The Found finding the Finder?

"I found God." An all too common phrase used by Christians to express several feelings of accomplishment. They may be implying that they completed certain deeds that brought them closer to God, that they went on a metaphorical journey or that they denied themselves certain pleasures-applied a discipline. Sometimes converts will also use this cliche to speak of a new life choice. Although it might be a pet peeve of mine and a fun satirical endeavor to dissect this cliche, I believe there is also slight danger for those who ascribe too deeply to such a notion of the Found finding the Finder.

Is God lost? Where was God hiding? You found God? Oh, how dedicated and profound your detective skills must be (tongue in cheek). Isn't it we who were lost then found?

For God in his search, looking out from the most high with all advantage, saw us before we were born and recovered all creation with a vicarious sacrifice. Thus, the Found benefited from an action that was not their own and were given access due to the Finder's will and grace.

Christ in us

The Christian believes in an invite of God into their soul, a metaphysical joining and change in composition. I have read and heard many positions on how this effects thinking patterns, habits, character, the mind and how fast these changes could occur. From my experience, this metaphysical invite does not result in a completed make-over of the mind. Most would concur that salvation has a process, "fear and trembling", "he who began a good work in you will continue it onto completion". I'm thinking about how our beliefs in Christ's identity, his purpose, God's plan, can effect the transformation of our mind. Do we have beliefs that slow down our salvation of the mind? I think yes. What if we believe that God is a failure? What if we believe that he sent his son to die on a cross for the sins of the world, but that he will still lose many of his creation to an eternal hell? I think this misunderstanding causes many Christians and non-believers to have an ill-opinion of God. In our journey of salvation through Christ, this theosis, we make progress as God's plan and Christ's identity become further apparent to us. God saves all. The redemption plan has no victorious enemies. Christ's sacrifice is 100% effective.