What does it mean that no one seeks God?

This is the fact that underlies the solemn statement made in Romans 3:11, that, "there is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God." That there should be none righteous (verse 10) is bad: it is worse that none should understand, for that means a state not only of ignorance but insensibility. It is worst of all that none should desire to understand or seek after God, with whom is righteousness and understanding and life. To the natural man there is nothing that is desirable in God. Man is not right: he does not understand that he is not right: he has no desire after God who is right. In one word he is dead towards God.

Once these solemn facts lay hold of us, we realize that our only hope is in God taking the initiative with us in His sovereign mercy. We are quite well able to take the initiative in evil, but as regards all that is of God we are dead; and hence all movement must spring from Him.

“There is none righteous, no, not one” — a sweeping condemnation of man's moral being. “There is none that understandeth”; the very intelligence of all is corrupted by sin. “There is none that seeketh after God”: not even a right object is before them, there is no concern for knowing God. “They are all gone out of the way,” taking a contrary, independent course. “They are together become unprofitable,” — a united degrading of themselves to vain and useless pursuits. “There is none that doeth good, no not one,” — without deeds of manifest goodness.

"Oh, well," says the contentious one, "if man's understanding is astray, there are his instincts and feelings. These are all right, and if followed will surely lead him after God." But count No. 3 confronts us — there is no one who seeks after God. Is that really so? It is indeed. Then what does man seek after? We all know, do we not? He seeks after self-pleasing, self-advancement, self-glory. Consequently he seeks money, pleasure, sin. What he seeks when the power of God has touched his heart is another matter. The point here is what he seeks according to his fallen nature, and apart from the grace of God.

We may however discern this that man's will, if he is left to himself never turns toward God. The fall has given it a permanent twist away from Him. This is definitely stated in Romans 3:10-12. It is stated first of all that "there is NONE righteous;" that is, none "right with God." Yes, we might say, that is true, but surely some people are more sincere and understanding than others, and so these get converted. Not so, for there is "NONE that understands." This makes man's plight much worse — nobody right, and nobody understands their desperate position. But again we might say, Yes, but surely some will have an innate sense — a kind of intuition — that they need God, and so begin to seek after Him. But once more, not so, for, "there is NONE that seeks after God."

Thus, the Lord observes from heaven the character and activities of all the children of men. He discerns what men do not discern, for mankind generally are full of pride, no matter how debased they may be. Are there any who understand and seek God? None whatever, until God by grace works in their hearts. "They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt" (v. 3). They influence one another, but not for good. God's estimate of people generally is that "there is none who does good, no not one." The only remedy must come from God.

Thirdly, "There is none that seeks after God". The religion of the natural man has the appearance of seeking after God. Nevertheless a religion of works, barren moralities, and ritual observances, so far from seeking God, is, in reality an effort to quiet conscience, and keep God at a distance. Fallen man may be intensely religious, but does not really seek after God.

To this degradation of the understanding the scriptures bear the clearest testimony. It is true that the mind of man is a marvellous creation. That he by it is capable of subduing the earth and of making it, and what is in it and connected with it, subservient to his wants. "He can cut out rivers among the rocks and his eyes see every precious thing. He can bind the floods from overflowing, and the thing that is hid he can bring forth to light" (Job 28); but he has lost the knowledge of God by sin, and all desire for that knowledge. "There is none that understandeth. There is none that seeketh after God." The guilt is not in the capacity, but in the will. "Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil." The Gentiles "did not like to retain God in their knowledge." The prophets declare of Israel, "There is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land." "For my people are foolish, they have not known me." And, even in the church, Paul testifies in his day there were some who had no knowledge of God. We may even go farther, and, seeing the difference between Abraham and Jacob, both men of faith, learn that there are grades in the divine life. Abraham, by walking in the obedience of faith, had the name of the Lord revealed to him from the beginning of his course; Jacob, by failure in his conduct, only at the close, (Gen. 17:1; Gen. 35:11). Is not this true of Christians?

