Hide And Seek

Children are so much fun to watch. In some cases, that is the only thing you can do. They say that with the acquisition of wisdom comes the moment you say to yourself, “I can’t do that any more.” It is a good moment and a sad moment, all at the same time.
This past weekend we had three very energetic young children over to visit with us. At ages eight, six and one and a half they sure could find things to do. They also change games half way through. None of this worrying about who wins and who looses. Just move on to the next game and keep going. It was a lot of fun to watch them run back and forth, doing this and that. It was especially entertaining to watch them play Hide and Seek. The older two some how knew the youngest one may not have participated in this game and without any coaching by us parents, they gave him clues to where they were hiding. They all shared in the joy of finding and being found.
Life is simple for our young ones. It doesn’t take much to entertain and amuse them. No sophisticated electronics, no complicated rules and regulations to read and remember. Just, “I’ll hide, you come and find me.” I know what you are thinking. Life is not that simple for us as adults. And yet, just maybe we should relearn how to play charades or pictionary or a number of other adult games of years gone by.
I think we have done the same thing to our faith in God. We make it complicated. The message of the gospel is simple. We need to believe that Jesus came into this world to save sinners. He came to pay the price for all the things we have done wrong. His dying on the cross takes our sins away if we ask Him for forgiveness and invite Him into our hearts. Easter tells us He conquered death and we have the opportunity to share in the eternal resurrection. Some of us will think it is not that simple, but it is. And yes there are other things we need to learn about God and Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Of all the things the Bible tells us, two verses stand out for me. “I have come to seek and to save what was lost.” And “those who seek me will find me.” In both cases the words seek implies something that takes time. Jesus is seeking us at the same time we are seeking God.
You may say that it is too late to find God. You may also glibly say your life has not been the greatest and you question whether God can forgive you all the wrongs you have done. Leave that to God, He has an amazing capacity to forgive. As you think about the children running here and there, remember that unlike the game of Hide and Seek, God is not hiding. Now . . . You’re it!
Rob