The Christian says, ‘Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. If that is so, I must take care, on the one hand, never to despise, or to be unthankful for, these earthly blessings, and on the other, never to mistake them for the something else of which they are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage. I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that country and to help others to do the same.
~Charles Staples (“Jack”) Lewis
That evening the people brought to Him many who were demonized. And by Jesus only speaking a word of healing over them, they were totally set free from their torment, and everyone who was sick received their healing! In doing this, Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “He put upon himself our weaknesses, and he carried away our diseases and made us well.” At the sight of large crowds gathering around Him, Jesus gave orders to His disciples to get ready to sail back over to the other side of the lake. Just then, a religious scholar approached Him and said, “Teacher, I’ll follow you wherever you go!” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens, birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no true home in this world.” Then another man spoke up and said, “Lord, I’ll follow you, but first I must take care of my aged father and bury him when he dies.” But Jesus said to him, “Now is the time to follow Me, and let those who are dead bury their own dead.” … They all got into a boat and began to cross over to the other side of the lake. And Jesus, exhausted, fell asleep. Suddenly a violent storm developed, with waves so high the boat was about to be swamped. Yet Jesus continued to sleep soundly. The disciples woke Him up, saying, “Save us, Lord! We’re going to die!” But Jesus reprimanded them. “Why are you gripped with fear? Where is your faith?” Then He stood and rebuked the storm, saying, “Be still!” And instantly it became perfectly calm. The disciples were astonished by this miracle and said to one another, “Who is this Man? Even the wind and waves obey his Word.” ~from The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 8
Oh beloved, it is true.
Each of us long for – and truly need – some level of security in this world. Oh, I am not talking about the $1 million in the 401k. We need to have a place where we can go to weather the storms; a place to sleep in a place where we have no real fear of someone hurting us while we slumber.
And, by the way, this need is totally valid. It is something like a car needing tires. Totally required, and totally valid. And now, in the developed world, and much of the developing world, people are gaining some level of this kind of security.
But it is not enough.
Even in the most comfortable and secure house; even with the most comfortable bed, we feel naked and exposed to dangers far deeper – and far more real than some robber who wants our stereo and jewels.
Can we see it?
The people of the 1st century were no different. Read the passage above. They had the needs and worries that many of us face: sickness, spiritual oppression, and needing a place to stay. And in Jesus they saw an opportunity – maybe call it a great stock tip for their investment accounts.
But, as usual, The Christ, as He regularly did with His disciples, blew the doors off the hinges of the conventional thinking of the masses. Read the passage again. Jesus was healing people, fulfilling prophecy, silencing the storms, and teaching people the wisdom of His Word.
But also as usual Jesus was making a point that went far beyond the immediate needs of the sick crowds, and the frightened disciples. Sure it was important to get healthy, to get set free from the oppression, and to not drown. And Jesus did meet those security needs.
But notice the centerpiece of the passage: “Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens, birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no true home in this world.”
And, if we really dwell upon this in our comfortable beds – through the middle watches of the night – we too will realize that we are actually just like Jesus in this particular sense. None of anything in this world is enough. Believe this fool of a writer, I have seen so much of the world – and its astounding beauty. But nowhere, and in no way have I actually felt the full satisfaction and protection from those far deeper dangers we sense in our spirits.
Jesus also prayed this upon His march towards the resurrection: “The LORD is My chosen portion and My cup; You hold My lot. The lines have fallen for Me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the LORD Who gives Me counsel; in the night also My heart instructs Me. I have set the LORD always before Me; because He is at My right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore My heart is glad, and My whole being rejoices; My flesh also dwells secure. For You will not abandon My soul to Sheol, or let Your Holy One see corruption. You make known to Me the path of life; in Your Presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. ~from Psalm 16
So beloved, are you looking for security? We all are. But what about those far deeper needs? They will never be met here, nor in any place. The foxhole we seek is a Person. And this Person is the L_RD Christ.
Tonight is your night. Rest easy in the danger of the world. Just a few more sleeps; a few more marches and the Everything we seek is ready to wrap us in His everlasting arms, where there will be no more death nor sorrow, nor pain – Forever!
Heaven is not a resting place, where men may sleep out an eternity; there they rest not day nor night, but their work is their rest and continual recreation, and toil and weariness have no place there. They rest there in God, who is the center of their souls. Here they find the completion or satisfaction of all their desires, having the full enjoyment of God and uninterrupted communion with him.
~ Thomas Boston (1676-1732)
