SWARTZ CREEK, Mich. (BNC) — A prominent theme of literature is the concept of the quest, and the Bible presents the ultimate quest of man and God, gospel preacher Paul Holland said April 2.
Thomas Foster began his book How to Read Literature Like a Professor with a chapter on the quest, Paul noted. The Bible reflects this theme as a story of the two-sided quest of both God and man.
On one hand, the Bible is about man’s quest. Man’s quest for growth and for knowledge. There are two destinations at which man’s quest ought to conclude: knowledge of self as a sinner and knowledge of God as the Savior. On the other hand, the Bible is about God’s quest. God already knows Himself; He has perfect knowledge. He also already knows man. So, His “destination” is to get man to know Him as the Savior.
God’s quest also amounts to an appeal to walk with him, Paul said.
This call to walk with God is repeated by the Lord Jesus Christ. Once our sins are forgiven, as He said to the paralyzed man in Matthew 9:5: “Rise and walk.”
Paul Holland
Noting that the word “walk” is used in the New Testament dozens of times to refer to the Christian’s lifestyle, Paul wrote that “our quest to know ourselves as sinners and to know God as the Savior.”
Finally, Paul ties the quest into the mission of Christ. “Find people who are on their quest and help them reach their destination, holding up the word of light for them (Phil. 2:16).”
Paul works with the Swartz Creek congregation and writes Daily Droplets, in which he shared these thoughts above.
Paul’s contribution demonstrates that it is not merely the process of seeking, or as is commonly expressed today, the journey, that is important, but the actual attainment of the goal: knowing God. As Jesus said, “Seek and you will find” Matthew 7.7.
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