p. 10 | Seeking After God by Harry Armstrong

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · May 5, 1904

Seeking After God

By Harry Armstrong

HARRY ARMSTRONG

“I AM sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts.”

It is true, that there are many, even multitudes, outside of those who are known as Christians, who are seeking after God. They are crying out for him in the bitterness of their souls, even as did Job and the psalmist David, saying, “Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat.” “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?”

As the Lord causes the dry, barren ground to desire, that he may visit it with refreshing showers, even so he causes the barren soul with its unsatisfied longing to feel and sense its need of him, so that he may supply the need according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ.

There is nothing that gives the Lord more pleasure than to make himself known to his children. He loves the companionship of man, to dwell with him and to walk with him. He does not wait until the man expresses his desire to find in words, but he answers the soul’s need, and responds to the unsatisfied longing. He says, “I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.”

Where We May Find God

“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars Hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshiped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.”

In this scripture the apostle Paul declares “the Unknown God” to be the creator of heaven and earth, the “God that made the world and all things therein.” And then he shows where he does not dwell, saying, he “dwelleth not in temples made with hands.” Stephen, the martyr, also uttered the same truth in his “apology,” saying, “But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet.” Turning to the prophecy referred to, we read: “Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.”

God in His Dwelling-Place

The Lord does not look to the heaven or to the earth for a dwelling-place or sanctuary; for he says, “All those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, . . . but to this man will I look” for a dwelling-place. The Lord desires to dwell in man, to tabernacle in the flesh, for he dwelleth not in temples made with hands, but in the temple of the body. . . . “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

And so the apostle continues, saying, “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: for in him we live, and move, and have our being: as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”

Christ the Word Is Nigh Thee

“But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth,

and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Why Men Can Not Find Him

“I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people which walketh in a way that is not good, after their own thoughts.” This is what hinders men from finding God, even walking after their own thoughts. So long as a man follows the path of his own choosing, he walks in the wilderness of sin. “It is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” It is not until a man is willing to give up his own thoughts, his own way of thinking, and forsake his own way, that he finds God. Therefore since it is true that as man “thinketh in his heart, so is he,” to give up his own way of thinking means a complete denial of self, a complete surrender of all that he is.

When such a surrender is made, the man sees no man save Jesus only. The self life is crucified, and Jesus is raised from the dead to dwell in his own tabernacle of flesh. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Seek Ye the Lord

“Those that seek me early shall find me.” “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”