God has drawn near to man as a Friend. Man never thought to find a friend in God. He had naturally no confidence in his Creator. He broke with God when he became a sinner, and to this day he has no desire for the healing of the breach. He wishes not to have to do with God, nor would he ever have sought God if left to himself. But God had desires after man, and if man will not seek God, God will seek him. If there is none that seeks after God, there is a God who seeks after man. He sought after Adam and Eve when they had abandoned Him, and when they were doing their best to make it impossible for Him to find them. They hid themselves away from Him when they heard Him in the garden. They could only think of Him as a Judge. And even to-day with the gospel ringing in the ears of men few wake up to the fact that God is seeking after them in grace. People are liable to think there can be nothing for them in the heart of God but wrath. What a mistake this is!

Thus at the interesting age of sixteen Josiah began to seek after the God of David his father. Man being a lost sinner, having by his love of sin strayed from his Maker into hopeless darkness, is always under responsibility to return to God, who has a righteous claim upon the love and obedience of all His creatures, as He has Himself expressed it in the law of Sinai. "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found," is His command to the wayward. His forbearance with sinners will not continue indefinitely. Some day men may wish to "find" Him, and will discover that He is no longer "near" (Isa. 15:6). Paul, when addressing the wise men of Athens, told them that men should seek after God, and he added "though He be not far from everyone of us" (Acts 17:27). Precious words, when rightly understood! The many shrines which met the Apostle's eyes in the Greek capital suggested to him that one god was as good as another in the minds of the people there. Therefore he preached to them the one true God and Jesus whom He raised from the dead.

But although it is ever the duty of men to seek after God, actually they refuse to do so. How tremendously solemn are the words of Psalm 53:2: "God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. Everyone of them is gone back: they are together become filthy; there is none that does good, no, not one." The great and gracious Creator surveyed the whole human race and He could not see one that wanted Him, or that even understood the purpose for which he was created! This is confirmed in Psalm 14:2-3 and Romans 3:11-12. To this we would add Psalm 10:4: "The wicked through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts."

This being the true condition of things, all would perish in their appalling folly, but for the activity of God in grace. If men do not want Him, He wants them! Immediately after the rebellion in the garden, the voice of God was heard, saying, "Adam, where art thou?" (Gen. 3:9). The Gospel tells us (Oh, blessed thought!) that God is now the Seeker after men. This is the meaning of the coming amongst us of His beloved Son. Accordingly in the New Testament sinners are never charged to seek the Lord although it is still their responsibility to do so; in stead, they are told that God is seeking them. When the Lord Jesus was found fault with for receiving sinners and eating with them, He gave utterance to the delightful parables of Luke 15, wherein He delineated the grace that seeks the lost, and that welcomes the penitent. He likened Himself to a shepherd "going after that which is lost until He find it." When again complained of for entering the house of Zacchaeus the tax-gatherer, He said: "the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which is lost" (Luke 19:10). The grace which seeks (oh, so unweariedly!) those whom righteousness might well condemn, is marvellous! What a God is ours! Yet how cruelly misrepresented by Satan to foolish men whom he would fain keep in eternal distance from the God who loves them! It is noticeable that when the Lord Jesus spoke of little ones He omitted the word "seek." All He said was: "the Son of man is come to save that which is lost." (Matt. 18:11). Even the Youngest is lost by nature; but some have not had time enough to wilfully stray from their God. Yet they need to be saved.

The difficulties which envelop this subject largely vanish if we begin with the full acceptance of the truth that man is a totally lost creature with no point of recovery in himself. In Romans 3:10-11, the word "none" is thrice repeated. We all easily acquiesce in the first, "There is none righteous." Still for an unrighteous man there is hope if only he recognizes his estate. Alas! "There is none that understands." That being so the only faint hope lies in a man being in some way attracted Godward so that he may begin to understand. Alas, once more! "There is none that seeks after God." Then hope is dead as far as man is concerned!

Do we all really admit this and recognize its force and implications? If so, we shall at once see that there is no hope save in God's electing mercy. There will never be any movement towards Himself and His blessing save as the fruit of His own work.