God's Unfailing Pursuit

40 Days of Prayer

God's Unfailing Pursuit

"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."  Titus 3:3-7 NIV

In his 182 line poem, The Hound of Heaven, Francis Thompson describes God's relentless pursuit of him despite his running from Him.

I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;

   I fled Him, down the arches of the years;

I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways

   Of my own mind; and in the midst of tears

I hid from Him, and under running laughter.

Francis was a tortured soul and lived a tragic life. He battled sickness, kicked out of divinity school for drug addiction, failed three times at medical school, disowned by his family, and spent much of his adult life living on the streets of London. In spite of this, he possessed a world-class talent for writing poetry His work touched a couple and after learning of his whereabouts rescued him off the streets. He spent the last decade of his life as an invalid living in their home. It was in this setting that he wrote the above mentioned poem.

As Christians, we truly are like Francis -- desperately needing rescue. But unlike Francis, there was nothing good or valuable within us worth redeeming except that we were loved by God. Our hope is not predicated on how well we perform, but on the eternal and unfailing love of our God. Paul stated in Romans 3:10-11, "There is no one righteous ... no one who seeks God." But thanks be to God, that He pursued us! Jesus said, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-- fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name" (John 15:16).

It is the strength of God within us that enables us to face an unknown future unafraid and with secure hope. Our planting efforts are exactly that -- efforts. But anything we may accomplish are produced only by the powerful hand of God as he unrelentingly pursues His people -- even through us.