7 And when the men of Ashdod saw how it was, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is harsh toward us and Dagon our god.”
8 Therefore they sent and gathered to themselves all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?”
1 Samuel 5:7,8 (NKJV)

In our lives we seek comfort. We seek ease in our day, lightness in our footstep.  There is pleasure awaiting us at every turn in our day and we follow the alluring fragrance of a gratifying moment. We look from within a life filled with trials and turmoil, decisions, responsibility and we deserve respite from the heavy hand upon us. Don’t we? We are here on earth for but a moment and why should it be spent in heaviness?

There are ways of this world that hold solution to our need to nourish a gratified-starved soul.

There are many temptations in this world. They appear in our path at various stages in our walk to be opportune in timing to our exact situation. It is the false scent of lilac in a putrid day. It is the color of false riches in a gray and dreary season of want. It is the lust of flesh in a time when curiosity and boredom are upon us. An empty soul exists with mouth agape. It needs-no it wants! See if you were once there. I was. See if you were happy and filled. I was not. How is this state of want  remedied?

In my life I found that the ability to find a morsel to throw at a salivating soul was always available. The avarice of my want was on constant prowl. It was availed because there are gods of temptation who are always around us. They aren’t really gods at first. They are but a solution to a moment’s problem. They do, however, become our gods. I examine my life and see these gods on the shelves, counters, bed-stands, and cabinets. They were all once a convenient answer to a gripping desire to fill. To fill.

These times of wants for emptiness, were in my life before I saw a light shining through a small crack under my door. The gods I knew held me tight, but now I was curious. That light! Upon closer investigation, the light drew me closer and there was music. Beautiful music. There was a sweet fragrance-real fragrance. All behind the door. I talked with my gods and they all agreed that the door held nothing for me. They were sure and as I tended to my gods, the light would catch my attention. A glimpse, the wondering. Wondering….yes, wondering why my gods held me back so strongly. Each one existed for a particular moment of time and were always ready. I was always hungry and greedy for satisfaction! I deserved it. But this reasoning of being deserving always kept me seeking. Something was not right because the gratification I received was for a moment and one-by-one each god fed me then soon left me hungry. I want to be sustained.

Up and toward the door I curiously wandered in the dark room where I lived. I found that not only did my gods scoff at any long-term care for my empty heart, they also inflicted pain as my dependence on them became my master. We were all there. You and I. Somewhere, some god. Examine life. What holds our attention but then departs. The door beckoned as pain and emptiness grew. I struggled at the handle but it was locked. Only a key-hole through which I could peer through. Light the size of a key shone through. It was interesting in there behind the door. I saw smiles and hugs. I saw a place of warmth and contentment. I saw a Man whose eye saw me peering through the hole. He had a  warm smile and inviting eyes. He beckoned and I could see in His eyes that there was a fullness about Him that would close my soul, agape for want, and fill me. I could not get in as the door was locked and my gods all held tightly to my ankles as I shuffled them across the room. No! They cried. We give you solace for a moment then we will do it again the next.

I grew to hate this moment-by-moment way of life. My want turned to need as I now sought a type of completeness. The Man in the keyhole smiled warmly. “Knock”, He said.

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Luke 11:10 (KJV)

So I knocked. There was more than a man inside. He was a King whose majesty caused my gods to shirk away. His light penetrated my soul. He had a love that exuded to all areas of my heart and soul. My eyes welled with tears as my heart grew warm and a smile appeared. I have awaited this moment all of my life and did not even know it. I am still here in my house but have walked through a door that had been closed for many years until then.

The Man is Jesus and He told me many stories. He told me of times  when He had to grab my hand when I started to fall. When He wiped my brow glistening with sweat from toil and burden. He told me that He had always loved me and I listened intently. He told me about His Father and how He and I were co-heirs to our Father. My Lord, my Father. Smiling I sat like a child in wanderlust. My eyes were filled with tears. This was a time of contentment. It was a time when my life intersected with God and all my other gods were destroyed.  He knew the time and the place and He just waited.

Here I still smile with Him. What a glorious life in Jesus Christ. My soul is filled with comfort and my step is light. My burdens are cast aside. When my old gods come over to visit, I resist, most of the time. But I always know where to return because there is the outstretched hand of God ready to bring me home.

So, false gods are destroyed and the world wonders what to do with a King of such majesty. They will see someday. For me? My room is filled with a warm Light. It is fragrant and it is comforting. Jesus waited and I found Him. Life is beautiful, and too, the music.

Rick Stassi

May 10, 2012