The World's Empty PromisesSample

Satisfaction

In Exodus 20:1-6 God declares “no gods beside me”… “no idols”… “I am a jealous God”. We all have a spiritual hunger which can only be satisfied by God. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us, “He has put eternity into man’s heart”. We’re made by God and for God and until we realize this truth, life doesn’t make sense.

Even when culture dismisses religion, the human quest for the infinite remains. C.S. Lewis, in “The Weight of Glory” said it this way; “Apparently, then, our lifelong nostalgia, our longing to be reunited with something in the universe from which we now feel cut off, to be on the inside of some door which we have always seen from the outside, is no mere neurotic fancy, but the truest index of our real situation. And to be at last summoned inside would be both glory and honor beyond all our merits and also the healing of that old ache.” We are separated from God, and yet made for His presence.

The world keeps telling us “when you have this; when you buy this; when you look like this…” you’ll be satisfied.

We think, “when I get married; when I make more money; when I get a better job or higher position; when I lose weight; etc, then I’ll be happy.” Even the wisest king who ever lived, King Solomon, was troubled by the same types of thoughts. He wrote in Ecclesiastes 1:8 (NLT) “No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.”

Only our Creator really knows what will satisfy us! Psalm 37:4 says “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” This does not mean that God is just waiting to fulfill all our selfish desires. It is saying that as we focus on the One, True Creator of all things, our un-matchable Lord, and delight in Him and who He is, He will put His desires in our heart, so that we will want what brings joy to His heart and what fulfills His purpose for us. 

We need to recognize that our real hunger is for the Presence of God in our lives, and that He is the only source of satisfaction. If we seek happiness, we will never find it; but if we seek God, happiness will show up! Jesus Christ is the only, ultimate Source of joy and happiness. 

What is our purpose? “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” Colossians 2:6-10 (NIV)

Reflection: What are you longing for, and where are you looking for it? Are you allowing yourself to be deceived by false promises?