Two lessons came out strong for me concerning the misplaced items that I mentioned yesterday. The first is the importance of the Holy Spirit’s light in our everyday activities. The Spirit’s jurisdiction covers all areas of life. We shortchange ourselves when we put a dichotomy between the spiritual and physical sides of life, and restrict Him to only the former. The second, which is the focus for today, has to do with the desperation with which I sought for my passport. Not wanting to miss my flight, I turned everywhere upside down looking for it. Every passing hour increased my frustration and robbed me of the power of concentration. As long as the passport was not yet found, I could not focus on anything else. That frustration led me to pray to the Lord, and the Spirit opened my eyes.
We shortchange ourselves when we put a dichotomy between the spiritual and physical sides of life, and restrict Him to only the former.
Here is the real issue: the same Spirit who had helped me find the passport asked me a probing question: “When last were you so desperate in search of God or His word for clues?” I couldn’t remember. We are generally more ardent at seeking for physical or mundane benefits. Even when we claim we are seeking God, it is typically as a way to satisfy our numerous needs. Hardly do we seek God as an end in itself. Proverbs 2:4-5 says, “If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the LORD And find the knowledge of God.” If half of the attention we give to making money is diverted to seeking God genuinely, we will enjoy more of His presence. When this happens, we will probably not have to seek for those mundane things as they will be generously added. In the light of our text, knowing God requires a stirring of oneself to lay hold on spiritual entities.