It is so easy to set our expectations, and in a sense, our lives into a person, activity or possession. But, it never satisfies us. Even when we stand on the height of achievement, when we get all we want – we feel so empty. The Bible shows us that there is a single Purpose, a single Meaning, a single Person worth living and dying for. Our all-satisfying God. He is our greatest treasure. He is the only place we find true joy. He is what makes me rejoice in Him though one of my friends is dying.
It all starts at the cross. When the perfect, sinless Son of God, takes on all of our guilt, sin and shame. We were by nature rebels against Him. Romans 3:23 says “For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.” Yet, He chose to love us anyway. Even though we don’t deserve His love. He took the penalty we deserve for our sin on Himself. Why?
Hebrews 12:2 tells us that it was “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross”. That “joy” is His love for us. In John 17:3 Jesus says “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” Eternal life is not some distant pleasure. It is beholding Christ, in all of His beauty. Being supremely satisfied in Him, and being transformed through His word. We see this picture in 2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory”.
As we behold Him in His word, we start to act like He does and grow to desire Him more. We desire Him more because we see Him as He is: An all-satisfying treasure. It is our nature to put other things before Him, but we will never find true joy in anything else. His word reveals a beauty and joy worth dying for. In Psalm 16:11 David writes:
“You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
He goes beyond saving us, as if that were not enough. He adopts us. In Galatians 4:6, it says that His spirit cries in our hearts “Abba, Father”, literally “Daddy”. He wants a personal relationship with you. In order to have that relationship, we need to trust in Christ for salvation. Then, we need to pick up the Bible, and read His sixty-six book love letter He wrote to us. He speaks to us through His word. Hebrews 4:12 says: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” God’s word has power to give us a view of God that is sweeter, and more beautiful as the days go by. A treasure worth so much more than anything this world could ever offer.
When we dig into His word to read, study, memorize, meditate and obey it; our desires become His desires. Psalm 37:4 says:
“Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.”
If you commit yourself completely to God. He will transform your desires to be what He wants for you. It will not be easy, but it will be more beautiful, more precious, and more joyful than anything else.
It all boils down to this:
“If we set our expectation on persons, places or things; they will disappear and disappoint. But, if we set our expectation on God, He will never disappear or disappoint.”
Where else could we go?