“You say, ‘That’s not true! I haven’t worshiped the images of Baal! ‘But how can you say that? Go and look in any valley in the land! Face the awful sins you have done. You are like a restless female camel desperately searching for a mate. You are like a wild donkey, sniffing the wind at mating time. Who can restrain her lust? Those who desire her don’t need to search for she goes running to them!” Jeremiah 2:23-24
The people of Israel were looking for something to fill that vacant spot in their hearts. I know before I came to Jesus, I was doing the same thing. I looked everywhere for that peace that fit in the blank space that was reserved for God. Only God can fill that space. Jesus told us, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me.” (John 6:35-36) God doesn’t really care about what we can do for Him, He only cares about your answer to one question, and do you want Me?
My problem is that I am not always aware that the deepest longings of my heart, my soul and even my body are really a desire for God. I sometimes make the mistake that my greatest desire is for something else; something of the world. I thirst to be in God’s presence. I long to see God’s face. I am tired of so much talking about God, strategizing about church, thinking about spiritual things. I am hungry for a vital encounter with the Living God. What more do I need than Him? I can’t live long without food—weeks perhaps. I can’t live long without water—only a few days. I can’t live long without air—minutes at best. But I cannot live for a moment without God. You are always with me, even when I have forgotten and let my longings be diverted to lesser things. And You are patient in loving me back to Yourself. It’s always Your kindness that draws me back. Enable me to find the deep satisfaction my soul longs for in You and You alone. In the world we live in, we need this kind of longing for God. He is the only answer.