It is an age-old question that humanity has wrestled with and sought to answer – ‘What is missing in my life’? Perhaps you have heard it phrased this way: “Who am I ...and why am I here?”

It has been described as a ‘gnawing void within’... in which man has pursued multiple paths in order to fill that void. I’ve heard it described as the ‘God hole in our hearts’ that can only be filled by the One who created us. Sadly, so many people tend to pursue every other avenue and exhaust all other options before coming to the conclusion that ‘God’ really is that ‘missing piece’. Needless to say, ‘many’ folks never do arrive at that revelation, according to Jesus (Matt. 7:13-14).

What is equally tragic, if not worse... is the number of people who ‘thought they had tried God’, but ended up with a counterfeit version, or misleading ‘gospel’ that only offered up an empty religion which never led to true, abundant ‘life’ (or salvation).

So our ongoing struggle to fill that void has usually been masked with that deceptive lure which sounds something like this: “IF only...I had this...I would be happy and content!”

Clearly, one could modify and tweak that line to include the conquest of any number of pursuits, be it material gain, notoriety, the acquisition of ‘trophies and medals and awards’, etc. How much money and wealth does one really need to acquire before they are truly ‘happy’? How big a house or what career will do it for you? How ‘beautiful a spouse’ does it take to confirm you have ‘arrived’? “If only I looked like this, or weighed this much or had this body type and size”...if only if only if only... I mean honestly...how many buildings does one really need their name on before they are satisfied? I think you get my point here.

Humans are a funny species for sure, portrayed in some circles as these odd creatures who wear themselves out chasing that proverbial ‘carrot’, spinning that little hamster wheel in the cage... yet never seemingly ‘arriving’ or getting anywhere. Are you familiar with the writings of King Solomon, the ‘wisest man who ever lived’, and how he shares of all his foolish pursuits? He admits that he did ‘gain it all’, and yet he admits - it was all ‘vanity’. But it’s his concluding remarks as to what the real ‘meaning of life’ was all about, and you can read for yourself in Ecclesiastes 12:13.

The Apostle Paul met with a community of people in Athens long ago who were described as being quite ‘religious’ (Acts 17:22). It was apparent that many of them were themselves in pursuit of answering similar questions through their assorted ideas and philosophies, so when Paul rolled into town, he offered up to them a ‘new idea’ to consider (21). It was the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I find it quite note-worthy the method or platform in which Paul began sharing this message of hope to those in attendance. He began by introducing these people... to the God who created the heavens and the earth, and everything in it (Acts 17:23-24). Paul also made it known that it was God who created each and every single last one of us, even making it known that God had ‘determined our pre-appointed times and locations in which we would exists. God did so with the hope that we would ‘seek the Lord and reach out for Him and find Him...given He is not far from each one of us.” (26-27)

And in case there was any doubt, Paul drives home the final selling point by informing them that it is “In Him...we live and move and have our being”...given “we are His offspring”. It really doesn’t get any more clear than this: Paul was telling them (and us today) “God is that missing piece you are in pursuit of....so repent...and turn to Him.” (30).

As compelling as a message as it was, not everyone was convinced. We read there that ‘some mocked...others pushed it aside for later consideration...while some believed and joined him to hear more’ (32-34). Such is the case today when people hear the true gospel.

I have no idea where you are at in your pursuit these days for true life and contentment and peace of mind, and whether you have ‘filled that void’ or not. But I should point out that we who profess to have ‘found it in God’ because we ‘joined a church’ would all do well to ‘examine ourselves’ to see whether we are in the faith or not (2 Cor. 13:5). We are warned repeatedly throughout scripture how many can take on a ‘form of godliness...and be always learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth’ (2 Tim. 3:5-7). We can be active in ‘religious activity’...even be busy with ‘good works’, yet still come up short (Matt. 7:21-23; 1 Cor. 13:1-3)

Why, you can even be a good student of the Bible, searching the scriptures diligently, and still be ‘dead’ inside. Take a look at what Jesus told some scribes in John 5:39-40. “You search the scriptures thinking they offer life...but you are not willing to come to Me... in order that you might have this life’. Remember, it was ‘abundant life’, (or life to the fullest) that Jesus came to offer us (John 10:10).

But you have to ‘come to Him’ first. And therein lies the great question we must address: What does it mean to truly.... ‘come to Jesus’? I would submit to you that this is where multitudes of people have ‘missed it’, or been led astray and/or have been ‘deceived’.

My message yesterday focused on this external ‘force of darkness’ that blinds all the world from ‘seeing it’... given their minds have been ‘veiled by the god of this age’ (Satan- 2 Cor. 4:3-4). But there is also the promise that when anyone ‘turns to the Lord, the veil is removed’ (2 Cor. 3:16).

I pointed out from that passage in Acts 17 where Paul assures us that God is ‘not far from each one of us’ ...wanting us to ‘seek Him’. And here is a promise from the OT that I just love and brings great assurance to my soul: “For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth, so that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” (2 Chron. 16:9)

If it’s truth and life and meaning that you are in search for, not to mention answers to those pressing questions as to ‘who are you and why are you here’...then God is ready to meet you where you are at. And with this truth comes genuine ‘freedom’ (John 8:32-36).

‘Freedom from what?’, you might be asking? Join me tomorrow and we’ll examine more scripture that ought to connect a few more dots for you, or better yet...fill in some more of those missing ‘puzzle pieces’.