Human nature searches for pleasure
Published 7:58 am Thursday, May 18, 2023
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From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham
Dear Rev. Graham: If God made us in His image, why are so many of us empty and disappointed with life and running around frantically trying to find the next happy thing to do? I’ve just returned from Disneyland and I’ve never seen so many cranky and unkind people, and this is supposed to be the “happiest place on Earth.” Most of the people there were alive and breathing, but their eyes looked empty. – L.S.
Dear L.S.: We are made in the image of God. We are made to glorify God. We are made for God; and without God, there’s an empty place within. That empty place can be filled only by a simple surrender to Jesus Christ.
But people by nature don’t look to God for happiness. Instead, they want instant pleasure – and now. The Apostle Paul wrote, “In the last days… men will be lovers of themselves… unthankful… unloving, unforgiving” (2 Timothy 3:1–3).
Human nature searches for pleasure, strives for happiness, and searches for kicks. Often they stumble right into it all – until the morning after. The kick has a kickback.
The Bible says, “But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives” (1 Timothy 5:6). Many living and searching feel dead inside. And something is dead – the soul. A person is dead toward God because of never coming to the cross of Jesus Christ and repenting of sin and turning from a life of sin to the glories of the Savior.
The Apostle Peter wrote, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11). The things of this world fight the soul; they fight a relationship with God.
The more worldly pleasure we enjoy, the less satisfied and content we are with life. Today our world is mad in its obsession with pleasure. Life can be turned around by turning to Christ.
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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)