Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-09-28

II ~1 man that he and
God are often
mnnnk times apart. As
u - - personalities. each
recognizes tina
there Is some obligation to seek each
other. yet the obligation on Gods
part to seek man IL somewhat din.
cult to understand. Man obviously
ought to seek God. he ought TO be
asking the question. where shall I
md him?" but God anticipates man
In this search and comes frequently
and asks. as in the text. Where art
thou?" This being the case. there Is
presented for our consideration in the
text as whole: ID God seeking man:
ca Man keeping away from God. by
hiding or otherwise: (3) The soul.
experience that compels him 10 move
10 God.
l. God Is seeking man. This Is not
the normal situation. for man ought
to be seeking God with the whole
heart. everything else being as MOTH
Ing In comparison. God Is seeking
man. not with tho intent apparently
that he sought Adam in the Garden
OF Eden. which was for the purpose
OF reproof. or punishment. God not
only is seeking man. but wishes to be
sought for by man. as the hymn writer
Faber 80 beautifully sings:
'rod loves TO belonged for. he loves 10
be- sought.
For he sought us himself with such
longing and love-
And he died for desire OF us. marvellous
thought
And he yearns for US now to be with
his above
There Is not a man away from God
but for whom God longs. and will go
any distance TO find.
There were ninety and nine that safely
In the shelter Of the fold.
But one was out on tho hills away.
Far on from the gates OF gold
Away on the mountains wild and bare.
Away from the tender Shepherds care.
"r.ord thou hast here thy ninety and
nine.
Are they not enough for thee,
Bst the shepherd made answer; This OF
mine
Has wandered away from me.
And although the road be rough and
steep
20 to the desert 10 and my sheep Z"
2. But Just as prominent as the
search OF God for man r. mans con-
slant refusal 20 he found. As Adam
fed from the Lord. as Jonah tried 10
get away from the obligation 10
al. he ara
fed to a far country and wasted his
substance IN rIotons living. so man
does today. Touch~l by the Spirit OF
God. the church. through It's many
agencies. is putting forth effort 10
reach man. It's doors have always
been open. and rarely Is the church
found that does not welcome all
classes 20 its services. IN recent
years Gods people are going out after
men IN all places where they may be
found The gospel Il preached In
places not dedicated To divine wor-
shIp--in tents. on street corners. and
elsewhere. and II IL difficult for a man
within chrlsiendom 60 set beyond the
invitation Of the gospel. and yet hs
will not yield 20 Il.
3. But there IL n reason for this as
suggested IN the text: n n the con.
sclousness of shame. 4 was naked and
hid myself II must be conceded
that there are multiludes who do not
seem 20 have God IN any Of their
thoughts. they live apparently as the
beasts Of the field. they seem 20 have
no consciousness whatever that they
are more than creatures % day.
mere ephemera Hut the man or
woman who may be begalled TO read
these words Il not such a person. In
some way he senses God. lie has an
Intuition. NJ We might say. which prob
ably teaches him his personal rcspon-
sibllisy.
IL that n mlsfortunes Far from Il
II Is the dawn Of hope II IL the soul.
pain that tells Of possible return 10
spiritual health secured through per-
feet communion with God. Grateful
should the man be who thus becomes
uneasy. yea. faces God and talks with
him. In this day the grace Of God u
seeking man. not 20 reprove him only.
not TO punish him. but 10 bless him.
he Il not willing that any should per
fab.
II may h. said that the man who
| IL discovered by God. discovers. 90
finds. himself. he comes 20 himself
as the prodigal did. and Il then not
far from starting back 10 the Fathers
house. AZ the cry recently has oeen
with many BACK 10 Christ" -
might say that the cry should nov
rather be Back 20 0od"