Earthquakes. Tsunamis. Wildfires. Drought. Floods. War. Famine. Greed. Hatred. Sickness. Disease. Death.
Nothing new in this list I suppose. These things have been a part of the human condition since as long as any of us can remember. Some of us have been more affected by these than others. And even amidst these things there are moments of reprieve…when it seems for just a moment that all is well. But all is not well. We are sick. The very earth upon which we walk is sick. All creation is groaning. We know something is terribly wrong. And we wonder, “Can it be fixed? How?”. We look here and there for solutions, for some measure of hope…only to be disappointed once again. But there is One who will not disappoint. His name is Jesus. Be careful if you think you know Him. He’s different. He doesn’t fit so neatly into our pre-conceived notions, our political leanings, our religious traditions, or our self-serving agendas.
So do you yearn to know Him? Do I? Do we earnestly and passionately and deeply and wholeheartedly long to know Him above all else? Do we truly believe that His love is better than life? Are we fully convinced of His worth? Convinced enough to foresake the fleeting pleasures and comforts of this world for an eternal joy that outweighs them all? Committed enough to be ‘holy’ (different, set-apart, other-than) as He is holy? Trusting enough to let go of whatever we’ve been holding onto and grab hold of Him for dear life? Faithful enough to be His body on earth? Willing to suffer for the sake of the gospel?
Lord, we want to yearn for You. Help us I pray.
In the path of your judgments,
O LORD, we wait for you;
your name and remembrance
are the desire of our soul.
My soul yearns for you in the night;
my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. Isaiah 26:8-9
