The Tupelo journal., 1904-08-26

- M not n as does the
III search for the ia
~ U-A bled pot of gold at
@|lN the end of the rain
-- bow, or the persist
ent effort to discover the fountain of
perpetual youth. All. how vain and dis
appointing is much of the struggle and
search of human kind. Much seeking,
hut little findiugi -Feverish, persistent
quest for fading joys and p~erishabie pos
sessions, and never realization OF de-
sires or satisfaction of soul. 1t is be-
cause the things sought for are either
unattainabIe, or, if attainable, are dis
appointing and unsatisfying when
gained, It is the search for the gilt
tering gem, which. when within the
grasp, proves naught but the worthless
bauble of tinsel and gilt. Search for
happiness, wealth, power, business, So
ciai or intellectual preferment and sue
cess, and when the prize is won at last,
after the first delightful thrill OF pos
session has passed. it proves unsatlsfy-
Ing. The ideal is never attained. 1t
is always just beyond the reach. But
rot so the search after God. God is the
attainable and the satisfying reward of
every hungry, seeking soul. He is the
"Findable God" ButhoW many there are
who doubt this. How many believing
it. yet grow weary in their search, and
fail to reach the goal of Coos presence.
But there are those who seek Him with
their whole desire and He is found of
them. Many, like Job, cried out, as they
struggled through darkness and dis
enlargement and suffering: "Oh that I
knew where I might find Him!" The
way seems so long. Faiths eye grows
dim and the heart faint and discouraged,
but at last the soul merges into the
light of His presence. and Coos voice
is heard, even as Job came face to face
with Him in the whirlwind. and heard
Him speak His rebuke and pronounce
His blessing. The seeker after God
always into the Divine presence,
if faith fail not and the heart turn not
from its purpose. Seek and We shal
find" was Jesus encouraging promise.
TIL. seeker shall be rewarded, but how
much is involved ia the seeking!
T. AE declaration of our text that He
| (God) was found of them" has refer
enco to a spiritual apprehension and ap-
probation OF the Divine God-head. Man
may and does find God in the nature
aboft him. God is everywhere in His
universe. The efforts of the atheists
md kJa Ta ru-ir iop coiapfiCfc n ya pQUnr
succeeded in eliminating God as a
Factor and Conscious Presence in the
heavens and the earth which declare
His handiwork" and reveal His wis
com and power. God is found in every
starry height and every r%etreating and
shadowy depth. His presence is found
upon the wide expanse of the fathomless
sea; upon river. lake and sparkling rill.
The rugged mountains mark the course
of His mighty treadathrough the earth +,
and the gentle valleys display the YER
dUre and beauty of His omnipotent hand.
The WOODS are vibrant with the life
Whicf.h has b>en bestowed by Him. The
birds In joyful note; the insects with
their busy hum or lazy swinging on
the gentle breeze; the thrifty ant, with
hurried passage through his forest jun
gle OF grass on definite business bent;
the afimaI creation from the little SPUR
rels that find their coy home in the
friendly, hospitable heart of the great
tree, Or the sle~ek-coated gopher that
burrows meath the mellow sod, Or the
rabbit that scurry away before the in
trudint presence of man. and then stop
long enough to raise their saucy, in
quisitire heads above the tall grass and
woodland flowers to watch you as YOU
pass; UP to the graceful, swift deer that
takes oae fieeting glance at you as you
invade his leafy arbor and then dashes
away with the speed of the wind to some
more secluded retreat-all, all speak of
God ant declare His presence in the
world which He has made.
A ND man may find God all about him.
n He may be conscious of His pres
ence. E,s may realize that God is every
where in His nature. He may be among
those WHO in loving appreciation hold
communion with natures invisible
forms amt hear her speak a varying Ian
euage. with God as the keynote of it
all. But such recognition of God, such
finding OF Him, is not the experience to
which our text has reference. God is
to be found and known in a deeper and
fuller and richer sense than this. Mans
quickened soul finds a God to Whom
the natura. heart and mind of man are
a complete stranger. who by search
ing can find out G;od?" The searching of
the natural man will never be rewarded
by that irding of God which reveals
Him in His saving. cleansing, keeping,
fructifying power. So the finding Of God
means mora than the superficial, the
intellectual conception of God. 1t
means the quickening of the heart to
the deepest sense Of the need of God, and
the expanding and charging of the
heart to the realities and consciousness
of God. When the whole desire goes
out after God, .thenliss He found of
those thus yearning for Him. Have
you found Cod, or are you still a stranger
to Him? And If a stranger to Him here,
a stranger to him in the life to come?
God may be found. He waits for the
sinner to fine Him In saving power; He
waits for the saint to find Him in in
creasing fullness and power. He is the