March 9, 2024 – Looking For Life in All the Wrong Places

“Hear, everyone who thirsts; come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread

and your earnings for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.” Isaiah 55:1-3

“We all tend to look for life in all the wrong places. We all tend to look for life horizontally when the reality is that we will only ever find life vertically. Somehow, some way, we all tend to look to the created world to give us life. We all carry around with us our personal catalog of “if-onlys.” “If only I was married, then I’d be happy.” “If only I could snag that job, then I’d be satisfied.” “If only we could buy that house, I don’t think I’d want another thing.” “If only my marriage was better, then I’d be okay.” “If only my children would turn out right, then I’d been content. Your heart will rest only when it finds its rest in God, and God alone.” (“New Morning Mercies”, March; Paul David Tripp)

This world, with all of its sights, sounds, locations, experiences, and relationships, will never make your heart content. This physical world was designed by G-d to be part of the journey but not our eventual destination. Our heart will only find rest when it finds its rest in G-d. So Jesus says: “Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys” (Luke 12:33). What will you hook your heart to today in the hope that it will give you life?

Where will you look for peace and rest today if you are not seeking to find rest in the Lord? What bread will you buy today that will never fill your spiritual stomach? Why would you ask this broken world to be your sanctuary when Jesus has promised to give you all the Grace that you need?

There are many things in this life that want to entice us that they will make our lives better, easier, and more fulfilling. There is only one thing that will give us the peace and the blessings that surpass all understanding. That one thing is Jesus.

Pastor Dave