Sit and think about the people of this world, constantly in search of purpose and pleasure. The problem is the search will always remain futile because there is no end when the search remains limited to earthly availability. God creates a longing in every person’s heart. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)  He has put eternity into man’s heart. God places a longing that can only be satisfied in Him. Just listen to the emptiness that exist when worldly happiness fades and the longing for God remains. People seek idols and lifestyles in an attempt to quench a thirst that desires the living water of God through Jesus. (John 4:14) whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. In a search for spiritual satiety, hardened hearts search out substitutes for God that leave them lonely. (Romans 1:21-23) ²¹ For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Claiming to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images. The dark/ hardened/foolish heart turns from the longing, placed in them by God, away from Jesus, away from the eternal things that will not die with the rest of the world. (John 6:35) ³⁵ Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. As believers who know what it is to delight in the completeness only found in Jesus, we must be examples to the lost who search, in vein, for an alternative. (John 6:27) ²⁷ Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. We must remain steadfast in our pursuit of Jesus, His peace, and His joy; which are not affected by emotional uncertainty promised outside the guiding light of God. (Psalm 107:9) For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. It is extremely difficult to turn from the self-absorbed world and turn control over to God. There is an immediate fear of falling behind or being stepped on as the world clamors for idols. It’s in our faith that we know those idols will fade and the glory of our God will shine forward into eternity as we find peace in His steadfastness. The red line of the earthly may seem exciting at times. But the emptiness in the end is inevitable. As the green line of the believer learns to turn to the direction of God, the reliance on earthly things fades and the eternal view of God is now possible.

(Isaiah 55:1-3) Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price (only your love and obedience).² Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good (of God), and delight yourselves in rich food (eternally satisfying). ³ Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live (in peace forever)