People use the phrase “to find God" for different reasons. It is sometimes related to becoming spiritual or sometimes, it can also be an adjective for people who have transformed their lives for the better or have cleansed themselves from vices and otherworldly things.
With all the numerous applications of the term in our daily lives, what does it truly mean to find God?
The Bible tells us that God has given His only begotten Son to save us from our sins. John 3:16 states that “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
And because of the grace that God has given us, we are bound to find Him by faith and deeds. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Finding God Means Acknowledging His Presence
Acknowledging God’s presence in our lives is “finding God.” By acknowledging His presence, we are also seeking His presence. “Presence” in Hebrew means “face.” So, to seek God’s presence, it means to seek God’s face, literally, in Hebraic ways. But for modern-day Christians, it means to seek God’s presence in our everyday lives.
Scripture tells us that God is everywhere, but it is through Jesus Christ that we can communicate with the Father and the belief that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. By doing this, we are acknowledging the presence of God in our lives. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
God is always present for His children, “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Therefore, there is no need to fret whenever obstacles come, rather, continue to seek Him and His Kingdom.
Finding God Means to Seek Him
Seeking God is finding God. In Acts 17:27, we are reminded, by Paul, that God is always with his children. But God wants His children to seek Him. “They should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.”
No one seeks God on their own. It is God’s power that empowers a person to seek Him. The only way we can communicate to God that we need to seek Him is through prayer.
The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one (Psalm 14:2-3).
Seeking God means pleasing the Father in Heaven as the Bible tells us, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
Finding God Means to Follow Him
To find God means to follow Jesus Christ and His teachings as written in Scripture. Following Him means surrendering your heart and mind to Him. It also means receiving the grace of faith through Him as written in the Bible,
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Following Him also means asking for forgiveness for our sins. Human as we are, we have trespassed, and it is our duty to ask forgiveness for all our sins in order to follow Jesus and find God.
The Bible reminds us to “take heed to yourselves: If your brother trespass against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him” (Luke 17:3).
Scripture also reminds us that salvation is through no one else but through Christ Jesus and that no one comes to the Father but through Him alone. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Finding God Means a Change of Attitude for the Better
Finding God also means changing ourselves for the better. This does not mean merely changing our physical attributes or worldly values. Rather, it is emphasized in the Bible that in order to find God, it is important that we improve ourselves spiritually. It is important that we change our perspective of God and life in general to a better outlook.
Take, for example, the story of Job. Job is an example of a person that has encountered a lot of obstacles in his life. Job’s obstacles were extreme as he experienced so many hardships in one single day. In one day, he lost everything; his livestock, his servants, as well as his 10 children who were killed by invaders.
He also experienced a skin disease. Despite his wife encouraging him to curse God, Job remained faithful that even during distress, he called out to God and said, “If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court” (Job 23:3).
Job is a perfect example of a person who has a good outlook despite challenges. After all, God is the mighty shepherd that provides for His children. We are then reminded that God provides even when we are down.
Psalm 42:1-2 tells us, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”
Finding God Means Attaining Spiritual Growth
Finding God also means growing spiritually. The obstacle of a man that has found God and does not sustain it is an inability to grow one’s faith.
That is why it is important that we continue to grow in finding God through continuous learning of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Peter expresses the importance of spiritual growth,
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires (2 Peter 1:3-4).
To attain spiritual growth, it is important that we increase our learnings about God’s word, increase our yearning to do what Jesus would do, increase our faith by seeking His presence and decrease our sins. Peter added as he wrote,
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:5-8).
Why Does This Matter?
We have learned that the term “to find God” has a variety of meanings depending on everyone. But to truly find God in the biblical perspective, we must acknowledge His Presence, seek Him, follow Him, change our attitude for the better, and attain spiritual growth. As Paul said to the Colossians,
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth (Colossians 3:1-2).
Paul reminds us that we must set our minds towards things in Heaven and that is why we must find God.
Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength (Isaiah 41:10).
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Exodus 15:2).
The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory (Nehemiah 8:10).
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Glory Dy has been a content creator for more than 10 years. She lives in a quiet suburb with her family and four cats.
