He had been gone for over a year. We knew the country but not the exact location. Packing our suitcases, we went to Seattle and got on a ship. If possible, he would meet us when we got off the ship. Mother saw him first, and oh how excited we were. We disembarked and went straight to meet him. What a day, and we were never separated from our dad again.
That event reminds me of something in the Bible.
Many people sought out Jesus before He was crucified for many different reasons, and very few went away disappointed. Some of those that were disappointed were like one of the thieves on a cross next to Jesus. A proud, arrogant, guilty, criminal about to die, and he hurled insults at Jesus and did not get help.
Luke 23:39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
Psalm 14:4&5 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord? 5 There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous.
The other acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God and asked for Mercy and received Help.
Luke 23:40-43 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
There were many that sought and got help from Jesus because they realized He was from God or that He was God, The Messiah.
John 14:7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.
“Seek and find, call upon ask” are what we are encouraged to do. (Genesis 4:26, Psalms 50:15&16, 86:5&7, 91:15) are a few places in the Old Testament; in the New Testament, (Luke 11:9, Hebrews 11:6, Romans 10:12&13, Matthew 6:33).
Have we called upon Jesus and how did we call?
See you in Church next Sunday.