"The Searchers"

In 1956, a movie called The Searchers was released in theaters.  John Wayne starred in this big-screen adaptation of a novel by Alan Le May (no relation!).  The movie was directed by John Ford and is widely regarded as one of the finest Westerns of all time.

The movie tells the story of a Civil War veteran whose nieces were abducted by Comanche Indians during a raid on the Texas frontier.  The veteran, played by Wayne, organizes a full-scale search to recover his nieces.

What most people do not know is that Alan Le May took the idea for his novel from a true story.

The real story involved a group of closely related settlers who left Crawford County, Illinois in 1833.  They made their way to Texas and established a fortified settlement that came to be known as Fort Parker.

However, in 1836, the fort was attacked by hundreds of Comanche Indians.  Most of the men were killed.  Several women and children escaped into the countryside, but two women and three children were captured by the Comanches.

James W. Parker, who had been a mile away from the fort when the attack occurred, reached the fort too late to make a difference.  He discovered that his father and brothers had been murdered and that his daughter, grandson, niece, nephew, and sister-in-law had been abducted by the Comanches.

Parker devoted the next nine years of his life in a search to find and redeem his family members.  The search reduced him to a life of personal poverty and destroyed his health. 

Parker's sister-in-law was located a few months later and redeemed for $150 from a band of Delaware Indians, who had purchased her from the Comanche raiders.

In 1838, after two years in captivity, Parker's daughter Rachel was found and ransomed. She told how she had been abused by her captors.  She had been pregnant when kidnapped.  After giving birth, the Comanches complained that she was devoting too much time to the care of her baby and it was affecting her work.  The baby was taken from her and murdered.

Sadly, Rachel died just one year after being rescued, shortly after giving birth to another baby, which also died.

James W. Parker continued his search for his grandson, niece, and nephew.

In 1842, Parker's grandson James was located and ransomed.  His nephew, John, was also located and ransomed.

By 1845, James W. Parker had accumulated significant debts and suffered from ill health.  He was forced to give up personally searching for his still-missing niece, named Cynthia, but the Texas Rangers promised to alert him if any news of her surfaced.

James W. Parker devoted his life to being a searcher.  That became his obsession and his occupation. 

What lessons, as Christians, can we learn from Parker's quest?

 

As Christians, God has redeemed us from the captivity of this world.   God has done his part, but now it is up to us to do our part.  We must WANT to be redeemed.  We must truly WANT to remain with God and to become a part of His Family.

Today, we will look at three ways in which we as Christians must also fulfill the role of Searchers.  We will also see that God, Himself, is also actively involved a a Searcher.

 

We Must Devote Ourselves to Search for Wisdom & Understanding

The first step in becoming Searchers is to gather as much intelligence as possible to guide our search.  By devoting ourselves to gaining wisdom and understanding, we greatly increase the chances of success in our quest.

 

Turn to Acts 17:10

 

Mr. Fahey quoted this passage just a few weeks ago, but repetition here is warranted.

 

(Acts 17:10)

Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

 

(Acts 17:11)

These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

 

The Bereans were searchers.  They actively searched the scriptures because they were eager to gain wisdom and understanding in how to lead their lives.  Wisdom and understanding of God's word also help Christians to "see and flee" sin.

 

 

Turn to Proverbs 2:1

(Proverbs 2:1)

My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you,

 

(Proverbs 2:2)

So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;

 

(Proverbs 2:3)

Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding,

 

(Proverbs 2:4)

If you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures;

 

(Proverbs 2:5)

Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.

 

(Proverbs 2:6)

For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

 

(Proverbs 2:7)

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly;

 

(Proverbs 2:8)

He guards the paths of justic And preserves the way of His saints.

 

(Proverbs 2:9)

Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity and every good path.

 

God promises to reward those who search for wisdom and understanding of His ways.

 

Turn to Psalm 27:4

 

This is a Psalm of David.  David understood the importance of being a searcher into the ways of God.

 

(Psalms 27:4)

One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.

 

(Psalms 27:5)

For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

 

(Psalms 27:6)

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

 

(Psalms 27:7)

Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

 

(Psalms 27:8)

When You said, "Seek My face," My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek."

 

(Psalms 27:9)

Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.

 

(Psalms 27:10)

When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me.

 

(Psalms 27:11)

Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.

