Tag Archives: keyhole

“But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one…”(Hebrews 11:16)

C.S. Lewis once argued that “Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists.” This can be seen in our biology: We hunger and there is food; we thirst and there is water; we have sexual desires and there is sex. But what are we to make of of those desires in us that do not seem to correspond to anything in the natural world? Why do we desire meaning and purpose for our lives? What are these longings we have for love and fidelity. Where did this universal notion of right and wrong come from? And how should we respond to that ache we get in our chests (the one that feels curiously like homesickness) when we look at something immensely beautiful like a sunset, a sweeping vista, or the starry hosts above?

In response to questions like these, Lewis famously wrote, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world”. He goes on to suggest that earthly pleasures were not meant to satisfy such unearthly desires, they were meant to arouse them while pointing to the real thing, the real satisfaction. They themselves are not the real thing, but only “a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage.” If I may use my own illustration, they are a bit like looking through a keyhole and glimpsing shadows of things to come; glimpses that push us to keep searching for that “better country…a heavenly one” (Heb.11:16)

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…earthly pleasures were not meant to satisfy such unearthly desires…

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But let us not make the mistake of concluding that all we are really after is simply greater, otherworldly pleasures. One of the strangest things about man (at least from a naturalist perspective) is his desire to worship; to worship something greater than himself and devote himself to something transcendent. This has been true of humanity in all times and places. Augustine summed up the reason for this succinctly and beautifully when he wrote, “You [God] stir man to take pleasure in praising you, because you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Money, sex, power, status – all these things that most of us spend most our lives chasing – are fleeting. They will not do, not ultimately, for we are creatures with eternity set in our hearts and our longing for love, joy, and peace will not be fulfilled until we are connected to the Source of love, joy, and peace. Until we’re grafted to the Vine we’re just dead branches fit for the fire. So it is God Himself we are after. It is in Him, and Him alone, that we find our greatest pleasure. In Him our longing for meaning, purpose, morality, beauty, and transcendence are satisfied completely.

But it is no use to speak of finding our ultimate satisfaction in God without also speaking of how we are to come to God. For the truth is that we are rebels who  have chosen autonomy from the Creator, and because of our sin we are separated from He who is our true satisfaction. But thankfully God shows us grace – that is, undeserved benevolence – and provides a means of reconciliation through the mediating work of His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus, the eternal Word, the second Person of the Trinity, took on flesh, bore our sins upon the cross, rose from the dead with all authority in heaven and on earth, and now offers us the gift of eternal life. What salvation requires from us is to repent of our rebellion and believe on Him, both as our crucified Savior and our risen Lord. This is how we are reconciled to God – in the very person of Jesus Christ who is, as the ancient creed states, ‘very God of very God’.

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So it is God himself we are after. It is in Him, and Him alone, that we find our greatest pleasure.

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The New Testament concludes with a picture of God and His people residing together in perfection. In the book of Revelation John is given magnificent visions of the throne room in heaven and New Jerusalem; shadowless  ‘keyhole glimpses’, if you will, of the future satisfaction of God’s people. A people worshiping their Savior in all His glory; a people who are finally home:

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”

The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:11-14)

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The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!”

Then a voice came from the throne, saying:

“Praise our God, all you his servants,
you who fear him, both great and small!”

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:

“Hallelujah!  For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.”

Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:4-19)

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Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:1-5)