Right now I’m sitting at Starbucks and I believe the Lord is vividly trying to tell me something through the people around me. When I first got here, a man and woman probably in their 50’s sat down across from me while I opened up my laptop. They seemed to be genuinely nice people, we chit chatted a little about how crazy technology is nowadays. But as they continued to talk amongst themselves (with no intent of concealing their conversation), I realized that they had just met. And when I say they just met, I mean like 5 minutes ago. If you were sitting a good 20 feet away from them outside of hearing distance and only analyzing their body language you would assume this couple had at least been dating for a little while. As I unwillingly endured their conversation, I picked up on the fact that both of them were desperate. This woman who has no apparent husband, two daughters who recently moved out, and a very revealing dress on, is clearly so lonely. She’s desperate to be desired. And this man, who I assume spent time in the navy because the tattoos on his arm, is desperate for company…. but in more of a physical sense, if you know what I mean. As they walked out to their cars, he grabbed her waist and attempted to kiss her goodbye…. she quickly turned her head and shut her car door and jetted out of the parking lot…. as she should have.
The lonely woman didn’t get what she’s desperate for.
The sex-hungry old man didn’t get what he’s desperate for.
Now sitting across from me is a young mother with her daughter who I would guess is about 11 years old. The little girl is wearing big purple sunglasses as she sits next to her mom who is consumed with her laptop and cell phone, making business calls…. and although I don’t know what kind of business she’s in….it doesn’t seem to be going well. “Oh God, I’m stressed” just came out of her mouth as I finished writing that last sentence. About 5 minutes ago she was complaining to her daughter about the phone call that didn’t go the way she thought it would… she was talking about EPO’s and different “accounts” and how she tarnished her reputation, etc.
The little girl is pretending her hardest to be interested in what her mom is venting about. She affirms her mom’s complaints with melancholy comments like “yeah” and “that’s how I feel in english class”. She is sitting here, right across from me, with her hair in front of her face and hand on her mouth… staring off into space. I feel so bad for her. She’s desperate for her mom’s attention and affection…. but her mom is too desperate to succeed in her career to notice her daughter’s loneliness.
The career-driven mom isn’t getting what she’s desperate for. And her daughter is suffering for it.
These people just don’t see, and can’t see, that they’re despairing for things that won’t satisfy. The older woman, older man, and mother of this poor little girl all have such a visible emptiness in them that they are trying so hard to fill up. They want to fill it up with attention, affirmation, money, work, sex, etc…. and even if they attain the things they’re chasing after, the insatiable hunger to try and find something to fill the emptiness will rise up again. The satisfaction searched for in the things of this world (the lust of the flesh and the pride in possessions) will always prove temporary. The desperation in the human heart will always rise again when only numbed by created things. That desperation that every human possesses is satisfiable only by the eternal God, Jesus Christ. The problem is that sin has severed God and us and it is so evident in the life and actions of every unregenerate, unbelieving human being.
- People want purpose.
- People want passion.
- People want love.
———————————People want God…. but at the same time they don’t.
They want the things that only God can give them, but they don’t want to adhere to Him. They want to remain “lord” of their lives and have God be their butler. We can not, I repeat can not, receive the benefits of God apart from acknowledging and submitting to the reality of who He is. But oh how dark the human heart is. The unbelieving soul would rather do the evils it desires and figure out it’s own way to achieve peace and joy…. apart from God. It assumes itself more knowledgeable than God. It assumes itself wiser than God. Most people would never admit this, but the indifference to Jesus in their lives is a greater witness to the state of their soul than any words could ever be.
You can try to do it your own way… live this life according to your wisdom, desires and intuition. But you will always remain desperate. At the end of every day, you’re failure to provide yourself true joy and peace will be undeniably before you.
Come to Jesus. Be desperate for Him…. because He will always satisfy you the way you were made to be satisfied. Experience the rest that is in Him. The rest from your dead works, your vain attempts to achieve true satisfaction….and the destruction that your sins have brought into your life. See Christ as He is…. Lord and God…. and see yourself as your are…. but dust. Submit to Him. God’s call for you to repent is not Him trying to rob joy from you…. but Him calling you to drop the rotting carcus of sin you’ve been carrying around and pick up the true treasure that He is. He wants to give you life, not take it from you. Trust Him.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”- John 10:10
Thank you, Matt, for allowing God to speak through you to me, too, an affirmation of recent decisions I’ve made to allow Jesus to fill up my empty places. Your words from God dried my tears. I needed them very much right at this moment. God bless you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
Wow Matt that is so right on. Thank you for sharing you heart you do not know how many people your obedience is reaching. God has gifted you with a powerful tool of writing and sharing your thoughts and feelings and He is using that to touch others. Thank you….
Matt you’ve become very sensative to things that were within your own self, before your conversion to Christ. Now, that Godly things are of vital importance to you, you see other people that need God as well. I see the same thing all around me, too. The problem for me is that I stumble WAY too much and rarely say the things that need to be said. I appreciate knowiing your thoughts on this situation and pray that God will strengthen us all to His greater glory.
Im glad I wasn’t at Starbucks today
@Hollie
HAhahahahahaha! I know, seriously!