 

Let's turn to Psalm 119

 

This entire Psalm fits nicely under this point, but we will look today only at versus 1- 12.

(Psalms 119:1)

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the LORD!

 

(Psalms 119:2)

Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!

 

(Psalms 119:3)

They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways.

 

(Psalms 119:4)

You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently.

 

(Psalms 119:5)

Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes!

 

(Psalms 119:6)

Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments.

 

(Psalms 119:7)

I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments.

 

(Psalms 119:8)

I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly!

 

(Psalms 119:9)

How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.

 

 

 

(Psalms 119:10)

With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!

 

(Psalms 119:11)

Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

 

(Psalms 119:12)

Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes.

 

 

Once we begin to gain wisdom and understanding of God's laws and ways, we must then search ourselves in order to find and eliminate ungodly thoughts and behaviors in our own lives.

 

We Must Devote Ourselves to the Search for Sins that Separate us from God

Turn to Isaiah 55:6-7

 

God sent the following warning through the Prophet Isaiah:

(Isaiah 55:6)

Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.

 

(Isaiah 55:7)

Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

 

We can only forsake unrighteousness if we are looking for it within ourselves, and truly wish to eliminate it from our lives.

 

 

 

Turn to Galatians 6:3

 

Paul is writing here.  His appeal is for Christians to examine their own works and to eliminate those behaviors that are contrary to God's laws.

(Galatians 6:3)

For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

 

(Galatians 6:4)

But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

 

(Galatians 6:5)

For each one shall bear his own load.

 

(Galatians 6:6)

Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

 

(Galatians 6:7)

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

 

(Galatians 6:8)

For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

 

 

Keep your place here in the New Testament, but I wish to read three verses from the Book of Lamentations.

I will read from Lamentations 3:39-41

 

 

(Lamentations 3:39)

Why should a living man complain, A man for the punishment of his sins?

 

(Lamentations 3:40)

Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the LORD;

 

(Lamentations 3:41)

Let us lift our hearts and hands To God in heaven.

 

 

Searching for sins in our own lives allows us to approach God with greater confidence.  But notice that approaching God is first from the heart, then from the hands.  Physical expression of praise is meaningless unless it is guided by a converted heart and a willing mind.

Turn to Colossians 3:1

(Colossians 3:1)

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

 

(Colossians 3:2)

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

 

(Colossians 3:3)

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

 

(Colossians 3:4)

When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

 

(Colossians 3:5)

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

 

 

(2 Corinthians 13:5)

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.

 

Turn to I Corinthians 11:27

 

At this time of the year, as Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread are approaching, we really should be earning the title The Searchers.  Not only are we searching for leaven in our cupboards, but also in our hearts.

 

(1 Corinthians 11:27)

Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

 

(1 Corinthians 11:28)

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

 

(1 Corinthians 11:29)

For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

 

(1 Corinthians 11:30)

For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

 

(1 Corinthians 11:31)

For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.

 

(1 Corinthians 11:32)

But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

 

 

After we have begun our search for wisdom and understanding, and after we have searched for sins to eliminate from our lives, we are now able to focus for intently on our ultimate task as the Searchers: the Search for God and His Kingdom.  Seeking to better understand the nature of our God and the future that He has in store for His people.

Search for God and His Kingdom

Turn to Matthew 6:31

This is a familiar passage, and a good starting place for this point.  Jesus states:

(Matthew 6:31)

"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'

 

(Matthew 6:32)

For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

 

(Matthew 6:33)

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

 

Turn back to Deuteronomy 4:24

God gave this warning to the ancient Israelites.  As we know, most of Jacob's descendants did not heed the warning:

(Deuteronomy 4:24)

For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

 

(Deuteronomy 4:25)

"When you beget children and grandchildren and have grown old in the land, and act corruptly and make a carved image in the form of anything, and do evil in the sight of the LORD your God to provoke Him to anger,

 

(Deuteronomy 4:26)

I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you will soon utterly perish from the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess; you will not prolong your days in it, but will be utterly destroyed.

 

(Deuteronomy 4:27)

And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you.

 

(Deuteronomy 4:28)

And there you will serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell.

 

(Deuteronomy 4:29)

But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

 

(Deuteronomy 4:30)

When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice

 

(Deuteronomy 4:31)

(for the LORD your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.

 

We see virtually the same warning relayed through the Prophet Jeremiah to ancient Judah.

