“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” (Matt. 19:26)
To seek the face of God is to study and contemplate His Word, to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truths of it to you, so that you may rightly divide it by His wisdom and for His glory.
This causes our minds to be transformed and actions of obedience to His Word to be performed by us, thus we are approved. The desire to do so is instilled in us by the Holy Spirit, giving us the mind of Christ.
“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” (1st Cor. 2:11)
All our works are as filthy rags, but with God’s provisions, by His mercies those works done through us, when we submit to His will in our lives, make us profitable. When we seek His will above our own, when our desires become what He desires, then the fruits of the Holy Spirit are clearly seen by all we meet, we are no longer of this world, the glass becomes a little easier to see through.
Sanctification, all of these truths mentioned, is a lifelong process.
“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:12)
It is not an immediate transformation as our justification was, it takes time to change a heart of stone to one of flesh, not because it is impossible or even difficult for the Almighty to do so, but because we must be the ones to choose, our free will must be allowed to remain within us, else we would be servants without choice and love cannot be offered or accepted without free will.
“I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.” (Psalm 82:6)
Every animal lives by instinct, they do not need to be taught how to be what they were created as, but all mankind is created in the image of God, enabled with the ability to choose the direction of our lives, we can, for the most part, learn what we are taught. But there is a “something” within each of us that knows there is more than what our five senses can interpret.
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” (Romans 1:20)
This is what free will allows us to accept or deny, that there is a Living God who created all reality and who rules in it.
I cannot say how many times, perhaps it is only once, that the Lord reveals this truth to every living soul, in some manner though He makes the truth of Himself known to every person, and then allows them to decide for themselves if they will accept it as truth.
“While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” (Heb. 3:15)
Nothing is impossible for the Most High, but in this area of free will He has allowed each of us to decide for ourselves, not if He is real, not if He does exist, but if we will serve Him.
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Rev. 4:11)
You have been allowed to decide for yourself if indeed He is worthy, and if so, then you must decide just how much of yourself you are willing to give to Him.
“To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26)
The free will to accept Him or deny Him, the free will to determine how much of your life belongs to Him, and how much you want to keep for yourself.
The Almighty can change you into whatever He wants you to be, nothing is impossible for Him, He could force all to love Him, but He will not.
“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;” (Phil. 2:10)
Some by force, others by their own free will, and it will be quite easy to do for us, for we have been doing so for many years already.
Servants who serve with a willing and loving heart are the only profitable servants, those who refuse to will serve His wrath eternally.
Nothing is impossible for God; it just seems that way to us sometimes.
