From the last verse above, we know that God is looking for those who are seeking Him so that He can show Himself strong on their behalf. Seeking God is a personal endeavor that we will all be individually held responsible for, but we will answer this question with four other passages and that highlight this call.

• Matthew 13:44-46 – “Hidden Treasure– The kingdom of heaven is like a [very precious] treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid again; then in his joy, he goes and sells all he has and buys that field [securing the treasure for himself]. A Costly Pearl – Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, and upon finding a single pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

God wants us to seek Him because what we find is the most valuable thing that we could ever discover. So valuable that it’s worth more than all we have, so valuable that can sell all that we have just to retain what we’ve found even just for ourselves, so valuable that it fills us with so much joy…the kind that urges us to action.

• Isaiah 55:6 – “Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.“

Another reason that God wants us to seek Him is because we will not always be able to search for Him. The work of character transformation is the work of a lifetime, and we must do this while it is yet day. For the moment, now that there is relative peace, while we still have easy access and time to find and study (not just read) the Bible for ourselves, God is near enough to be found. But this won’t always be the case. This is an eternal note of caution from Isaiah – seek God before it’s too late! 

• 2 Corinthians 3:18 – But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
• Romans 12:2 – And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind[focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

Finally, as we draw closer to God and get into His presence, we become changed. We don’t need to know how this happens, as it is the work of the Holy Spirit. God cares to transform our character, as that’s the one thing that we will take into heaven. If our characters are not transformed before He comes again, we cannot make it into heaven as sin cannot abide in His presence. Therefore, renew your mind (by watching what you feed the avenues to your soul with – your eyes, ears, mouth, nose, and sexual organs) and as you do this, you’ll get to better understand (prove for yourself) God’s will for your life – good, acceptable and perfect. Seek Him.

The simple answer is NO. God can be found and He’s eagerly waiting to be found. He has promised us that He will be found when we search for Him diligently, with all our hearts. Finding Him is not some casual thing that we do when we feel like it. As we learned above, truly finding God is like searching for precious gold. It requires continuous, intentional effort. In our quest to find Him, we cannot dilly-dally between the ways of the world and those of God. Some supporting verses are below:

• Matthew 28:20 – “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen”.
• James 4:8 –“Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.“
• Proverbs 8:17 – “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.”

God rewards those who diligently (persistently, thoroughly, carefully, with a lot of effort) seek Him. If you search for Him with a pure heart, He will show up for you, redeem you from the pit of despair, and make you prosperous again! God promises to restore the dwelling place (home, family, job, relationships, health, name, etc.) and forgive the sins of those who humbly seek His face and turn from their wicked ways. When we prioritize seeking God, He promises to grant us all the things that we need for survival in life…things that even unbelievers need. He never forsakes those who seek Him, and they never lack any good thing. When we seek Him, we could be hidden (pardoned, rescued) in the day of destruction when the Lord visits punishment (perhaps unannounced) on the land (wars, plagues, natural disasters, diseases. financial calamity, etc.). In perfect and constant peace will God keep the minds of those who are focused on Him, trusting and hoping in Him. While the wicked i.e. he who is too proud to seek God, thinking that He is dead, may prosper for a while, God’s punishment lies in wait for him.

These are all promises of God that we can claim and hold onto by faith. Our part is to do the seeking, His part is to fulfill His promises.

• Hebrews 11:6 – “He who comes to God must believe that He is and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.”
• Job 8:5-7 – “If you will seek God diligentlyand make your supplication (implore the compassion and favor of) to the Almighty, then, if you are pure and upright, surely He will bestir (awaken) Himself for you and make your righteous dwelling prosperous again. And though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would greatly increase.“
• 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.“
• Matthew 6:33 – “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.“
• Psalms 9:10 – “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.“
• Psalms 34:10 – “The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.“
• Zephaniah 2:3 – “Seek the Lord [search diligentlyfor Him and regard Him as the foremost necessity of your life], All you humble of the land who have practiced His ordinances and have kept His commandments; seek righteousness, seek humility [regard them as vital]. Perhaps you will be hidden [and pardoned and rescued] In the day of the Lord’s anger.“
• Isaiah 26:3 – “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peacewhose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.”
• Psalms 10:4-6 – “The wicked are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead. Yet they succeed in everything they do. They do not see Your punishment awaiting them. They sneer at all their enemies. They think, “Nothing bad will ever happen to us! We will be free of trouble forever!”