 

Turn to Jeremiah 29:8-14

 

The Jews of Jerusalem were to go into captivity by the Babylonians.  God, communicating through Jeremiah, was explaining to them that this captivity would not be permanent.

 

 

(Jeremiah 29:8)

For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed.

 

(Jeremiah 29:9)

For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the LORD.

 

 

 

(Jeremiah 29:10)

For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.

 

(Jeremiah 29:11)

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

 

(Jeremiah 29:12)

Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

 

(Jeremiah 29:13)

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

 

(Jeremiah 29:14)

I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.

 

Turn to Psalm 105:1-4

(Psalms 105:1)

Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!

 

(Psalms 105:2)

Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works!

 

(Psalms 105:3)

Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD!

 

(Psalms 105:4)

Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

 

 

We have now looked at three ways in which we as Christians are to be Searchers.  But we must remember that while we are searching for wisdom, searching for sins to eliminate, and searching for God and His Kingdom, God Himself is involved in a search of His own.  In fact, God is the Chief Searcher:

God: The Chief Searcher

Turn to Psalm 139

Where is God conducting His search?  Within our hearts and minds.

(Psalms 139:1)

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me.

 

(Psalms 139:2)

You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.

 

(Psalms 139:3)

You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.

 

(Psalms 139:4)

For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.

 

 

We should also turn to Jeremiah 17:9-10

(Jeremiah 17:9)

"The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

 

(Jeremiah 17:10)

I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.

Turn to Ezekiel 34:8

 

(Ezekiel 34:8)

"As I live," says the Lord GOD, "surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock"--

 

(Ezekiel 34:9)

therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD!

 

(Ezekiel 34:10)

Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them."

 

(Ezekiel 34:11)

'For thus says the Lord GOD: "Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.

 

(Ezekiel 34:12)

As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day.

 

Turn to Matthew 18:11

 

James W. Parker spent nine years of his life searching for his family members who had been lost.  Christ has been searching a lot longer than that!

 

 

 

(Matthew 18:11)

For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

 

(Matthew 18:12)

"What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?

 

(Matthew 18:13)

And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

 

Turn to Luke 15:5

Here we will continue with the parallel account in Luke:

(Luke 15:5)

And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

 

(Luke 15:6)

And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'

 

(Luke 15:7)

I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

 

 

All of Adam's descendants have gone astray.  God, together with His Son, is in the process of redeeming them from their captivity to Satan's world.  God is searching for His human family, to free them from their captor.  We are extremely blessed that He has found and redeemed us first. 

 

 

 

Conclusion

Did James W. Parker ever find his niece, Cynthia?  Yes, he did.  But the real-life ending is sadder than the movie version, and serves as a cautionary tale for us.

Sadly, though his nephew John had been rescued in 1842, John had great difficulty re-integrating into white society.  He ran away and returned to live with his abductors, the Comanches. 

Parker's niece, Cynthia, was rescued in 1860 by the Texas Rangers.  During her 24 years in captivity, she had become the wife of a Comanche chief, by whom she had given birth to three children.

Cynthia, though rescued, had no desire to return to white society.  She cut her hair short in mourning for being separated from the Comanche, whom she now regarded as her real family.  She made unsuccessful attempts to escape back to the Comanche. 

James W. Parker died in 1864.  With the exception of his nephew, who had returned to the Comanche, Parker believed that his lifetime of searching to rescue his family members had been successful.

Six years later, in 1870, at age 43, his niece Cynthia starved herself to death.  Cynthia's body had been redeemed ten years earlier, but her heart and mind had never been liberated from the world of her captors.

And so, the fate of Cynthia and her brother John must serve as a cautionary tale for us as well.  Christ has redeemed us from this world and its sins, but we must want to be liberated.  If we secretly desire to return to the captivity from which we were freed, then our redemption is not sincere. 

 

We need to be sure we are sincere in our desire for Christ's redemption.

 

Let us conclude today by reading Psalm 139:23-24

We have seen today that we must all be Searchers.  We must dedicate ourselves to searching for wisdom and understanding.  We must dedicate ourselves to searching for sins that separate us from God in order to overcome them.  And we must dedicate ourselves to searching relentlessly for God and His Kingdom.

 

(Psalms 139:23)

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;

 

(Psalms 139:24)

And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.