He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. (2 Chronicles 15:2 NIV)
The chronicler identified king Asa as a generally good king who sought to obey the Lord. At least until near the end of his reign. When the prophet Azariah delivered this message to Asa, he was returning from a victory over a massive Cushite army. Asa had sought the Lord’s help, and the Lord responded by routing the Cushite army. And the promise then made to Asa was that if he sought the Lord, he would find him. But if, on the other hand, he turned away from the Lord, the Lord would turn from him.
I do not believe this message given to Asa was about gaining or losing salvation. Asa was already a follower of God when Azariah told him this. Instead, he was being challenged to keep his focus on the Lord, seeking his direction in life and ministry, and looking to grow ever closer in a personal way.
Seeking God
As a believer, this speaks to me of my need to seek the Lord and grow nearer to him. This is more than just attending a weekly worship service. It is more than taking a few minutes each day to read my Bible. And it is more than praying for my needs and those of others I know. To seek the Lord is a desire to know him more. To not be satisfied with the status quo. But to pursue an ever deeper relationship with my Lord. And the promise is, that if I do that, I will find him. And I will be able to enjoy an ever-growing intimacy with my Lord. Seeking the Lord takes time and effort. But the reward is unmatched.
