Seeking God Early

"O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is..." (Psalm 63: 1)

"I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." (Proverbs 8: 17)

We ought to seek God early. He is not ever to be put in last place. God is to be sought early in life (age). So wrote the wise king, saying:

"Remember now thy creator in the days of your youth before the evil days come." (Ecclesiastes 12: 1)

It is unhealthy and unwise for sinners to postpone turning their lives over to the Lord. It is wrong to think within - "I have plenty of time to remember God when I am old, I am going to have my fun sinning while I am young." Such thinking has damned many a soul! Many such souls do not even make it to old age, to do as they intended and imagined. Others become so in love with sin in youth that they do not turn from it even when they are old. "A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy." (Proverbs 29: 1 NIV)

"The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth." (Lamentations 3: 25-27)

So, early in life, in youth, God is to be remembered and sought. He deserves to be first and to not give him his due is truly a great sin. It is dangerous too, as the above verses warn.

We ought to seek God not only early in life but also early in the day, and early in the week.

"With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early..." (Isaiah 26: 9)

Tragically, however, most do not do this. They neglect God and the salvation of their souls. They hear the command and invitation to seek God and his will, but they harden their hearts, and stiffen their necks and resistance to the Lord, and bring upon themselves the judgment written - "they shall suddenly be destroyed without remedy." There is a "too late" doctrine in the Bible.

What is it that causes sinners to postpone and neglect their soul's salvation? What is it that distracts them from what is most important? What keeps them from the word of God and the means of salvation? Jesus said:

"And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection." (Luke 8: 14)

The word of God, like God himself, is pushed out of the heart, mind, and life of hardened sinners. They may hear the word preached, may give some lip service to much of it, but any real commitment is lacking and very short-lived.

Those thoughts of returning to the Lord, of turning away from sin, of seeking him early, often become "choked" out like seed fallen among thorns and weeds. Are the "cares of this world" driving you away from God? Should they not rather drive you to him? Are the "pleasures of this life," and the "pleasures of sin," keeping you from the Lord and salvation?

The promise is given by the Lord himself, by one who cannot lie - "they who seek me early shall find me." Precious promise! Every genuine born again Christian can testify of the fact that the Lord kept his word! Jesus also preached this great truth, saying "ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find..."