reward of those who diligently seek Him and believe Him to be the exceeding great rewarder.

Let us look at David. The Psalms are a record of the revelation God had given him and of David’s response to God. Psalm 27:4 & 8, reads, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in His temple. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said un to thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.” In Psalm 57:7, David says, “my heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed.” Does that not sound like Col. 3:2, “set your affection on things above.” We also read in Psalm 107:9, “He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness,” and in 17:15, “I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” David knew the Lord was His reward, he found satisfaction in Him but it was a kind of unsatisfied satisfaction, the more he got to know the Lord the more he wanted of Him. Isn’t that the way it is, saints. We enjoy His fellowship now, He fills and thrills our hearts, but we long for more. We know the best is yet to come. When we are with Him our capacity for satisfaction will be so much more, there will be no limitations of the flesh, our glorified bodies will have a capacity that knows no bounds.

Let us look at what Hebrews 11:24-26 says about Moses. He could have lived as a prince but he chose the place of affliction with God’s people. He esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, “for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.” He understood what is written in Rom. 8:18 that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” We sing “it will be worth it all when we see Jesus.” Yes, our life long search will bring eternal joys.

I have heard the story that when Albert Einstein lay dying he was expressing the sadness of an unfulfilled life. All his life he had been seeking for the secret of the universe and though he had made many great discoveries, he had missed that one key to everything else. He was not a man of faith, he sought in the realms of human intellect that which only faith in God can comprehend. What an example of persistence he is. He searched all his life, it was his one goal, his one aim and his death bed confession showed what great importance his search was to him. Beloved, we have met the Creator of the universe. He has revealed Himself to us and condescended to share his secrets with us. It is not the creation that we are delving into but a search after the Creator, Himself.

The Apostle Paul in his farewell words to the Ephesians and speaking of the trials he knew lay ahead of him, was able to say, none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy.” Again in Phil. 3:11 he said, “If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” He was determined, his heart was fixed, he had but one desire, one goal in life. He was looking for a knowledge of God that would assure him a first rank position in glory. Such a place is reserved for those who have diligently sought the Lord and given Jesus a first rank place in their lives now.

In closing, let us heed the admonition of Heb. 12:1-2, “Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, LOOKING UNTO JESUS the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy set before Him endured the cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of God.” Looking unto Jesus: the word “looking” means to “to consider attentively.” That is to be our lifelong occupation, all else we do is only secondary. Jesus went to the cross, held back nothing in his determination to do the Father’s will and redeem us  to Himself. His joy and reward will be to have a people for Himself. Our exceeding great reward will be that people who win Him. God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. 

 Accessible Grace

Thora Evans

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” – Romans 5:1-2.

Our subject for discussion is found in the first part of Verse two, concerning the accessible grace of God. Verse one tells us that justification is an established fact. It begins with “therefore,” or because of things taught in the previous chapters. Then He begins to unfold to us the benefits of justification.

The first benefit of justification is peace. Once we were enemies of God; but now, through our Lord Jesus Christ, we are at peace with God. We are no longer separated because of sin. We no longer see God only  as a God of wrath and vengeance. He is now our loving heavenly Father.

Happy are those saints who have come to the revelation of eternal life in Christ. Oh, the joy of knowing that “eternal redemption” is a finished work that needs no effort on our part. We cannot improve upon nor make any more secure, what Jesus has done for us. I am safe in Christ forevermore – John. 10:28-30. “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.” All spiritual blessings come through  Him.

Moving on then to verse two, we have two aspects of grace laid out before us; that is, “this grace wherein we stand,” and the grace into which “we have access.” Grace is usually defined as “unmerited favor.” While that may be true in part, that is not “this grace.” “This is the true grace of God wherein ye stand” – I Peter 5:12. This grace is Divine power extended to us and able to work in us. This standing is ours because of salvation; it is unalterable as is justification.

Then we also  have “access” into grace. This has to do with our state, or the degree in which we grow in grace. Let us picture what would happen if we took a little boy and stood him in a candy store surrounded by all kings of treats and goodies. If we told him he could have everything he wanted, wouldn’t his eyes light up as he would reach out and take to himself all the delicious sweets he could possible eat? It would be truly strange, if he refused to take advantage of such an opportunity. He could stand in the store all day, but would miss out of all the benefits offered to him. This simple little illustration may help us to see what God is trying to teach us here.

