Two very different seekers (Part 1 &2)

By: Carole Lynne Haines

*My next two posts go together in Parts*
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 Part 1: He kept trying to see Him.

⁷ Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening; and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, ⁸ and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. ⁹ Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded; but who is this man about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see Him. (Luke 9:7-9 NASB)

This description of Herod really struck me. He had a curiosity about Jesus and he kept trying to see Him. But Herod’s pursuit of Jesus was only a shallow interest. It was a morbid curiosity, not the kind of pursuit needed to truly find Jesus. He wasn’t repenting as a sinner, or seeking Him as a savior. He just wanted to see this person whom he was afraid was John come back from the dead. He felt guilty for be-heading John the Baptist, but he wasn’t ready to repent of any sins, nor define himself as the sinner he was. This is the only way one can truly come to Jesus in a Saving manner. Why we seek Jesus is just as important as seeking Him. God’s Word tells us this.

²⁹ But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. ³⁰ When you are in distress and all these things happen to you, in the latter days you will return to the Lord your God and listen to His voice. ³¹ For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not abandon you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them. (Duet. 4:29-31 NASB)

Merely seeking Jesus is not enough; it is our heart’s motive in that pursuit that determines the outcome. “All of us have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God…If we confess our sin, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:9 NASB)

Let us be sure that our seeking of Jesus is not as Herod sought Him; one of mere curiosity. It is fine to start the journey that way, but all journeys toward Jesus must conclude in the realization that we are sinners, and He is the only Savior.
 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
In my next post, we will look at a totally different Seeker.