Want to know God?

First Baptist Church, Opp

Power, money, sex and status are important in our world. Just talk with anyone in your sphere of influence and these topics will surface in some way quickly. For example, your best friend at work is talking about his new promotion and the added salary that accompanies it. That’s power, money and status.

Men would be lying if they didn’t admit the regular temptations that confront them through the Internet, work, social circles and more. Every one of us faces the temptation to be pleased by the things of this world. Where can we truly find happiness? Is happiness found in our job, our bank account or sexuality? God made us. He made us with an emptiness that must be filled. This void or desire is rightly filled by God’s peace and joy. We can try and fill it with a variety of worldly pleasures, but the happiness is short-lived. The richest man to ever live, Solomon, tried everything and after enjoying every worldly pleasure, here’s what he said: “I said in my heart, Come now I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself. But behold, this also was vanity” (Eccles. 2:1). Here’s what Solomon found after enjoying every pleasure — it was empty.

Maybe you feel empty. Your life lacks something. Paul said this to a group of men wanting more out of life: “God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands … He gives to all life, breath, and all things … so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him” (Acts 17:24–25, 27a). God made everything and He gives true meaning to life to those who seek Him. Seeking pleasure in life is a good thing. We just need to seek after the One who gives us the greatest pleasure — the Lord Jesus. There’s joy and pleasure in truly knowing God and He gives life to sinners like us who will seek after Him. King David said it this way: “In Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forever” (Ps. 16:11). God wants you to know Him. Seek Him and you’ll find Him. As Paul says, “He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:27).