Our standing in grace is secure. God has brought us into the banquet room of His grace. Spread out before us is grace for every need, and for an abundant life of joy, peace, and victory. Is it not sad to see saints bogged down by some great sorrow in their life? God’s grace is sufficient, as He told Paul, to turn that sorrow to joy and victory instead of that sorrow ruining a life. Perhaps there are those who have been hurt or wronged or greatly disappointed. In stead of letting God’s grace set them free, they have nursed that hurt until bitterness has defiled the heart and soul. In such a life there can be no growth, no joy, no victory, and no crown.

They tell us that, if a little boy eats too much candy, he may become ill. But oh! God’s grace is sweet, indescribably sweet, and we can never eat too much. It will never made is ill, not “true grace,” no indeed. Instead, it has a healing, energizing quality. Abundant grace causes us to reign in this life over every trial, every temptation, and every problem. Grace also teaches us and empowers us to live a sober, godly, righteous life in the present; and prepares us for a place of full glory in the ages to come. Titus 2:11-13.

We would apply  Ezekiel 47:2-5 as another illustration of God’s grace. The picture here is a wide river spread out before the prophet. First the waters were ankle deep. This is just the beginning of our Christian life, when we first learn what it means to be justified by faith and begin to enjoy  the blessings of our new life in Christ.

Then the prophet came to waters that were up to the loins. This pictures a deeper experience of God’s grace, and realizes that God has more for him yet. His confidence in the all-sufficiency of God’s grace has grown to the point where he is ready to cut loose from the shore and enjoy waters to swim in.

How wonderful to sink down into the warm soothing waters of Divine grace, and let it flow over and around us till nothing but our Head – Christ – is seen. Is it not a beautiful sight to see an experienced swimmer glide through the water? It looks so effortless; he seems to be one with the water, as if he belongs there. There is no splashing about, no struggling, when the art of swimming has been perfected. Even so, to see God’s people established in grace, till grace rules their life, is a lovely sight to see; not only to others but especially to God. Such a life brings glory to Jesus Christ, and proves the worth of what He accomplished at Calvary.

When our little boy took swimming lessons, I watched the way different children reacted to the water. It was interesting and also instructive as an example of spiritual things. There were some who would jump right in without hesitation. Others would slowly lower themselves down while hanging securely on to the side of the pool. Still others had to be coaxed, or lifted down by the instructor and carried in his arms, to help them conquer their fear.

Our reaction to water or our success or lack of it at swimming are certainly no indication of our spiritual growth; but what a picture.  Sometimes those who just seem to jump into the things of God are the first to draw back when troubles came. We saw one little girl at swimming lessons who one day was right in the eater apparently enjoying herself, but the next day she would have nothing to do with the water. The instructor tried to encourage her, but nothing he said or did made any difference to her.

Thank God He has given us good instructors, the Word, the Holy Spirit, pastors, teachers, and so forth; but for some folks all of that is of no avail. How sad. Then some children, who were slow to get in the water, soon learned there was nothing to fear. They put their confidence in their instructor, and let him or her teach them the art of swimming.

Oh, the joy of teachable saints. The way of grace seems so strange, so new, and even rather frightening to the flesh. It sounds too good to be true. But, if the old man is truly reckoned dead, the new man will soon learn to let the wonderful grace of God take control. It will buoy him up and carry him along, until he is swimming effortlessly along, enjoying to the fullest the unsearchable riches of God’s grace.

Oh, saints, let us all be of that number. We can never, never exhaust the grace of God, no matter how far out we swim. We will never reach the limit, we will never tire of it. Out there in the deep water, we are totally dependent upon the Lord and upon His grace, which will never fail to hold us up and keep us from sinking. Thank God for His immeasurable grace, a river that cannot be passed over. 

 A LESSON FROM ENOCH

Enoch lived in days of old,

Before the flood, we are told.

No record of his house or lands,

Nor fame or fortune was his claim,

But “dedication” was his name.

He prophesied of heavenly things,

The Lord’s descent on heavenly wings.

One day his friends looked, but in vain,

  To find their neighbor was their aim.

They never laid him ‘neath the sod,

Simply because he walked with God.

Translations door was opened wide,

And Enoch found himself inside.

The lesson here is plain to see,

God’s promise holds for you and me.

Christ soon will come as Enoch said,

To claim His own, both live and dead.

If we that day will gladly meet,

We must surrender at His feet.

If we walk with God in Enoch’s way,

With joyful hearts, we’ll greet that day.

For then, we too, with upturned eyes

Will see the Lord come from the skies,

Then with a shout and trumpet cry,

We’ll gather to Him in the sky.

–Thora Evans