What We Seek

Hebrews 11:4-7

By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.” And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.

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I asked Bobby Dylan,
I asked the Beatles,
I asked Timothy Leary,
But he couldn't help me either.

They call me the seeker,
I been searchin' low and high.
I won't get to get what I'm after
'til the day I die.

"The Seeker" written by Pete Townshend, recorded by The Who, released on "Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy"

The heroes of the faith not only had faith, they were faithful. They treated their faith as a noun, a thing to be had; and as a verb, a thing to do.

By faith Abel offered a more acceptable sacrifice. Even after his death, his faith still speaks. Enoch's faith pleased God such that he did not experience death. Noah was warned by God that of the oncoming flood to build an ark because of his faith. By Noah's faith, a world condemned was saved.

While attributed to Enoch, this could be true of all of these heroes of the faith, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."

So who should we ask, what should we seek. Evidently it's not Bob Dylan, or the Beatles, or even Timothy Leary. Whenever we seek the advice of someone here on earth, we get their words, their opinions, their instructions. There are some wise men in this world, but none is without sin. Even Abel, Enoch, and Noah. These three remind us to seek who they sought, God.

Roger Daltry sings that he won't get what he seeks 'til the day he dies. Well, this much is true. It is when we meet our maker that the grand questions are answered, but there is still time before the end of time. This was shown by Abel, Enoch, and Noah.

Of course it isn't always easy and fun. Abel was murdered and Noah was mocked. But by their faith they are still honored by God and their names are still remembered. Have faith that in seeking God alone that the answers to what we seek will be answered. Able, Enoch and Noah received blessing, reward, and vocation by their faith. So too will we.

Looking in the Wrong Places

John 14:8

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

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You broke the bonds
And you loosed the chains
Carried the cross
Of my shame
Oh my shame
You know I believe it

But I still haven't found what I'm looking for

"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" bu U2

Philip wants to see the Father. If you think "Doubting Thomas" was a tough nut to crack, Philip wants to see the Father. So what has Christ done? By this point of John's gospel Jesus has done a good deal.

He has healed the Royal Official's son. He has healed the man at the pool called Beth-zatha. He has fed the 5,000. He walked on the water and healed the man who was blind from birth. That's just a sample of the miracle stories.

He has also answered the many challenges of the rich and the powerful. He has touched the untouchable. He has brought Lazarus back from the dead and he has entered Jerusalem triumphantly. After all of this, Philip wants to see the Father. When is "enough" enough?

This is actually a harsh judgment on Philip, because we still ask this question everyday. We want proof. Our society, with instant internet and news access from all over the world, we want to see the proof for ourselves. It is no longer enough to hear the testimony of those who know, people want to experience it for themselves.

Jesus has broken the bonds and loosed the chains. Sin and death have no claim on us because he has carried the cross of our shame as only he can. Only Jesus can do this, Jesus who walked the Earth as God in flesh and bone. Jesus has done what we cannot, and still we want to see the Father. We want proof. Why? Because we still haven't found what we're looking for.

Our problem is that we tend to look in the wrong places. People treat their bodies like trampolines. People look for solace and salvation in a needle and bottle. People hide inside of caves and cloisters looking for something within themselves that was never there. It is when we look to what is there, when we look for Christ, then we will see the Father at work in the world and in our lives.