(Love ya Matt)
Why are you making judgments about the hearts of people whom you know next to nothing about other than a few superficial words? Stop projecting.
Having faith in God doesn’t take away our human needs, you know. Believing in God doesn’t take away the desire for companionship and human affection. Otherwise, Christians would be able to go live in a cave somewhere and be completely content. I don’t see that happening. For some reason, they keep marrying to provide that sense of contentment.
I’m not suggesting that faith can’t provide a sense of peace and grounding, but it doesn’t eliminate everything else.
Seriously, judging people you don’t know at all?? Desperate?? I think Matt is desperate for people to believe in all this god bullcrap, so no one is responsible for anything. “It’s all God’s will” yeah, yeah, God wants war, God wants famine, God wants strip malls and strip joints and all the other crap in this world. I’m really glad God created the internet and cell phone. those things are really handy.
There is no great heavenly father, mother, son, holy ghost, holy spirit, satan, demons. hobgoblins, ghosts, genies, leprechauns, witches, warlocks, vampires, zombies or whatever else is the bogeyman of your choice.
Just because you believe something does not make it true.
Mat doesn’t seem to be judging these people’s hearts, but rather making reasonable inferences from observing their words and actions, as you and I and everyone no doubt also reasonably do. Of course faith in God doesn’t take away our human needs, including companionship and human affection. You are are on the right track when you allow that faith can “provide a sense of peace and grounding”. Follow that track to Jesus and you will find that He heals, reorders and reprioritizes the human needs He created us with, leading us to healthy relationships with people who are also given to Him. When people marry “to provide that sense of contentment” while putting their own needs first instead of putting Jesus first, only discontentment follows. For two people to try to meet all their needs and find their fulfillment in each other without both of them leaning on Jesus first and always is like two vacuum cleaners with their hoses connected together, trying to suck each other’s guts out. Tune in to the local news for a week or so to see the result.
@James Columbus:
Matt is not making judgements about other people’s hearts in his own words. What he is saying is true and it’s all in The Bible, God’s Word. It is true that man chases after things that does not satisfy. I have experienced this myself. All my life I have been chasing after things that brought satisfaction but it’s only temporary–it is fleeting, it only lasts for a moment then I would chase after something else. No one said that believing in God will take away the desire for companionship and human affection but when we chase after those things and make that our #1 goal in life we will be totally disappointed. People let us down, even the ones we love. Jesus never said that believing in Him will give you lots of friends and human affection. The Gospel promises no such thing. There are times in which a Christian will feel alone, they will be rejected and talked about. When a Christian tries to live godly, they are not conforming themselves to the ways of the world and when he/she does that the world is not going to accept them or like the way they live–in other words they are going to buck up against them. Faith doesn’t eliminate tribulation and trials. What faith does is look to the one who died for sin that allows the Christian to have a relationship with Christ, to be holy as He is holy and as a result on the day they die they will be with Christ and never have to face eternal hell.
wow so many assumptions. What if the shoe was on the other foot? What if the girl and woman were also Christians and they saw in you a gay man desperate for attention, finding it in a blog? Maybe everyone was having a bad day, ah?
@Davide
Easy there cowboy! Hold up!
The same can be said of you:
A closeted Roman Catholic kid who gets a serious hard on whenever the name of the Pope is mentioned but who uses “zealous” pity for Catholicism as a mask to compensate for his underlying homosexual proclivities.
[...and get rid of your five o'clock shadow in your pic. It's a total turn on for me...sheesh!]
Davide…Matt’s “assumptions” are based not only on what he saw, but also what he heard.
“But as they continued to talk amongst themselves (with no intent of concealing their conversation), I realized that they had just met.”
“Oh God, I’m stressed”
And you said “What if the shoe was on the other foot? What if the girl and woman were also Christians and they saw in you a gay man desperate for attention, finding it in a blog?”
The only way I can imagine that the mom and her daughter, or the 1st date couple for that matter, would have been able to make such an assumption, would be if Matt was sitting there having an audible conversation with himself, and also occasionally making references to the fact that he was creating a blog post instead of sending an email or checking stock quotes.
If I may be so bold as to leave you with a thought to ruminate on; perhaps in the future when you are trying to juxtapose such an absurd comparison, you should make every effort to ensure that the shoe is all the way on the other foot.
Forgive me Matt, I found Davide’s unnecessary, shallow, and deliberate jab at you to be so offensive that I forgot to tell you what I terrific post this was. Praise His Holy Name!
“when we chase after those things and make that our #1 goal in life we will be totally disappointed. ”
I’d agree with that. I’ve never completely understood the desire and hunger for fame, for example. It doesn’t make one feel desired and loved: to the contrary, it can increase one’s sense of isolation. I know it would for me, at least.
This doesn’t mean that worldly things can’t bring great joy. I dearly love my family and my partner, and I do enjoy some of the nice “stuff” I’ve filled my home with. Yet, I can say that I appreciate them more perfectly when I don’t hold them responsible for fulfilling my deepest desires.
It’s that “self” … the ego that seeks to consume everything … that seems to kill any really contentment and happiness in life. But …. as long as we’re alive that “self” will be there to varying degrees, whether one is a believer or not.
