Left High and Dry
Monday, February 27, 2023
“Nothing physical satisfies the soul. Remember that. The soul belongs to God. He alone can gratify it.” – Chuck Swindoll
My five favorite foods are spaghetti, meatloaf, crab cakes, fruit pie and anything (dark) chocolate. The only problem is… after I eat my fill of them, I get hungry again. The same goes for my five favorite drinks – iced tea, orange juice, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice, and Dr. Pepper or Mr. Pibb – all of which only temporarily quench my thirst.
Likewise, my five favorite sports are golf, baseball/softball, basketball, football, and tennis. But guess what? Once I am done engaging in one or all of those activities, I am left wanting to play more. That is especially true when it comes to golf. I hate playing only nine holes and much prefer 36 to 18. Even our 100-hole golf marathon in June fails to completely satisfy me, because after playing non-stop for 12 hours, I still try to squeeze in a few more holes until it is completely dark.
Relationships? Obviously, they come a lot closer than food, drink, or sports to filling the voids in a person’s life. But no matter how much you or I love our spouse, our kids, or our grandkids, they can only meet our needs on a physical and emotional level. That leaves our spiritual component as high and dry as Mount Koussi in the Sahara Desert.
At age 63, I have yet to find a single food, beverage, or leisure pursuit that leaves me 100% satisfied. Only Jesus can do that. When I met Him in high school, He filled the eternal longing in my heart and soul… and continues to do so to this very day. When I am sorrowful or scared, He comforts and encourages me. When I am lonely, He befriends me. And when I am falsely accused, He defends me.
Every need I have is “met to the max” by Jesus Christ. How about you, my friend? Come to Jesus and have your spiritual belly filled and your spiritual thirst quenched for all eternity.
“Jesus answered, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water’”… “Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.’” John 4:10, 13-14 (BSB)
- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President
