The Search for Meaning.

The church at the beginning of the 21st century may be described as a church that is searching for meaning and purpose and security apart from the God who is there (Schaeffer's phrase).  Because she has left the Lord many years ago, and is fooling herself that He is till in their company, she goes on in blissful ignorance of her true spiritual state.  Her meaning is sought in religious activity, much of it, in itself, meaningless.  It is sought in mere religiosity, which has nothing to offer.  It is sought in attaining position, either in society or in the church (which is far better), but this provides nothing either.  Many seek it in materialism, in the pursuit of wealth, in pleasure and in sex, one of God's greatest gifts to mankind.

Others seek remedies to their personal problems in anything and everything but God, who is present and wanting to help.  They have no conception of God as a kindly Father who loves His creatures and is longing to show them mercy.  because they do not know Him, they do not come to Him.  And because they do not and have not come to Him, they have no one to turn to and trust.

But they are so blinded that they do not see this.  They go on seeking but they go on not finding.  What fools they are seeking remedies where no remedies exist!  And what fools they not seeking remedies where they do exist.  Does this not prove man's depravity and perversity, his rebelliousness and imagined self-sufficiency?

Unless and until he returns to the living and true God, he can expect no improvement in his emotional, mental, spiritual and physical well-being. but once he returns, good things will start to happen.