James, you are so close to the truth here:
“Yet, I can say that I appreciate them more perfectly when I don’t hold them responsible for fulfilling my deepest desires.
It’s that “self” … the ego that seeks to consume everything … that seems to kill any really contentment and happiness in life. But …. as long as we’re alive that “self” will be there to varying degrees, whether one is a believer or not.”
Read Romans chapter 7 for Paul describing the same struggle with his own ego (“flesh”= self-will opposed to God, not meaning the physical body is evil) versus God’s will (“the law of God in the inner man”=the Holy Spirit’s desire within him to do good), and Romans chapter 8 for God’s deliverance Paul found.
‘old man’ – @ 50? Have a heart Matt. LOL.
What you observed is, I’m sure, what we are all surrounded with on a daily basis, if we’d only take notice. I work in a public library, and you know some of the people who come in are ‘Desperate’. For some, you may be the only person they will get to talk to all day. But this is the power of being a Christian. We can bring a little bit of Christ into these everyday situations, simply because we are there.
I thought you wrote a great post and hit the nail on the head.
Matt, this is what the Lord’s word does say, and I know you are aware, but I’m sensing a bit of Greg Laurie’s “Void” teaching, please beware of going that route, stay close to God’s view NOT man’s.
Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Joh 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Rom 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
I’ve seen people very happy with their lives, I work for a family that are very happy with their beliefs, they maybe stressed, but they don’t miss out on God, for they have THEIR belief in their God. I’ve also seen people very miserable, but they still prefer their lives then follow a Christians life, why? Sin is the culprit.
Your words ”
People want purpose.
People want passion.
People want love.
———————————People want God…. but at the same time they don’t.”
This is a mixed message when God’s word says something totally different. Many people love life, and the Lord also created this earth and everything therein to bless all that are in the world. Some people love their desperate lives, but until the Lord reveals Himself, and draws them, they still prefer their sinful lives. So it is not true.
Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Joh 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
Joh 6:65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
During the past two decades I’ve come to understand we can not teach unbelievers “Things and life go better with Jesus”, that’s NOT the message of the Gospel, and should never be presented in such a wicked manner. It sounds like a Coke commercial. This type of presentation does a disservice to the Name of Jesus Christ, and does not bring honour unto to His precious name and sacrifice.
@cal, would you not agree that your life did in fact get better when you came to Jesus Christ?? Most Christians, if not all, would say so. And I’m not talking about circumstances getting better or getting promotions or having all your problems go away… I’m not talkling about anything external, I’m talking about internal… joy, peace, comfort.. in our spirits.
Jesus said the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy.. but He comes that we may have LIFE and have it more ABUNDANTLY (John 10:10 I believe). I think that even Jesus would say that “life goes better with him”
But I do understand where that message can get confusing, as many people are preaching a message that “worldly life” gets better with Jesus… when often it gets worse. But real life, true life, spiritual life…. does get better. And I’ll always tell people that. I’d hope you would too.
________________________________
Dear Matt,
I will only and always, as the Lord leads me, to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified for the remission of sins. The Lord first lead me to Himself for the sole purpose to know Him, but first He had to reveal that my homosexual life was sin, and that it was a lie, He granted me the “gift of faith” to believe in Him, which lead me to repent and ask forgiveness of my sin, and then I asked Him to take my life, and let it be consecrated all for Him.
Peace, Joy and His Righteousness were the by-product of my conversion and never should be used for the reason to turn to Jesus. The disciples never preached that people should turn to Jesus for a “better life”, but to “know Him” and His Righteousness
.1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
1Co 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1Co 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
The scripture you quoted from John 10:10, needs to be taken within the context of what was written. The Lord from the beginning of John 10, was warning that “false teachers, and shepherds” would come in through another “door” and try to “deceive” His sheep, that is why in John 10:10 the Lord states that ” The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” He is the true shepherd and His sheep will be saved from false teachers, and will have more spiritual life, and eternity in Him and His truth.
It took the Lord years to teach me NOT to take scriptures out of context, as I was taught by false teachers and pastors.
Ask the Lord to help you to stop listening to false teachers, and shepherds, who are hirelings, and care not for the true state of the Lord’s sheep.
I pray that the Lord will give you discernment in whom you listen too, and think they be of the Lord, for they are not.
May the Lord bless you, and keep you in His Truth and not mans.
In His Eternal Love……
@Matt, I’m sorry I didn’t answer your first question, yes my life did get better with the Lord, because I know the Lord, that is why He saved me and granted me His Life, so that I would know Him, He is my Life!
@cal4u
Dude, seriously, take a breath…..sshh….sshh…be still.
Everything is gonna be aokay….(good grief!)
All this writting of yours due to some guy lounging at a Starbucks typing away on two fingers how we ALL become short sighted when we lose focus of OUR salvation and God. The people in Starbucks were simply reflecting the weakness of OUR frail human nature. Nothing more, nothing less.
My God, your multiple Bible quotations over a mocha latte and whip cream!
As an active gay man, even I got Matt’s point.
Wow, fantastic blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is fantastic, let alone the content!