Psalm 27:8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.

I have long loved this verse, and have written on it countless times. However, it still resonates within me every time I read it. Different translations render it in different ways, but all of them speak of the desire to see and know God, as a reflection of His desire for us. Solomon spoke of this impulse as God “setting eternity in the heart of man.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Different people perceive it differently, and how we respond to it varies very widely. Solomon himself departed from it rather tragically, trusting in the abilities God had given him rather than seeking after the One who had given them. If we indeed follow this impulse, God promises that we will encounter Him, and that is a marvelous thing. (Jeremiah 29:13) That road is often different for each individual. Just yesterday I watched a YouTube video of the testimony of a mathematician who had been an atheist but had a strong moral sense, and eventually came to the revelation that there was Someone behind morality, or else morality had no basis. Not too many people come to God that way! There are probably as many variations on finding God as there are people, so we need to remember that, as C. S. Lewis said, when we get to heaven we will all discover that each of us got it wrong somewhere. Paul put it this way: “Now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12) The point is to seek God and trust Him to get us there, ultimately not trusting in anything but Him.

Growing up in the home that I did, my problem was in feeling that I already knew God, so why keep seeking Him? That was probably Solomon’s attitude, and it can be deadly. God in His gracious mercy opened my eyes to my foolish pride, and I have been seeking Him ever since. That may sound like an exercise in futility, if I have to keep seeking, but He keeps showing me more of Himself every day, and that is glorious! The thing is, He is infinite, so I can never run out of more to learn of Him. Just like Paul, I eagerly anticipate the day when I will stand before Him and know Him fully, as He knows me. As the pop song of many decades ago says, “To know, know, know him is to love, love, love him, and I do.” This isn’t just emotional, because as Jesus said, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.” (John 14:23) I am to seek Him with all I am and express my devotion to Him with full obedience, knowing that the rewards are infinite.

Father, thank You for this reminder. Thank You for allowing me to seek You, and for meeting me in so many ways along the way. May I draw many to seek You as well, so that together we may walk in the obedience that comes from love, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!