On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen!
Luke 24:1-6

Most of us are aware when reading this passage of scripture it is the story of Jesus’ resurrection. It is the first part of verse 6 that stands out to me the most; He is not here.

When reading the account in John 20, we find Mary Magdeline telling Simon Peter and John, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” Peter and John then search the tomb and come to the same conclusion, Jesus is not here. The story discloses that they did not understand the scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.

When pondering this it brings back memories of my own search for God. From the time I was a little girl, I knew that God existed. Even though I went to religious schools for 12 years it did not help me in my search. Like I said, I knew He existed and I would pray to Him but He just seemed so far away and out of reach. Moreover, instead of being taught of a loving God, I always felt that God was disappointed in me and I would never measure up. For years, I felt that something was missing in my life and felt so empty all the time. I searched for God in all the wrong places and got deeply involved in the occult. I tried transcendental meditation and at first it was great. I felt very relaxed and peaceful but it wasn’t long before I started to experience things from the dark side and I will leave it at that. Just like the tomb, Jesus was not there. I experimented with astral projection and all that did was make my bedroom haunted. God was not there either. I read tarot cards for friends and family and I even dabbled in white witchcraft.  After all, it had to be noble as I was just trying to help people BUT God was not there and I continued to feel empty. The fear I felt all the time was debilitating. It is not too much of a stretch to say I was afraid of my own shadow. Sleeping with a light on every night was the norm. If the electric went out at night I turned into a total whack job. I could sense evil all around me in the darkness and I panicked. I even screamed at times.

One day, I was talking with a girl I worked with. A friend told her, she was walking home at night alone when a man approached her with wicked intent. She said something similar to, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” The man’s face became fearful and he just ran away. This got my attention real quick. I wanted to know, who is this man Jesus? Sure, I heard about Him in school but not like this. The pictures they showed us in school portrayed a pathetic weakling that couldn’t fight his way out of a paper bag. But this Jesus, had power and I wanted to know more. I can’t remember the details but somehow I heard about the Charismatic Renewal and discovered that my own local church was a part of it. I got saved and guess what? HE WAS THERE. I FOUND HIM and He found me! That was almost 40 years ago and I never looked back. That empty feeling? Gone! The fear? Gone! All those things I was involved in during my search were dead and empty but now I found the resurrected God. He is alive!!!!!!

Here’s a few additional Bible verses about searching for God.

But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 4:29 (NIV)

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matthew 7:8 (NIV)

“This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: 3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’
Jeremiah 33:2-3 (NIV)

Most of us are searching for something as we know there is more to life than what we experience. If you are searching, I hope I can help you avoid taking the wrong paths that I did. Jesus is the answer to your search. He paid such a heavy price to have a relationship with us. He was beaten beyond recognition, spat upon, humiliated and crucified and died for us. It doesn’t end there. He rose again. The tomb is empty but our life in Him is not.

You may be searching for God and not even know it. If you have not asked the Lord to be part of your life, and you find yourself thinking, “there has got to be more than this!” That is God speaking to you. He is calling you and it is up to you to seek Him. If you seek Him you will find Him.

If you are a Christian and you are feeling the same thing, “There’s got to me more than this!” That is the Lord drawing you into a deeper walk with Him. This is where I am now. I know the Lord but I’m not satisfied. It is like my thirst can’t be quenched. It may sound like a bad thing but it is not. We should always want more of Him. We never arrive but like Andrew Wommack says, “but at least I already left.” In other words, take the first step and begin seeking the Lord for the deeper things.

Just to be clear. There is a difference between feeling there has got to be more and feeling empty. Empty is when we feel our life has no meaning or we just exist. The feeling we get that cries “There’s got to be more,” is because there is more.  We continually grow every day. As we spend time with Him, He reveals more to us but we should always be hungry for more. I read or heard about great men and women of God talking about their relationship with Him. They share some amazing stories regarding their encounters with the Lord. I yearn to be where they are YET they feel like they barely scratched the surface and still hunger for more. It is a never ending, exciting and wonderful journey so just enjoy the ride.  He lives and He loves us. Happy Resurrection day everyone!