One of the first things we come to understand when we begin to read the bible is that we are separated from God, and it is God who is seeking us. He is the great seeker. When the first man and woman sinned and turned away from God, it was God who came looking for them. When Adam and Eve were hiding in the garden, he called out: “where are you?” And down through the ages still he was seeking the lost to return to him. God spoke through his servant, Ezekiel: “For thus saith the Lord; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep, and deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered.”Ezek.34:11,12.

Finally he came to the earth in the person of his Son, Jesus Christ, who would say of himself: “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”John 10:11. We read in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” It is we who are lost and cut off from our creator and God, and he, out of his great heart of love, who is bridging the gap. And so he sent his Son to die for our sins and rise again from the dead to be the saviour of the world. As Jesus said: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”Luke 19:10.

Yet God does still tell us to seek him, and assures us that if we seek him diligently we will find him. God spoke through his servant Jeremiah saying: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”Jer.29:13. What a wonderful promise from God who has never and can never break his promise. With what confidence, then, can we seek God with all our heart. And Jesus tells us to: “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things (all our material needs) shall be added unto you.” Mat.6:33. This should be our number one priority in life.

And then we are taught in the proverbs to seek after wisdom and understanding: “If thou seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasure; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:3,4. And to know God is to know love. For, “God is love.” 1 John 4:8. There is something very alluring and irresistible to us at the prospect of going on a treasure hunt. From early childhood the allure of lost pirate’s treasure has fired the imaginations, and if ever an old faded treasure map had come into our possession, we would most certainly have single mindedly pursued it.

The bible is telling us that to find God’s love is the greatest treasure imaginable and that we should seek it with all our heart. We need to seek because it is hidden from the natural man. Though the evidence of God’s love is all around us, most are so blinded and hardened by sin that they are totally unaware of God loving them. The Lord has chosen to reveal his love to us through the gospel, that is, the good news that Christ has died for our sins, was buried, and rose again from the dead. For, though the gospel is simple enough, so that a child can understand it, still it remains a mystery to so many. That is why Paul, the apostle, writing to the church at Ephesus, speaks of, “the mystery of the gospel.” Eph.6:19. As we begin to seek God , the Holy Spirit of God begins to work in our heart to reveal God unto us. Then the wonder, the beauty and awesomeness of this gospel is opened up to us and we can only yield our hearts and lives to him.

The gospel is referred to in the bible in different ways, each one as wonderful as the other. We read in Acts 20:24 of the, “gospel of the grace of God.” We cannot earn his love and we do not deserve his love. It is all of God’s grace that we can be saved. It is God’s gift to us from his great heart of love.

Then we read in Romans 10:15 of the, “gospel of peace.” When we truly believe the gospel and receive Christ as our personal saviour, our hearts are filled with his peace – a peace that passes understanding. Firstly peace with God, and then peace with my fellow man.

Then we read in Mathew 4:23 of the, “gospel of the kingdom of God.” Through the gospel we can enter the kingdom of God. There in his kingdom we meet the eternal king – Jesus Christ, and find all his blessings, and the joy to serve him.

Then we read in Eph.1:13 of the, “gospel of your salvation.” Saved from God’s righteous judgement on sin and rebellion, and saved from the awful power of sin in our lives which was destroying us. Saved eternally.

Finally, a word of warning, should the thought somehow take root, that to seek God’s love is not that really important, or that I can do so later at a more convenient time. We read about, “when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.”2 Thes.1:7 – 9. The greatest sin is to spurn God’s love and count the suffering of Christ on the cross as a thing of naught. To refuse God’s greatest gift of love – his own dear Son.

So we encourage you to seek God’s love with all your heart, no matter what obstacles lie in your way. It is a great adventure and the reward is eternal. Do not give up until you find him. You have the assurance of God himself who can never fail. Remember his promise in Jeremiah 29:13 that, “ye shall find me.” We pray that this website might me of some small help in your journey. We’ll end this introduction with the words of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. “the Father himself loveth you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.” John 16:27, and “if any man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”John 14:23.