Our hearts, if not filled with the Holy Spirit, ache for something more and we look in all the wrong places for it. We make gods out of our material goods, hobbies, relationships, sex, masturbation, porn, TV, sports, sports figures, Hollywood, and Christian services.
My heart wants something more. I want to be free of the desire of the things I have had or want. I know, I know I cannot fill the void I feel in my heart with any of these things. I must surrender to Jesus Christ and He will be glad to fill that void. Many a time, my relationship (which has never been stable or increasing in closeness) has been lukewarm and Christ says that He will spit out the lukewarm. Revelation 3:16 I've delved into consumerism, charity, and then Christian service in order to "feel good" and to "feel better." What good is it if it is not in line with God's will?? It isn't. My desire now is entire sanctification, to set myself apart, to chase after God's heart, and to let God use me. I do not want to miss out on the most that has been offered me, a home in Heaven, my own golden mansion and the privilege of worshiping the Most High for eternity.
The following are quotes and passages that I've come across in my readings that have to do with the aching heart:
"There is only One Being who can satisfy the last aching abyss of the human heart, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ." -Oswald Chambers
"We are half-hearted creatures fooling about with drink and sex and ambition [and religious effort] when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
- C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
Yet dearly I love you and would be loved fain;
But am betrothed unto your enemy;
Divorce me, untie or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.
-poem by John Donne, "Batter My Heart"
What indulgent lovers [of addictions and personal gods] have in common is the pursuit of transcendence through some gratification that is under their control. (emphasis added by me).
-Brent Curtis, Sacred Romance
If we try to gain transcendence through indulgence, soon enough familiarity breeds contempt and we are driven to search for mystery elsewhere. The man having an affair must have another and the man who is an alcoholic must drink more and more to find the window of feeling good.
-Brent Curtis, Sacred Romance
Addiction is the most powerful psychic enemy of humanity's desire for God. -Gerald May, Addiction and Grace
There are more, but I thought I'd end with one last quote from the Author Himself.
Face the awful sins you have done.
You are like a restless female camel desperately
searching for a mate.
You are like a wild donkey,
sniffing the wind at mating time.
Who can restrain her lust?
Those who desire her don't need to search,
for she goes running to them!
When will you stop panting after other gods?
But you say, 'Save your breath. I'm in love with these foreign gods,
and I can't stop loving them now!'
Jeremiah 2:23c-25 NLT
Like Israel, we have fed our desire. A desire that has been placed in our hearts by God Himself. Except only that we have fed our desire with the wrong things and we are quick to betray God and turn our backs to Him when we know what we truly desire, an intimate relationship with Him, as Adam and Eve had before the Fall.
God Bless.
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