Have you ever wondered, "Is this all there is to life?" Once you've accumulated a few material things and achieved your educational, financial and social goals, do you find that deep inside, you still feel empty? Once you’ve reached success in life, do you find yourself asking "Is this all there is?"
Is life just the pursuit of so many "toys"? A bigger house? A more expensive car? A faster boat? A more exotic vacation? Is life just the fulfillment of so many goals? The admiration of so many people? Do you find true fulfillment and satisfaction in life a kind of elusive quest? Perhaps, compared to other people you know, you feel you have been blessed in life, and yet deep down—it still seems that you are always putting the square peg into the round hole of your heart?
Have you hoped you could find the round peg that fits the round hole in the center of your life? Do you have this instinctive sense that there is more to life than you are experiencing? When things are boiled right down, do you find that there is a sense of emptiness on the inside of you and a certain lack of real fulfillment, or satisfaction? Can you recognize a void in your inner most being?
The famous mathematician and philosopher, Blaise Pascal, once summarized this universal feeling in humanity by saying, "There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ."
The True Life
In our search for the academic, material, financial and social rewards of life, have we stumbled over the most fundamental need we have? Have we overlooked our heartfelt need for a real, bona fide relationship with the One who made us, our Creator? Could it be that God Himself has placed something in us that cannot be satisfied by anything but Him alone? Jesus made some very revealing statements while He was on the earth.
Once He said, "This is life eternal, that they might now thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent" (John 17:3). Then another time He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me" (John 14:6).
In effect, what Jesus was saying is that true life, the fulfilling, meaningful, everlasting kind of life, is not to be found in any of the material, intellectual, or social pleasures of this life. Although we do receive some satisfaction in these areas, the ultimate fulfillment we desire, the true longing of our hearts, can only be found in knowing the true God and Jesus Christ, whom He sent. It is interesting that Jesus never said that He was a way, or a truth, or a life—in which case He would be just one option of many options. Rather, He stated that He was the way, the truth, and the life—indicating that the very thing that all of humanity longs for is to be found in Him alone. Knowing Jesus Christ personally is the only round peg that will fit the round hole He created on the inside of us.
There are many theological proofs and texts we could look at to probe fundamental things concerning the deity of Christ and the veracity of the Bible, but that is not the intent of this short message. Really, the crux of the issue is our hearts. In spite of our intellectual questions and man’s theories in theology, something in our heart of hearts knows that there is a God who must love us, and that He must have some way of revealing Himself to us. Jesus said, "… He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father …" (John 14:9). The apostle Paul wrote, "… God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them …" (2 Cor 5:19).
Experience the Truth
Jesus Christ was God in the flesh. Think about that. He was on a mission to restore humanity back to a relationship with God. Did you know that God is not mad at you? He never has been. In fact, God has always loved you. God loved you so much that He gave Jesus Christ to you, and to all of humanity. If we will believe in Him, we won't have to live a life of dissatisfaction or emptiness. We can experience true fulfillment in life. Not only that, Jesus guarantees us everlasting life in heaven after death.
When you find your heart asking, "Is this all there is?" be assured that the answer is "NO." There is a life available to you that you have not dreamed of. The fulfillment, sense of purpose, and meaning in life that you only hoped was possible—is possible! Jesus said, "I am come that they (you) might have life, and that they (you) might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).
An abundant life is available for you. A truly fulfilled life is as far away from you as your own heart and mouth. By simply receiving Jesus into your heart, and acknowledging with your own mouth, that Jesus Christ is your Lord, you can experience an absolutely new life. It begins when you say something like this to God from your heart.
Dear God, I admit that my life is not all it is cracked up to be. In spite of my successes and failures, there is still an emtiness deep inside of me. I can’t say that I understand everything, but somehow I sense that Jesus Christ and a relationship with Him are the answers I have been searching for all my life. Jesus, I do believe in You. I believe God raised You from the dead, and I ask You to come into my life to be my Lord. Please help me get to know You better and show me the life that You intended for me in the first place. I thank you, Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen.To help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ, we encourage you to begin reading the Bible and let God speak to your heart. We also encourage you to begin praying, by simply talking to God from your heart. Finally, find a Bible believing church in your area that will help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ.
If you’d like to do a more personal study on this topic, check out my book, "Getting a Grip on the Basics" to help you grow in your faith.
Copyright © 2007 Beth Jones Ministries All rights reserved.
