THE QUEST OF MANKIND
Every
human being who has ever lived has looked for one thing in life: happiness.
Some
people have looked for fulfillment in possessions or power. Others try to find
it in physical pleasure or gratification; and others thought they would surely
find it in relationships and "love."
Some
have thought they actually found contentment in these things; but most people
spend their lives looking for this ever-elusive happiness.
Almost
two thousand years ago, there lived a man who actually had the key to
happiness. He was the happiest man who ever lived. No matter what the
circumstances, He was always on an even keel. Nothing phased
Him; no matter what anyone said to Him or did to Him, nothing could disturb the
security, the joy, and the peace of this man named Jesus.
Jesus
taught us how we can be as fulfilled as He was! He taught us that in a love
that seeks the benefit, welfare, and happiness of another individual, despite
the consequences to oneself, we can find true happiness. He taught us that it
is the solution to all suffering, the nucleus of all peace, and is ultimately
stronger than death.
This
unconditional love is described in detail in I Corinthians 13. "Love is
patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud; love is not
ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs;
love is not happy with evil, but is happy with the truth. Love never gives up;
and its faith, hope and patience never fail. Love is eternal." (verses 4-5)
GO TO THE SOURCE
Whether
we want to admit it or not, we all want to be loved in this way. We try to find
this unconditional love in other human beings. But we are all in the same
condition, thirsting for this love that will fill our lives with purpose. In
our present condition, we are actually unable to produce this love.
Again,
Jesus showed us the solution. "I can of mine own
self do nothing; the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is
doing." (John 5:30,20) The secret of His
power was this trust He had in His Father.
As
Jesus found his security and peace in trusting God, we can find this by
trusting in Jesus, who is himself God. He invites us, "Come
to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke (serving others) and put it on you, and learn from me, because I am gentle
and humble in spirit; and you will find rest." (Matthew 11:28.
paraphrased)
"I am the Vine; you are the branches.... Without me,
you can do nothing." (John 15:5) If we go to the original,
never-failing Source of this unconditional love, he will fill our cup to
overflowing (Psalm 23:5). "Whoever drinks the
water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. Whoever believes in me,
streams of life-giving water will pour out from his heart." (John
We
see in Jesus marvelous self-control and radiant happiness. He had a marvelous
sense of worth and purpose, a marvelous sense of hope and fulfillment. We see
him as an individual who could love and be loved. He had a marvelous sense of
identity—he wasn’t threatened by the things most people are threatened by.
Would
you like to be this kind of a person? You can be. We are changed by what we see
and admire. The Bible is the revelation of God’s character. In it, we
learn about this self-sacrificing love that will transform us into people like
Jesus. Fill your mind with the life and principles of Jesus. "Whoever lives and believes in me will never
die." (John 11:26)