Subject: The Solution for America and the World: Seeking Jesus Christ

Hebrews 11:6 “He who comes to God must believe…He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the release of thousands of top secret CIA documents to the public has severely injured American security: “The losses from this exposure are incalculable. Many will now be rendered moot as terrorists or foreign agents abandon traceable habits.” Bill O’Reilly put it more bluntly: “ISIS, al Qaeda, other killers now know how the USA is tracking them. The leaks are a treasonous act.” Many believe there are people within the CIA intentionally committing treason against America.

After the economy, Americans rank Islamic terrorism as the top issue threatening America’s security. And it is our Central Intelligence Agency that is responsible to arm our new administration with the intelligence to defeat terrorism. With such a morally unrighteous act, can Americans trust our CIA to help defend us against terrorism and to find and prosecute those responsible for this treason?

I think we can, because President Trump has just placed Mike Pompeo in command over it. What is Pompeo’s position on how America must deal with Islamic terrorism? In a 2014 speech he made it clear where he stands: “These folks are serious and they abhor Christians… and will continue to press against us until we make sure that we pray and stand and fight and make sure that we know that Jesus Christ our Savior is truly the only solution for our world.” Mike Pompeo, our new Director of the CIA, a graduate of the West Point Military Academy and Harvard Law School, a former serviceman in both Europe and the Gulf War, is an unabashed follower of Jesus Christ. Pompeo believes Christ is the only solution for the world.

So while many focus on the investigation of the CIA breach, we should also pay attention to Pompeo’s statement. He believes that if each of us personally sought Jesus Christ to save us from the moral unrighteousness in our hearts, we could solve the problems in our nation and our world, including this recent CIA treason. This is because he believes Christ is our only hope for the forgiveness of our sins.

So what does it mean to “seek” Jesus Christ? We need to first lay some theological groundwork, because the Bible teaches us that there has never been a human being born who seeks God on their own. As Paul reminded us in the New Testament book of Romans: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.” (Romans 3:10-11).

So since we all are morally unrighteous, and we all have done things morally wrong, and no one on their own understands who God is, Paul concludes that none of us on our own “seeks” Jesus Christ. So then…
how does our nation come to see Jesus Christ as their solution? Our verse this week in Hebrews echoes Pompeo’s words, that we must first personally trust in Him and His character. But then our verse emphasizes that God personally rewards those who seek Him diligently. Each of us must not be satisfied in calling ourselves a Christian. We must have a heart that is diligent – is hungry – for Jesus Christ.

In Pastor Max Lucado’s book “A Heart Like Jesus”, he shows us people who personally found Christ: “The shepherds weren’t satisfied to see angels – they had to see Him (Luke 2:8-17); the Magi didn’t want to see the light over Bethlehem – they had to see the Light of Bethlehem (Matt. 2:1-2); Simeon didn’t want to see the world before he died – he wanted to see the world’s Maker (Luke 2:25-31); John and Andrew weren’t satisfied to hear John the Baptist – they wanted to live with Jesus (John 1:35-39); Matthew wasn’t satisfied with a curbside talk with Jesus – so he took Jesus home with him (Matt. 9:9-10).

God rewards those who settle for nothing less than Jesus Himself. And what reward awaits those who seek Jesus? Nothing short of His heart. Can you think of a greater gift than to be like Him? Jesus felt no guilt – He wants to remove mine. Jesus humbled Himself for His Father’s work – He wants my humble spirit so He can work in me. Jesus trusted completely in His Father – He wants me to trust completely in Him. Jesus showed love to the unlovable – He wants His love to show through me. Jesus was kind and merciful to the undeserving – He wants me to do the same. Jesus forgave anyone seeking forgiveness – He wants me to be a forgiving person. Jesus gave everything for me – He wants me to give everything for Him. As 2Corinthians 3:18 says ‘…as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him.’”

So in order for Jesus Christ to be embraced by America as their solution, He wants us to make wanting Him the #1 priority in our lives. Sounds simple.

“The Evidence of Faith’s Substance”, Article #235