Seek and You Will Find

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
Matthew 7:7,8, NASU

This statement made by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount has timeless application because of the promise which is made. It is from this text that we learn three important truths:

No Conditions

First, the promise Jesus makes is without condition. He does not phrase the promise in terms of “maybe” or “should,” but instead “will.” The idea is that if someone is a truth seeker they will be a truth finder. The key point in whether one discovers what they are searching for is whether they are actually seeking out truth. The opposite of the promise is also true: those who are not seeking after truth, even though they may be seeking after God will not find what they are searching for. This places responsibility on the individual to work out their own salvation (Phil. 2:12) with a mind opened only to the word of God.

Providential Fulfillment

Second, how this promise is accomplished is not stated, but can be inferred within the realm of God’s provision. It is important to remember the other statements made in the same Sermon by Jesus, such as God’s care for man (Mat. 6:25ff) and God as a faithful father (Mat. 7:8-11). The fulfillment of this promise rests largely in the realm of providence. Providential care is something which is left undefined and is hard to explain, but exists nonetheless. This can be seen in the lives of many who have come to Christ through events which challenge coincidence.

What is Found

Third, the promise is fulfilled in the form of an answer. Jesus is saying that those who are seekers will become finders, but what will they find? They will find the knowledge of truth in the Bible, the means of obeying truth in conversion, and be a part of the people of truth in the body of Christ. This means that Christians must be the people of truth and be ready to take advantage of the doors of opportunities opened for truth seekers. It is very possible that the means (providence) by which God will answer this promise is through us. Are we ready to answer those who are seeking? Are we ready to answer an open door of opportunity?

There are people asking, seeking, and knocking in the world today. Jesus promised that they will find the truth, if that is what they seek after. Are we listening?