I’ve always known exactly what I needed. More money and resources for a dream to be accomplished. Likeminded people on my team in life. A near-perfect marriage and kids. A job or career I enjoyed on any day—Mondays, long days, and extra days. And for the good parts of life to outweigh the bad. I mean really tip the scale toward good.
Here’s the thing. I was wrong on every account. When one came true, I only moved on to the next wish. The ones that did come true, didn’t stay that way long. None of these felt-based needs brought long-lasting satisfaction.
So, what do I need? What ushers in a well-spring of satisfaction deep down in my soul? What in the world can meet the world’s hunger of soul or thirst of spirit?
The clue is found in the “in.” There’s nothing in the world that can satisfy the world. I know. It doesn’t sound right or make a lot of sense. But stay with me. Let’s look at what the god of this world, Satan, promises will satisfy us.
4 false hopes of satisfaction guaranteed:
- Possessions. I wish I could have that. If only it was mine. Have you ever imaged having fabulous things? Beautiful homes with regal furnishings, fancy cars, and clothes? The possibilities are endless in ads and commercials. The lure often seizes my heart and mind. Sure, it’s okay to have things. But they don’t fill my soul. Funeral directors confirm, “You’ve never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul.” We can’t take anything in this world with us to the next world. Our home, garage, basement, and storage units may be full and running over. Obsession with possessions leaves us empty. My heart’s found the one true possession that will escort me into eternity. Jesus is mine.
- Money. We labor and ponder ways to make big bucks. We thirst for more. We can almost taste it. Sooner or later, the wealthy attest to a thought ringing true, “Money can’t buy happiness.” Many rich people are downright miserable, sad, and feel they have nothing to live for. Money guarantees you can buy things and sometimes people, but it doesn’t guarantee satisfaction. Products offer a money-back guarantee if you’re not completely satisfied. Money offers I-never-have-your back guarantee. There’s an offer in writing that is both free and satisfies for a lifetime. “But whoever drinks the water that I give him will never be thirsty again. But the water that I give him will become in him a spring of water [satisfying his thirst for God] welling up [continually flowing, bubbling within him] to eternal life.” John 4:14, AMP. Jesus offers life.
- Pleasure. Anything that indulges the flesh and makes us feel good for a moment. Sex, pornography, food, drugs, alcohol, and other indulgences. While sex within bonds of marriage was created to be good and pleasurable, it is one of the top pleasures abused in our world. Flesh-pleasures numb the pain. Pain from the world and how it has let us down countless times. The numbing-effect eventually disappears. The pain always returns. Pleasures of the flesh can never be satisfied or quenched. It’s a vicious cycle that keeps us trapped as victims on the world’s hamster wheel forever. You can’t jump off without significant injury and hurt. “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” Psalm 16:11, ESV. Jesus satisfies.
- Family Ties. One spouse, one pet, and 2.5 kids with a white picket fence. Fairy tales presented in books along the way. Few families have turned out exactly how most of us planned. Maybe you have a wonderful soul-mate but are unable to have children or lost a child. You might have the story book family from the outside looking in. The inside looking out is your reality. A painful, lonely, or embarrassing reality. On the inside is destruction. The picket fence is the only thing left standing. “Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian” Ephesians 2:19, TLB. God brings us into His house through the cross. Heaven is better than a white picket fence in this world. Reality on the inside of me. Jesus is real.
What the world needs now . . . is Jesus. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed.
Featured Image courtesy of Pixabay.com