Bible Study

The Passionate search
By Matthew Harding

Key Verse: Proverbs 8:17
“I love those who love me and those who diligently seek me will be found by me”

My family and I love Chinese food. The word ‘love’ may not even be adequate enough to describe our relationship with it. Some from afar, may say that we are passionate about eating Chinese. Not so long ago, my family and I were considering taking a trip back to our former college ministry and see some older students get married. Immediately, my wife and I both felt that flash of passion. You could see the blaze in our eyes and the grins on our face. Yes, we were not as excited about seeing old friends or formers students as we were interested in hunting down our favorite Chinese restaurant in that town. We made the plans, packed the car, buckled the kids and headed out five hours down the road with one end in sight, our favorite dish at our most favorite restaurant.

Well, you can guess what happened. As we weaved in and out of traffic, drove the speed of sound, zipped past all of our memories and friends and excitedly bee-lined it to our gastronominal salvation … we learned all to quickly at the restaurant door that they were CLOSED. Oh the pain and agony we felt (not really, but we sure did feel stupid and let down). The restaurant had closed for the holiday weekend and there would be no tasty morsels of Chinese delicacies on our lips. Ah, but there is a poignant spiritual lesson here to learn, a huge Jesus fortune cookie, if you will.

The world is full of sincere and desperate and even more passionate peoples on a great search for Truth. They are heading head-long into a lifestyle of ritual and confusion as they think they have found the ‘right’ way and the ‘perfect’ solution to their needs. They move the speed of sound in pursuing this faith that leads them ultimately to an eternal closed door. As sad as it was to be rejected by a closed Chinese restaurant, my wife and I knew the spiritual parallel of life. Many are seeking and passionately searching for truth, for the one true God. Yet, very few are committed to showing them the way. My wife and I could have made one simple phone call to make sure our Chinese venture would not have been in vain. And today, millions are calling out “am I going the right way?” “Is the door closed at the end?” “Is there any way to know how to get to heaven?” Are you committed today to be the one to go and share the truth that Jesus is the ever open door for all who will find Him? Cross your town and share His love in the nearest Chinese restaurant and then go around the world in their back yard and point the way to the cross.