"Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near." (Isaiah 55:6 NKJV)
Amid this pandemic, God has provided an obvious opportunity for believers in Jesus Christ to get connected or reconnected with Him like never before in recent history. It's a season for God's people to refuel their spiritual tanks. During this time, many have jumped from believer status to discerning disciples of Jesus Christ. I praise God many have done that and are closer to God than they've in years. They've latched on to God's promises and are seeking God's will and purpose through all of this.
I sincerely rejoice that multitudes of God's people have invested hours of extra time drawing close to the Lord. This pandemic fueled a desire to get back where they once were in their relationship with the Lord, and they have done it! Now they are enjoying times with the Lord like they haven't in years! God is pleased!
Unfortunately, others have not used their downtime in constructive and biblically wise ways. They've wasted countless hours catching up on TV series, movies, and spending so much time on social media their thumbs hurt from scanning the latest posts. These believers have a lot of unrest in their souls. And instead of peace filling their souls, they're being drained of it slowly day after day. Some of these Christians are totally up to date on the latest pandemic conspiracy theories but haven't even dusted off their Bibles much less read them. Is that what Isaiah meant in this verse "Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near." (Isaiah 55:6 NKJV). Of course not!
I sincerely believe that out of this pandemic, God is initiating a spiritual revival. It will be different than previous ones, but perfect for this time in history. Even now, He's waking His people from spiritual slumber, and stirring something deep inside us. He's stirring expectation as He prepares us for what is ahead. People of God, we must get ready! He will soon sweep a multitude of unbelievers into the family of God. We need to be prepared to receive them and disciple them. Our God will even peel the scales off the eyes of many who presently identify as atheists, and they will see the glorious light of the gospel. It's easy to be atheist when all is well, but when God shakes things up, and things are unsettled, atheistic theories don't bring much comfort. God has a way to use calamity to bring people to Him. He also uses it to bring His people back to Him. "Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near." (Isaiah 55:6 NKJV)
Again, I praise God that many Christians have used this time to prepare for what's ahead in a spiritual sense.
- They're enjoying fruitful times reading their Bible.
- They're enjoying glorious times praising and worshiping God.
- They're fervently praying for the needs of others.
- They're following the leading of the Holy Spirit found in Isaiah 55:6.
Before this pandemic, their faith was weak and unstable, but now during this time of unsureness, they're more robust in their faith than ever before, and they're thrilled they've spent time seeking and calling on the Lord. Praise God!
If you're reading this and you've missed out on this opportunity, it's not too late! Start right now and springboard into one of the most spiritually significant times in your Christian life. First, take a moment and think back to when you felt the closest to the Lord.
- Remember when you prayed, and you could sense God listening to your every word?
- Remember when you sang worship songs to Him and felt His presence right there with you?
- Remember when you read the Bible and words joyously jumped off the page at you?
- Remember that, there you were alone in your prayer closet, and you felt like shouting Hallelujah, and you did?
God wants to bring us all back to those spiritually intimate times with Him, and right now is an excellent opportunity to do just that! In times like these, we desperately need that connection with our all-powerful and loving God. We need that connection with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Right?
So what's it going to be for you as you go forward? Will you continue to set your course on distractions? Or will you follow God's way and "Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near." (Isaiah 55:6 NKJV)
God leaves the choice with us! He's calling us to that place where seekers find, and those who call hear. It's a glorious place overflowing with God's love, grace, wonder, and presence. You can start right now, and God will reveal or reaffirm His heavenly treasures of wisdom to you! It's time to seek!
So what's it going to be? Will you make a choice and say yes to God? He's listening now because He loves you and hates watching you sink deep in the raging river of your anxious thoughts. He hates seeing you unsettled in your heart just because you failed to draw deep from the wells of salvation. He truly does!
If you're ready, turn off the background noise in your house. Find a quiet place somewhere. Don't make an excuse why you can't; if you do, nothing will change. You need to change, and you know it! Right? We all do!
Now, begin your quiet time with your heavenly Father and your Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will help, and as you seek, you will find. That's God's promise, and God always keeps His promises. Right?
God bless you today as you go forward into the center of His will,
Brian Mark Weller