And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.” Romans 10:20
We think we seek after God when the reality is, we only find God because he was first looking for us. This is portrayed so well in C.S. Lewis’ fantasy novel, The Silver Chair. The story begins with Jill Pole hiding from schoolyard bullies. She is helped by Eustace Scrubb, who suggests they call to Aslan, the lion who represents God, with the intention of getting away from the bullies. Shortly after calling for Aslan, Jill and Eustace find themselves in the magical world of Narnia. Jill meets Aslan who tells her that he has called them from their own world to complete a task. Jill is greatly puzzled and says, “It was we who asked to come here.” However, Aslan responds by saying, “You would not have called to me unless I had been calling to you.”
It’s God who takes the initiative and “finds” us. It’s not us who “find” God. We respond to him, often before we’re even aware he’s seeking us. It was God who came to us as, “Immanuel.” It’s God who allows us to hear his voice calling. God finds us like the farmer finds the lost sheep, like the woman finds the lost coin, and like the father who looks, waits, and runs to his lost son (Luke 15). He finds us because he is actively looking for us. He doesn’t wait until we are good enough or desperate enough. He is always actively pursuing us, not just to save us from our sins, but to have an ongoing relationship with Him.
