Introduction
I recently read an account of a counseling case. It was the record of a young seminarian seeking a spouse. It reminded me of universal longings and how all too often people seek to fulfill them in the wrong ways, in the wrong places, with the wrong methods. Then, seven or eight years later, as in another case, the woman found herself no longer liking her husband because of certain uncouth behavior. She had found a spouse, and her longings would be satisfied. However, it did not work out that way, and now she was seeking an out to look elsewhere. Unfortunately, the scenario is repeated all too often. Even when the idol is marriage, it fails if it is an idol from which one demands the fulfillment of longing.
What Are Universal Longings?
They are what people in every culture, every ethnic group, under every regime, in every age seek. They include, at a minimum, these four values.
- Love
- Acceptance
- Happiness
- Existence after death
In God’s good providence, I have been privileged to travel to eighteen countries, six of the seven continents. On one occasion, while giving a set of lectures in Romania titled “Why Our Children Lack Morals and Ethics,” I was invited to speak to the juniors and seniors of a prestigious high school. The first question from a member of the junior class was, “Why do I have 2500 Facebook friends, and so few face-to-face friends?” He was admitting to seeking at least three of the four: love, acceptance, and happiness, which were elusive. If anyone in that setting should have been finding all three. These were the elite: university professors’ children, politicians’ children, and the powerbrokers of this city of more than 500,000 and six universities.
On another occasion, we moved from church to church, teaching and mentoring. The same longings were evident. Turn your attention to Central America, whether in suburbs or small country communities, the same longings arise.
Study the history of civilization from ancient to modern times, and they keep showing up. In very modern Japan, we visited a monastery. There are hosts pointed to a prayer wheel that hosted multiple tightly wound scrolls printed with thousands or millions of mantras or entire Buddhist sutras (scriptures). It is believed that the act of turning the wheel is considered the equivalent of reciting all the prayers and texts within it. Buddhism holds to a doctrine of life cycles, from death to rebirth, repeated until one achieves Nirvana, that is, existence after death in a good place.
Idolatrous Folly
In Isaiah 44:14-17, the prophet describes the absurdity of idolatry as a means of fulfilling these longings. He pictures a craftsman using wood from the same tree for practical purposes, warming himself, baking bread, roasting meat, and carving an idol from the same wood, then worshiping an idol, seeking the fulfillment of his longings. Jeremiah gives us a similar depiction (Jeremiah 10:3ff), and Psalm 115:4-8 assures us that these idols cannot speak, they have no eyes to see, nor ears to hear. Hence, we conclude the folly of seeking our longing from idols. In our contemporary world, drugs, alcohol, social media, abortion, and an array of other idols are just as dumb and damaging
Resolution for the Universal Longings
Regardless of culture, what is the one overlooked place to find hope, help, health, and happiness? The obvious answer is not your local therapist. The answer is not your local pub (used in the European sense of the word). The answer is not to make essential services universally accessible and free, primarily targeting public transit (buses), childcare, and potentially groceries, funded by increased taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations, with the aim of creating greater affordability and equity, as exemplified in the Mamdani plan.
No, the answer is your local gospel preaching church, where the message changes the heart, which changes the person, which changes relationships. and provides a plan to navigate life in a way consistent with the Designer’s design.
At your local church, you can meet Jesus who identifies himself: “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35), “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12), “I am the door” (John 10:7, 9), “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11, 14), “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25), “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), and “I am the true vine” (John 15:1, 5). Go, get to know Him who can make promises and keep them, because He has the resources to do so. And what are His promises?
- I am the way, the truth, and the life, so come unto me, and I will give you rest.
- Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
- My God will supply all your needs
- I am coming again
- I leave my peace with you
- Finally, see John 1:12 for the foundation promise that makes all the others possible: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
Conclusion
Idols fail. Whether it be the multiplicity of idols found scattered throughout the Old Testament in both Israel and ancient cultures, or the idols of Roman, Greek, Corinthian, or Ephesian cultures. It gets no better to this day, whether it be marriage, success, material wealth, drugs, or alcohol. They fail! Why? Here is why. They are finite. They are created objects, beliefs, or concepts that man expects to meet the expectations of the human heart. We learn from Scripture that God designed humans to seek fulfillment from a source beyond the material world. As Augustin said, “Our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
Implementation
The phrase “Every marriage experiences an adjustment period” is common. What that means is everybody experiences a certain amount of dissatisfaction as expectations go unmet. That is, longings are not being met. We all tend to put our twist on the universal longings. So, what do we do about this?
First, we don’t put all our eggs in the basket of marriage.
Second, instead, we engage in developing a living, vibrant relationship with our Heavenly Father through His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, whom He has sent to indwell every believer.
Third, engage with His body, the church, to find diverse fellowship—prayer, praise, and worship.
Fourth, ask how I can serve my spouse rather than how my spouse can serve me.
Fifth, practice the one-another passages in your relationship with your spouse and with the body of believers.