The Seeker

It was a sight to behold, for at every corner proudly stood a BMW, Rolls Royce, Mini Cooper, Dugati, Harley Davidson and the “supercharged” Kawasaki Ninja H2. The focus lights placed at the bottom of each corner of the car and bike were strikingly breathtaking, for it added more glitz and glamour to the already fast and trendy vehicles at the car automobile expo. The place was buzzing with activity as wide-eyed young enthusiasts moved from car to car and bike to bike, capturing photographs and taking ‘selfies’ on the way.

The silence was broken by the sound of the humming engine of the Mercedes SLS AMG Sport. The people in the vicinity rushed to the spot where the bright green car was parked and admiringly watched the driver hoping that one day they too would be behind the wheel. Awestruck by the sound and beauty, they once again began clicking more car photographs.

Interestingly, a two-year-old little boy was the starry-eyed teenager looking at every fancy car. Carried by his mother, the little boy was awestruck too. Following his vision, I looked upwards, and I noticed that he was amazed by the standard lights on the ceiling. Ignoring the latest flashy cars that surrounded him, the curious little boy’s eyes followed the ceiling lights as his mother moved from car to car.

Like those enthusiasts and the little boy, we too are seeking something or someone. For some of us, it would be fancy cars, for some luxurious homes, for others reaching to the top, and for some, seeking to stand in the spotlight of fame and popularity. Interestingly, as we pursue and seek after these, a God is seeking after us.

As we pursue and seek the temporary, God is seeking for a permanent relationship with us.

In Luke 19, we read of Jesus passing through the bustling city of Jericho on his way to Jerusalem. Jericho was a significant toll collection centre for goods passing east and west. In that city lived a wealthy Chief Tax Collector, Zacchaeus, the least favourite among the people. On hearing that Jesus was passing through his city, Zacchaeus gathered with the crowds to catch a glimpse of Jesus. Being small in stature and looked down upon by the masses, Zacchaeus climbed up a sycamore tree to look out for Jesus. The Bible says that “He was seeking to see who Jesus was” . But it was Jesus who was seeking for him. For when Jesus came to the place where he was perched on the tree, “He looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down for, I must stay at your house today” .

Amidst the large crowd of people, Jesus points out to a small man seated on a tree, despised and rejected, acknowledges him, calls him by name and seeks to have fellowship with him. Zacchaeus imagined that he was seeking Jesus, but it was Jesus who was seeking after him.

Zacchaeus imagined that he was seeking Jesus but it was Jesus who was seeking after him

The English poet Francis Thomson in the poem ‘The Hound of Heaven’, describes God as a determined hound seeking after him. He writes,

“I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind; and in the midst of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped; And shot, precipitated,
Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears,
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.”

The poet found himself being sought after by a loving God, and in conclusion, he writes the cry and heart of God, “Ah fondest, blindest, weakest, I am He whom thou seekest!”

The cry of God: “Ah fondest, blindest, weakest, I am He whom thou seekest!”

The shirked and despised Zacchaeus too was sought after by God. As soon as Jesus calls out to him, he hurriedly comes down from the tree and joyfully receives Jesus. At the end of their meeting, Jesus announces, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” . Zacchaeus’ meeting with Jesus was a transforming one. It changed his life forever.

Today, the Maker of Heaven and Earth is seeking you and me. May we be found, and may our lives be transformed.

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