It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both the he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him. Hebrews 10:9 (MSG)
Every morning around 7 AM, my youngest daughter Kelli Rae (now four-years-old) busts out of her room on a mission. Her mission? To find dad! She usually knows where to find me -- in my rocker-recliner doing my morning devotions. Once she sees me, a smile crosses her face and she breaks into a sprint. Upon reaching my chair, she jumps into my lap and gives me a morning "love." That is quickly followed by, "Dad, can you get me a waffle and put on my show."
What if I consistently ignored her, pushed her away, and never returned her "loves", toasted her waffle, and turned on her show? Would she continue to seek me out? She comes to me because she believes (has faith) that dad will do what he always does. She comes to me because she believes that I care enough to respond to her.
No wonder Jesus calls us to a child-like faith. If only I could simply learn to always be like my four-year-old when it comes to seeking God. This is the idea the writer of Hebrews gives us in Hebrews 10:9.
I must, first of all, have faith that the God I can't see sees me and my desire to seek Him. Without this sort of faith, I will never please God -- never see God. So I begin with faith.
That faith leads me to seek God -- to "see" the One I can't see in a physical sense. Seeking implies that I will search with the intent to find. And in that seeking believe that He exists and cares enough to respond to my seeking.
This is the absolute beauty of faith in the One True God - He cares enough to respond. Seeking God is a two-way street. I seek Him and He responds to me (just like Kelli Rae except that I don't ask for waffles and my show).
Have faith -- keep seeking -- God will respond!
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