Do you feel fulfilled? If you have spent time trying to find fulfillment in material possessions, in traveling and sightseeing, in good food and fine clothing, in fame and power, have you been able to find what you're looking for? If not, do you know why not?
Delicious food leaves us patting our bellies, while partying with our friends helps us forget our troubles. Our great possessions make us proud, and we enjoy showing them off. But when our stomachs are full, does that fill the void in our hearts? When our friends leave us after a long day of conversation, don't our problems and pressures come back to haunt us? And if fire burned all that we possess, what would be left for us to show off?
So where can we find true, lasting fulfillment that is solid? My friend, we can find it in Yahweh God Almighty.
If we want to fill the void in our hearts, we must know God. When our friends leave us for the day, God will stay with us (after all, He needs no rest or sleep!). When fire or a natural disaster has taken everything away, we still have the best thing to brag about: that we know and have a relationship with God.
Why know God for fulfillment?
What is created has been created from nothingness, and can therefore return to nothingness; and those who have entrusted their livelihood to material wealth can well attest to this when fire destroyed all they had. On the other hand, since Yahweh is the Creator, only He is real, unchanging, stands forever; therefore, only He can provide the only solid reliance in life, Someone we can hold on to now and forever after our resurrection.
Thus, God is what makes our lives complete, as Anna Williams, the director of operations of Appalachia Mission of Hope, says: "God Almighty makes life complete. He will be your Counselor, your Confidant and your most faithful Friend. He will shelter you from the storms of life and lead and guide you through the difficult times that come your way. He is the hope you cling to when you need to feel loved, cherished or nurtured. He loves unconditionally and that assurance allows you to work through situations and circumstances that would otherwise shatter your life."
When we know Yahweh, our knowledge and intimacy with Him helps us align our walk with His perfect will, fulfilling our purpose as part of His overall plans. We will have peace of mind, knowing we are moving in the correct direction with the right support. Otherwise, we would be like travelers in the wilderness without maps and a compass to guide us onto the right path to our destination.
Author Zohra Sarwari agrees: "It is important to know about the Creator, because that is what motivates us to do the right thing, and stay away from the evil things in life, to follow His guidance that He sent down to us. We all know that if you create something you must give it a manual so people learn how to use it. The Almighty did the same for mankind; He created us then told us to follow a certain way of life, and if we do that we will be successful; if we don't do that we will fail the test of life."
Alya Nuri, 11-Year-Old Author and Speaker, echoes Zohra: "By knowing God, you know Who to turn to when you are stuck in life and you feel like you can't get out of the situation that you were put in. God teaches us to pick right from wrong, and it is our choice to pick right, and reject wrong. Lastly, by knowing that God will judge all of our deeds on the Day of Judgment, it makes me want to listen and obey Him more and be a better person."
Alya adds, "It is important to know God, because He gave us everything: family, food, health, wealth, and much more."
That takes us to the most important reason to know Yahweh: to fulfill what is most right and just: our responsibility in rightfully crediting our Designer.
Every product in the supermarket displays the manufacturer on its label and packaging; every automobile we drive is emblazoned with its company's name; and every article of clothing we wear bears a tag that shows its brand name. When every manmade product has been credited to its maker, should not the most awesome creation--our universe and all it contains--be especially credited to our Creator as well?
We are grateful for the moment when our children first learn how to talk, for the kisses and hugs we share with our lovers, and for the delectable dishes on our tables; but without our Creator giving us our lives, we would not have had the privilege of enjoying any of these in the first place! Therefore, let us thank Him for honoring us with life, so we may delight in all His creations!
Yahweh deserves our full and deepest worship, our praise, our love, every minute of our lives, for we owe Him our very existence, and because He is love. All wonderful things bloom from love, so when Yahweh is love, all goodness comes from Him. And as Aaron Taylor, author and missionary, says, "The way to know love is to know God. And the only way to truly know God is to know His Son Jesus Christ, who demonstrated His love for us by bearing our guilt, our shame, and our suffering at the cross. As I read through the four gospels, I'm left with one inescapable thought. If God is like Jesus then He can have my heart!"
Jennifer Maggio did just that: she gave her heart to God, and has experienced the power of God's love ever since. She says, "Having been molested, beaten, and malnourished as a child, I did not feel God would ever care about me or that I was worth of Him caring about me. I hit rock bottom in my teen years. I finally desperately sought some type of validation in my life. Knowing God took me from homeless, unwed teen mom with no hope or future to successful corporate executive full of joy and hope. As I learned more about God, I learned more about my need and desire for Him. I could not ever be a whole person without His guidance and wisdom. My faith has now led me into full-time ministry for a Single Moms Ministry."
Becky Harmon, CTA, CLC, feels the same way. She says, "From a theological point of view the reason it is important to know God is because without knowing Him, we cannot experience peace, righteousness or joy. Because He is a just God, our sin separates us; but through believing in His Son, Jesus Christ, by faith, we are joined with Him. For me personally, I have continually experience His supernatural provision that has translated me out of continual self sabotage and into His presence where I alone am loved for know other reason then His grace. It has truly been life changing to receive so much affirmation and pure love. I owe Him my whole existence and for that I will be eternally grateful."
Got an empty heart? Then give it away!
To whom? To Yahweh and Jesus. Give your heart to God and His Son to embrace complete and total fulfillment!
Yahweh's Word says, "He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17, WEB) Jennifer and Becky have accepted God's invitation to freely drink in His water of life, and have been refreshed and filled. Will you be next? To take the water of life, simply embrace Yahweh and His Son Jesus in your heart, and experience total fulfillment. Come, quench your thirst, today!
Dr. Shirley Cheng (b. 1983) is a blind and physically disabled award-winning author with twenty-seven book awards, proclaimer of Yahweh God's good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, Bible teacher, founder of www.Ultra-Ability.com Ministry, summa cum laude graduate with Doctor of Divinity, motivational speaker, poet; and author of nine books (including "Do You Love Jehovah?"), contributor to twenty-five, and an editor of one. Shirley has had severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since infancy. Owing to years of hospitalization, she received no education until age eleven. Back then, she knew only her ABCs and very simple English; other than that, her book knowledge was non-existent. However, after only about 180 days of special education in elementary school, she mastered grade level and entered a regular sixth grade class in middle school. Unfortunately, Shirley lost her eyesight at the age of seventeen. After a successful eye surgery, she hopes to earn multiple science doctorates from Harvard University. http://www.ShirleyCheng.com
Do you have questions about the Bible? Something you don't understand? Do you need a bit of guidance in developing a relationship with Jehovah? Then Shirley would like to help you! Please contact her via her site at http://www.shirleycheng.com and she would be more than glad to do her best to answer your questions! Never hesitate to ask questions, for no question about the Bible is ever too small or stupid.