Keywords for Life

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 23:13 NAS)

When we search for information on the Web, all we need to do is to enter the keywords in the search box of the search engine, and click the ‘Search’ button. That is simple enough, and if we have chosen the right keywords for the search, a list of related links would appear. If we have not chosen the right keywords, however, we would be returned with irrelevant or unrelated information.

Many business owners know the importance of keywords, how they can help search engines find their websites. This is why businesses, especially those relying on their websites to generate leads, are willing to spend time and resources on search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is a technique that uses keywords research to find the words people use when searching for information on the Web, in order to make one’s own website rank high on search engines. Such a research can be time consuming, but if done correctly, it can bring in the desired traffic and customers to the site by simply adding the targeted keywords in the web pages.

Like keywords researching, many people today seek and search hard to find things to fulfill their lives and satisfy their souls. Sadly, however, many of them search for the wrong things and go to the wrong places to find what they think can appease their inner cravings and desires. Some search for ways to get themselves rich by gaining material things. Others seek for fulfillment in pleasure through eating, drinking, making merry (Ecclesiastes 8:15; Luke 12:19-20), and engaging in online activities that claim to offer self gratification.

All these pursuits are vanity and striving after wind (Ecclesiastes 1:14), for what good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul (Matthew 16:26)? All the things in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life, are not from the Father, but from the world (1 John 2:16). Should we then waste our time storing up for ourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal (Matthew 6:19)?

Let us learn a few things from the way we use the search engine. We know we need to enter the right keywords to find what we want. Similarly, in searching for fulfillment and satisfaction, we need to enter through the right gate to find the road that leads to life (Matthew 7:13). If we receive irrelevant or unrelated information because we fail to enter the right keywords, we should also expect to receive bombardment in our lives that can lead to destruction if we do not enter the right way. Small and narrow is the way that leads to life, and only a few find it (Matthew 7:14).

Like the SEO which seeks out the keywords people use to lead them to find the related links, God has also taken the lead in choosing us to follow Him (John 12:32; 15:16; Ephesians 1:4). All we need to do, therefore, is to seek Him—not other things—and we will find Him, when we search for Him with all our hearts (Jeremiah 23:13). Instead of letting our flesh set its desires against the Spirit, let us not do the things we please, for the flesh and the Spirit are in opposition to one another Galatians 5:16).

Forgive us dear Lord for sometimes seeking that which are not from the Father—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life. We know in our hearts Lord that there is no fulfillment or satisfaction we can derive from earth. Only in You, O God, can we truly live meaningful lives and be satisfied. Draw us to You Lord, and lead us when we are searching for the right direction. Keep us focus on You so we may not fall prey to the temptations of this world. Renew and guide us, Holy Spirit, so that we will not carry out the desires of our flesh, but enter through the right gate and walk on the road that leads to life.