What do you desire? For most people its peace and happiness. Many times, we pursue something believing it will lead to the fulfillment of peace or happiness.
Quite simply, human beings have desires because GOD wrote our brains operating code. We are wired that way–it’s part of the human experience. It’s part of being made in the image or “likeness” of GOD. Some Christians are under the misconception that in order to “fix” us, GOD will take away most of our desires once we reach Heaven. Jesus said;
“Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.” Revelation 21:7 NIV
Jesus gives us hope and joy with the truth of this verse because an inheritance is something desirable. We are Christ’s inheritance and He is ours along with the New Heaven and New Earth. It’s the greatest inheritance in the history of inheriting–it’s the ultimate joy and the greatest desire of our hearts.
Heaven/ Eternity is the place we all long for–it’s a place where dreams and desires come true. If they didn’t, then it wouldn’t be Heaven and GOD played a cruel joke on us to not give us the desires of our heart.
Everything GOD gives His children is good, including all of our desires. Sinful desires are good desires gone bad—they’ve been bent and twisted by the fall. Examples; We pursue love and acceptance in ways that are contrary to GOD’s plan for our lives. We pursue love and acceptance in ways that ultimately harm and wound us.
Goals and accomplishments are good, but we can become hyper self-focused and pursue things in order to elevate ourselves instead of elevating GOD in our lives.
We need to have and earn money in this lifetime because this is how the world functions, but oh the tangled webs we can weave around our desire for money—how quickly desire can turn to greed.
There’s nothing wrong with desiring treasure but our life can be consumed by seeking fulfillment in the things of this world.
The Apostle John tells us in 1 John 2:16-17
For everything in the world —the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life —comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
Dr. Adrian Rodgers said; “There are three things that can tempts us; the world, the devil, and our flesh.” Praise GOD! When eternity begins, the world, the devil and our sinful natures are gone never to rear their twisted desires again. The root cause of all of our problems will be eradicated, and along with it, any possibility of future temptations.
Jesus said in Revelations 21:5, “ the old has passed away behold the new has come!”
In Heaven, every desire you have will be untwisted, restored and fulfilled.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 NIV
Some desires are partially fulfilled in this lifetime but our ultimate hope, our ultimate longing, our ultimate connection will be experienced in the next life.
Reflection
Do you feel bogged down today? Do you feel defeated? Perhaps you’re uncertain about the future. You’re not alone. Lift your eyes from the storm and seek Jesus for strength. Let the person of Jesus become the desire of your heart.