If I could only have a bigger drum set!
"Since Jesus went through everything you're going through and more, learn to
think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit
of always expecting to get your own way. Then you'll be able to live out your
days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you
want." (1 Peter 4:1-2 The Message)
In my half century of existence (I was born with a Tyrannosaurus Rex!), I had
craved (and still crave) certain things. When I was a teenager I loved pop music
(Why are teens so attracted to that stuff???). I would listen faithfully to the
weekly Top 40s, and I even wrote my own Top 40 list. Funny thing, those "tops"
never stopped! I kept on wanting to write new ones, and newer ones, and even
newer ones.
The same was true with the songs I was listening to. I was never satisfied with
what I had. I wanted more, but more did not really bring me any satisfaction,
and I was constantly scavenging for more!
"Oh if I only could have the latest single from the Bee Gees!" (No DVDs in my
time! I was a record man!). Once I had the single, however, I wasn't any closer
to total bliss, because the newest single from Will Tura would be coming out
soon (I bet you don't know that one! You see, I really AM old!)
Then I moved into video games, possessions, money, academic fame, books… but in
all reality none of these satisfied me for long! I would be exited to have the
latest book from Ted Dekker, for example, and would enjoy reading his books, but
once read, the pleasure would be forgotten, only to be replaced by other books.
At least there is value in such books, for they deal with spiritual matters and
serve to draw me closer to the One who can bring me total and complete
satisfaction in life!
But the "Oh I can't wait until I have a minivan!" were more often met with
disappointment. So what if I had a different kind of vehicle? With oil prices
climbing through the roof, I now wish I had a mini car!
Can't I ever be happy and contend with the things in life? Not really, because
this is all nothing more than a simple indication that we are longing for
something much deeper and more profound; something that this world cannot offer!
We were not created for owning the most things possible. The one with the most
really DOESN'T win, for aren't we all, in the end, buried 6 feet under with
nothing under our name? (At least if you are believer you know your real
destination!)
The best idea we have for what we were created for is when we experience true
love. Take last Spring, for example. At the end of the school year, I was given
two days to move into a new classroom. Anytime beyond that, I had plane
reservations I couldn't ignore!
While holding my head in my hands, wondering how to do it all, I felt a hand
come up on my shoulder. I looked up to see my 13 year-old, smiling down at me.
"I can help you, Papa!" He said. "Aren't four hands better than two?" The time I
spent working with him was more satisfying than getting my classroom together.
Real love is the only way to find real purpose and fulfillment in this life, and
even more so if we pursue the One who created us with that idea!
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must
love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you
love one another." (John 13:34-35 NIV)
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.