THE QUEST
A Story
“You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all of your heart. I will be found by you.” (Jeremiah 29:13,14)
There was a young man who was a recent convert to Christianity, and he knew in his heart that he must be “sold out” to Jesus. In his zeal he would occasionally fast and pray, memorize Scripture, attend church and fellowship several times per week – he was even involved in various ministries.
Although his love for God was growing and his ministry effective, he still wanted a greater level of intimacy and communion with his Maker. Someone suggested that he visit a certain man of God that our young friend had only heard of and read about, but this would be a very long and costly journey. “It is worth all I have he reasoned,” so, the young man saved all he could and left everything to make the extensive trip.
Finally, the pilgrimage to his destination was near complete; he could see the home in the distance – there was a beautiful lake nearby to help guide the way. The young man paused to breathe in the fresh mountain air and take in the serenity that was heaven-like. The mystique of such a place almost made one feel as though he were on “holy ground.”
The boy approached the door of this great man’s home, and he realized that this was it – he had accomplished a tremendous goal, and now his expectations were running higher than ever; (but the truth be known, he was jittery and would probably be lost for words).
He knocked, and the old man opened the door. “I’ve come to inquire, sir, of the deeper life in God, I have waited for so long to meet with you,” the boy said. The old man had a gentle but stern demeanor. He gazed down upon the lad, and after closing the door, led the youth toward the nearby lake. There was a bit of “small talk” as they proceeded toward the water, but merely pleasantries, nothing spiritually profound. Then the old man began to remove his shoes and gestured for the boy to do the same. Trustingly the boy followed as the man led him into the cool refreshing water, and before long one could hear from behind the slight waves lapping the shore. Then something happened that the boy would never forget.
They were waist high in the water, no words were spoken, and the stout old man grabbed the youth by the scruff of his collar and held him helplessly under the water!
Then gasping, gagging, and spewing the boy is thrust upward after what seemed like an eternity. In astonishment and disbelief, the boy caught his breath, then he yelled “Why did you do that to me? I’ve come for spiritual help and guidance, and you nearly kill me!”
“Son, here is the lesson you came for, the old man said”: “When you want Jesus as much as you wanted air right now, then you shall have all of the nearness to God you could ever desire. Seek Him with all of your heart, and surely, He will let you find Him .”