Do not ever imagine that there might be something in God's secret decree, something in the book of divine predestination that shuts the door of mercy against you! Do not ever imagine that if you seek the Lord he will not be found. God himself declares, "I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I SAID NOT unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain!"
Many false prophets, in an attempt to discredit God's truth, in an effort to deny his sovereignty in election, predestination and salvation, tell sinners that if predestination is true there is no need for them to seek the Lord. But God refutes the freewiller's lie. The decrees of God were spoken in secret, in the counsel chambers of eternity. They were written, as it were, "in the dark places of the earth." Yet, God himself assures us that he said nothing, even in the eternal decrees of absolute predestination, which can be interpreted to mean, "Seek ye me in vain!" Here are three facts plainly revealed in Holy Scripture:
1. God almighty commands all men to seek him. "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near" (Isa. 55:6). That makes you responsible to seek him! If you refuse you will be damned for your refusal.
2. No one will ever be saved who does not seek the Lord. I know that you will never seek him until you are sought of him. You will never call on him until he calls you. But I also know that when God seeks you out, when he calls you, you will seek him and call upon him. If you refuse to seek him you will die in your sins (Prov. 1:24-26).
3. Every sinner who seeks the Lord, who seeks God through Jesus Christ, will be saved. God himself says, "Ye shall call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you" (Jer. 29:12-14). It is absolutely impossible for any sinner to seek the Lord in his appointed way, believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, in vain.
God speaks in righteousness. He declares things that are right. There is no equivocation with him. He says, "Seek, and ye shall find!" He never said, "Seek ye me in vain."