Diligently (persistently, thoroughly, carefully, with a lot of effort). With all our heart and soul. By obeying His voice and words in the Bible, which is the primary manual for life given by the Creator. Personally, while not forsaking the gathering of the brethren. With a loyal heart and willing mind, because God searches our hearts and understands their true intent. Continually. Seek and set your mind on things above, pure things – whatsoever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and excellent, worthy of praise. Be humble in God’s presence, pray, seek His face, and turn from your wicked ways (search your heart to confess and repent from your sins, and claim God’s forgiveness by faith as His son already paid the ultimate price for your sins on the cross). Finally, dwell in the house of the Lord, gladly.

• Jeremiah 29:13 – “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.”
• Deuteronomy 4:29-31 – “But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him withall your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice (for the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.“
• Philippians 2:12 – “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”
• Hebrews 10:25 – “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.“
• 1 Chronicles 28:9 –“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.“
• Psalms 105:4 NLT – “Search for the Lord and his strength; continuallyseek him.“
• Colossians 3:1-2 – “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”
• 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land”.
• Psalms 27:4 – “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.”

As discussed earlier, seek God when He can be found! Peaceful times won’t last forever. Today is what we have, tomorrow is not guaranteed. While it is never too late to seek God, it is good to seek Him when young. Learn the lessons of godly discipline when young and it forms a foundation built on solid rock (Godly wisdom, knowledge, and understanding) to navigate the rest of life’s ups and downs. Nothing can do as great a work in the life of man as a wilderness experience spent with God. Seek Him continually, always – all the days of your life. This is the most valuable thing you will ever discover. Prioritize seeking God above seeking your earthly needs. Start your day with Him. Put Him first and foremost in your life and He’ll take care of everything else, ordering your steps and guiding you along the way you should go. Seek Him earnestly (with sincere and intense conviction; seriously, determined), particularly when you’ve sinned. This is because sin separates you from God. Acknowledge and confess your sins. Seek Him early in the day, just like Jesus sought the Father early in the day. Seek Him when your life hits a rough patch – in the wilderness seasons of your life. Seek Him in His house…go to Church!

• Isaiah 55:6 – “Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.“
• Lamentations 3:27-33 – “It is good for a man that he should bear the yoke [of divine disciplinary dealings] in his youth.Let him sit alone uncomplaining and keeping silent [in hope], because [God] has laid [the yoke] upon him [for his benefit]. [Rom. 8:28.] Let him put his mouth in the dust [in abject recognition of his unworthiness]–there may yet be hope. [Mic. 7:17.] Let him give his cheek to the One Who smites him [even through His human agents]; let him be filled [full] with [men’s] reproach [in meekness]. For the Lord will not cast off forever! [Ps. 94:14.] But though He causes grief, yet will He be moved to compassion according to the multitude of His loving-kindness and tender mercy. For He does not willingly and from His heart afflict or grieve the children of men. [Ezek. 18:23, 32; Hos. 11:8; Heb. 12:5-10; II Pet. 3:9.]“
• Psalms 27:4 – “One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.“
• Psalms 105:4 NLT – “Search for the Lord and his strength; continually(always) seek him.“
• Matthew 6:33 – “But seek firstthe kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.“
• Hosea 5:15 NKJV – “I will go back to my place until the people admit they are guiltyuntil they come looking for me. Yes, in their trouble they will try very hard to find me.”
• Psalms 63:1-2 – “O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.”
• Deuteronomy 4:29 – “But from there (the wilderness, place of punishment) you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”