Playing Hard to Get

Your average person assumes being good attracts the attention of God. If you pray countless hours then God will show you favor. If you give excessive amounts of cash to the poor then God will look your way. If you successfully witness to your neighbor then God owes you His attention. This couldn't be farther from the truth. Our acts of righteousness are as filthy rags.

Our acts of kindness can't persuade God to love us any more or less than He already does. But, I have noticed that our sin attracts God. What do I mean by that? God loves a challenge. The Bible says God will leave the ninety nine to get the one. He rejoices over that lost sheep more than the ninety nine who did not go astray. (Matthew 18:12-13)

There are countless stories of God showing favor to men and women who were extreme failures. David was a murder and an adulterer. The apostle Paul persecuted and killed Christians. All of Israel continually went astray to worship idols. God is attracted to the big, the bad, and the ugly.

In Songs of Solomon the Shulamite is compared to a palm tree. In my Oxford Annotated Bible it suggest this description denoted inaccessibility. The palm tree produces coconuts that are difficult to get at. An apple tree is low to the ground. One can easily pluck an apple off an apple tree. Retrieving coconuts is a tad bit harder. While mediating on this comparison I became convinced that God loves the thrill of the chase. If you think you are too far gone because of sin and failure then I would suggest God is looking your way. You may run from God; however, God runs with more speed and unending endurance.

I don't suggest you willingly sin to get the Father's attention. That is foolish. But, we must remember that God scolded the religious leaders, and befriended sinners and tax collectors. God's heart is tender to those who do not know Him. He longs for those lost in darkness.