Satisfied, no matter what happens?

 

On our vacation south, it became obvious that the media accounts from there do not match the attitudes of the general population. I was impressed with the open friendliness and gracious actions of all that we met. None of that reflected news of shootings, riots, and lawlessness.

MacArthur makes a different comparison. He writes of a time when he witnessed angry mobs in his city who killed people and set of buildings on fire. During the chaos, people ransacked and looted stores with even moms, dads, and little children loading their vehicles anything they wanted.

He described this as “the most graphic demonstration of lawlessness” he had ever seen and a vivid display of the selfishness in human hearts unrestrained by law and order. He called it the results of a “me first” condition where instant gratification takes priority and said it was as if they were saying, “I’m not satisfied with the way life’s treating me, so I’m entitled to grab everything I can — no matter who gets hurt in the process.”

His contrasted this with a passage in the NT that describes OT believers, summing it up with:

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:13–16)

Those people of faith trusted God in whatever circumstances they experienced. He had promised them a wonderful land of their own, but they never possessed it. Instead, they were strangers and refugees even in their own land, yet they looked forward to a better place — that heavenly country that would be theirs for eternity.

I tend not to think about the future when times are tough. Instead, I try to focus on the goodness and wisdom of God and that He has a good plan for whatever I am experiencing. I can think about being with Jesus, both now and forever but other than that, the future is not my here-and-now hope, because life is never certain. I could spend the rest of my life in relative ease, or be a victim of riots and looters, or a painful accident or illness.

Yet in all those possibilities, my faith is learning that I can trust God. He knows the past, the present and the future all at the same time. What He says for my eternal well-being is as true now as it will be when it happens. Because of that, I can trust Him. I’ve not made a list, nor do I focus on earthbound hopes and dreams. I’ve thought how my life may have been different if that were so, yet I am not dissatisfied because of His calling to simply trust in His promises, do as He asks (even though I mess up often). I can set my sights on my heavenly home but choose instead to keep the will of God for this moment, this hour and day, before my face.

PRAY: Jesus, I’m amazed at the grace and blessing of contentment and at the thrill of experiencing You in all of life, accomplishing Your will and often doing it in such a way that it is a lovely surprise. Thank You.

PONDER: “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4)

 

 

No to indulgence, yes to God’s pleasures

Some evenings I’ve had supper and am full, but want to eat. I’ve figured out that it is the pleasure of eating that I want, not the food. I’m reading a wonderful book by Elyse Fitzpatrick called, Love to Eat, Hate to Eat. She writes about this desire, then goes on to say that God offers me all the pleasure that I need.

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)

In this verse, the word “joy” means a great mirth and pleasure. The verse expresses the idea of making a feast before God. No matter how tasty the snack from the pantry, it cannot compare to the delight that God gives. I agree.

Fitzpatrick also points to several verses that remind me that my desires should be for God and that I need to seek Him for all that I need. 

I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah (Psalm 143:6)

My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. (Isaiah 26:9)

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm 42:2)

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (Psalm 63:1)

These verses convict me. The author of this book likens my problem to a child wanting to play in mud when they could be on a white-sand beach.

Spurgeon also speaks about our desire for pleasure. He says that wanting to escape the cares and problems of this life is part of our desire for heaven. However, instead of wanting to be with Jesus, this desire to escape pain can become the greater motive. He then points to the saints of old who put up with their lot in life knowing that something greater awaited them.

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:13–16)

God is preparing a better place. He did not promise a life free from care on this earth though. My heaven is not here. Part of learning to walk with Him is learning to accept trials as part of His plan for my maturity. Being like Jesus means suffering as well as blessing.

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Oh my God, as much as You have blessed my life, the better place, the greater pleasure waits for me. Can I wait for it? For You? Or will I sinfully and selfishly try to create my own pleasures? Self-indulgence is not the same has enjoying Your blessings. Is my life that difficult that I cannot say No to selfish habits?

I think of You, Jesus, on the cross when offered gall the first time. You refused because You didn’t want anything to numb Your senses. You refused to indulge any desire to be pain-free. Instead, You endured the pain as part of what You must do to pay the price for my sin. How can I be so selfish as to want food or anything else that I do not need — rather than seek You and experience the fullness of joy that You promise?

I am ashamed. I can see how my self-indulgence could lead me away from being in good shape now to bad health, huge weight problems, even death. Compared to the fullness of joy that You offer, this desire to eat when I’m not hungry is totally ridiculous. Help me replace it with that yearning for You described by the psalmist who said,

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. (Psalm 73:25)