Maybe you feel a restlessness, or an emptiness that you can’t explain. You could describe it as a “heaviness”, a feeling of guilt that does not go away. You try to ignore it by keeping yourself busy with all kinds of things, but nothing seems to work. And there’s a reason why.
The emptiness of the world
In Ecclesiastes 1:8 (GNT) it says that “our eyes can never see enough to be satisfied; our ears can never hear enough.” It’s also written, “I have seen everything done in this world, and I tell you, it is all useless. It is like chasing the wind. You can't straighten out what is crooked; you can't count things that aren't there.” Ecclesiastes 1:14-15 (GNT).
There is a great emptiness in the things of this world! No matter how much you get or how much you achieve, it’s never enough. You long for peace and joy but can’t find it anywhere. You try and try, but at the end of every day, you find that you still don’t have peace and joy.
Don’t you long to be saved from this emptiness?
Eternity is in your heart!
In Ecclesiastes 3:11 it’s written that “He has put eternity in their hearts”. Did you ever think about this? This is exactly what God has done for you. He has placed a longing in your heart, a longing for what is beautiful, pure and eternal! Have you felt this longing?
You may not always feel this longing inside you, but you do notice it from time to time. Sometimes you feel it when things don’t go the way you want, when you are sad, disappointed or alone. Other times, you feel this longing when something has succeeded, or when you reach an important goal in your life. Even if everything has succeeded for you, you can’t help thinking that there must be something more. You have a longing for the things which are eternal, and nothing of the world can satisfy this longing.
So what will satisfy this longing?
The source of life and joy
Is it not God Himself who can do this? He is the one who has created you and given you life. He is the source of life and joy itself!
Since the beginning, God wanted to help and lead people. But, because of the fall, sin came into the world and people lost their connection with God who is the source of life. People began to be led by their sinful lusts and desires, instead of by their Heavenly Father, and they came into great darkness and emptiness.
“Everything that belongs to the world - what the sinful self desires, what people see and want, and everything in this world that people are so proud of - none of this comes from the Father; it all comes from the world.” 1 John 2:16 (GNT).
This is the reason you feel the way you do. This is the reason nothing in this world can make you happy. You are meant to have a connection with your Father in heaven! But, instead, you are bound by the things of this world, and by the sinful lusts and desires that are in all people because of the fall. And you can never be happy when you are bound and led by sin, because “the payment for sin is death”. Romans 6:23 (GW).
Read also: Why did God create me?
A way back to the Father
Thankfully, you do not have to stay in this terrible state where death and emptiness rule! God wants to have fellowship with you! He wants it so much that He sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth to free you from this emptiness and death, and to make a way back to the Father.
Jesus Himself overcame the very thing that separates people from God - He overcame sin, which is disobedience to God’s good and perfect will. Jesus never gave in when He was tempted, but always said No to His own will and instead did God’s will. (John 5:30.) And in this way, He made a way back to the Father. You now have the opportunity, by following Jesus and saying No to your own will, to come to a relationship with God who can give you everything you lack in life!
This begins with deciding to live wholeheartedly for God. You turn away from your old empty and sinful life and give your whole heart and life over to God. After that, you need daily salvation. Salvation means to be saved from sin. That is not something that happens one time when we get converted, but is something that we need every day.
We have a lot of sin in our human nature. We get angry, jealous, bitter and suspicious. Now, little by little, we need to get saved from the anger, jealousy, bitterness and suspicion that comes up within us every day. In this way, we become patient, good, loving and kind. This is daily salvation. With it, we can become a new person - a person who gets wisdom and peace in his life! Our nature becomes holy and well-pleasing to God. Then we have a hopeful future. (Romans 8:13.) Isn’t this what you want?
Don’t you feel God speaking to you in your heart? The Almighty God, your Creator, He who has no beginning or end, He wants to save you from sin and death! He wants to give you eternal life. (Romans 6:20-23.) He is reaching out His hand to you.
Seek the Lord while He may be found
“Why spend money for what isn't food, and your earnings for what doesn't satisfy? Listen carefully to me and eat what is good; enjoy the richest of feasts. Listen and come to me; listen, and you will live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you …” Isaiah 55:2-3 (CEB).
“Seek the LORD when he can still be found; call him while he is yet near. Let the wicked abandon their ways and the sinful their schemes. Let them return to the LORD so that he may have mercy on them …” Isaiah 55:6-7 (CEB).
God, in His great love and mercy, wants to save you from the emptiness and misery that comes from living according to your sinful lusts and desires. Why continue to live according to that which leads to death and destruction? Why live a life that is separated from God, when you can have a glorious life and future with Him?
God is calling you to be saved! He is calling you to give up your old way of life: your sinful habits and all unrighteousness. He wants to lead you on a new way, so you can come to joy, peace and rest in your spirit.
Will you or will you not answer the longing of your heart?