LightGrams
August 31, 2023
Volume 27, Number 23
“The largest search in 50 years” took place recently in Scotland. The search was aimed at capturing evidence that the Loch Ness Monster really exists. Legends of such a monster have been around for centuries. In 1934 a grainy photo was published that certainly fit our expectations of what a sea dragon would look like. In 1994, I am told, the photo was shown to be a fake.
In the latest attempt to capture evidence, unusual sounds were detected. Four instances of a “gloop” sound were heard, but the recording equipment was not properly set up and so all we can rely on are ear-witness accounts. Tim Newcomb, writing in “Men’s Health”, wrote, “Yeah, that fits the narrative of searching for the unfindable.”
Most people don’t believe there is such a monster in Loch Ness, but tourism in that area abounds because of the legend. Though the monster may never be found, the legend has certainly been a boon to the local economy.
Is God to be placed in the same category as the Loch Ness Monster – a being of legend rather than reality? Daniel, a servant in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, confidently proclaimed to the king, “There is a God in heaven” (Daniel 2:28). He then gave evidence of God’s existence by telling the king what he had dreamed and what it meant. Could a human do that without divine assistance? But can such a being be found by humans?
In Deuteronomy 4:29 Moses warned the people that rebellion would cause them to be carried from their homeland into exile. The situation would not be hopeless, though: “But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” God can be found, this assures us, but we have to be serious about our search.
The apostle Paul also spoke confidently before a group of philosophers in Athens, Greece. In speaking of the One who “made the world and everything in it”, He said, “so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:24,27). According to that, God can be found.
It’s not that God doesn’t want to be found; He actually made it easy for us. Matthew spoke of the birth of Jesus as fulfilling a prophecy of Isaiah, a prophecy that said, “they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us” (Matthew 1:23). With the coming of Jesus to earth, God made it easier than ever to find Him.
If you doubt whether God wants to be found, listen to the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” “Come, find Me,” Jesus continues to say. “And in finding Me, find the rest that your soul desperately needs.”
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2023, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “[email protected]” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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