Pulpit Today

From the beginning of time men have sought for life that overflows with satisfaction.  And yet, the world has always fallen short of providing for that search.  Clearly, a dead world cannot supply life to spiritually dead men.  Only Life begets life.

When you return to the Garden of Eden, you understand the immediate consequence of Adam’s sin brought separation from God and death.  It’s not strange that separation from God brings death, because God is the fountainhead of life and apart from Him there can only be death.  But man’s disobedience did not forever exclude him from God’s presence.  As an act of grace, God sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world so man could reclaim true life.  Jesus said, “I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).  And that abundant life is obtained through fellowshipping with Him.  Prayer connects people to the source of life—God.  This is what Amos 5:4-5 means when it says, “This what the LORD says to the house of Israel: “Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba.”

When God issued the directive for Israel’s spiritual renewal and relief from their enemies He gave them direct instruction—“seek Me and live.”  But Israel assumed their answer to living involved returning to cities renowned with Hebrew heritage—Bethel, Gilgal, and Beersheba—places where God had manifested Himself in great power.  But why did God forbid Israel from seeking these cities?  After all, each city was royally situated in Hebrew antiquity.

Bethel means, “House of God.”  It’s where God met with Jacob in a dream and reconfirmed His covenant with Jacob.  But Amos said, “Don’t seek the House of God; seek the God of the house.”  Then the Lord warned Israel not to seek Gilgal.  There are forty references to Gilgal in the Bible.  Most significantly, it’s where Joshua parted the Jordan River and Israel entered the Promised Land.  But God’s wonders aren’t claimed by returning to places of miracles, they’re claimed by returning to the God of miracles.  And thirdly, God warned Israel not to seek Beersheba.  Beersheba was that special place where Israel’s great patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had supernatural encounters with God.  But again, God didn’t want Israel to return to a dated place of someone’s spiritual encounter; He wanted Israel to draw near Him and renew their experience in His presence.

God’s grace for man is designed to restore fellowship with Him and impute real "life."  When men are restored to God through faith in Christ, in some measure men can understand His mind, experience His presence, and participate in His plan.  “Seek Me and live!”