What Are Our Desires and Hopes?

From the beginning of their lives, human beings have desires which they hope to have fulfilled. If someone does not have any future hopes, his life is empty and without goals. Life is interesting when we have set goals that we are trying to reach, and we are glad and thankful when they are fulfilled. Then we see a purpose in our lives.

We also notice that man is inclined to set new goals in life in order to gain something new and better. Our life is pleasant when all goes well, but often it happens that we have disappointments, when our dreams are not fulfilled. On the other hand, even though a man has reached all that he has desired in his life, there can still be emptiness in his heart.

” Then I looked at all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” Eccl. 2:11. How many people today experience something similar to Solomon!

Satan has hypnotized the minds of the people to think that they will have true happiness when they have gained much riches and high goals in this life. In the end they will see that they have been deceived because they did nothing to save their souls!

Worldly Accomplishments Can Never Satisfy the Spiritual Needs and Desires of the Soul
The experience of Solomon proves that in this short life there is something more important and precious to reach than just material goods. In this life we can reach a treasure that has eternal value, and that is what I am longing to have! And that is a Christlike character. We need to be clothed in the white garment of His righteousness.

” As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” Ps. 42:1-2.

Do we have similar longings of the heart as David? Do we desire the presence of God in our lives? Are we longing for revival and holiness? It takes place when we invite Jesus into our hearts.

He is ” the Author and Finisher of our faith.” Heb. 12:2. we don’t need to fight against sin alone, even that we may feel that way sometimes; no, we have help available, always.

While on the earth, our Saviour fulfilled the desires of the people, when they sincerely sought His help. ” And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought Him, saying, Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” Luke 5:12.

In the life of faith, the Lord knows our longings and needs, but before He sends us help, He expects us to ask for it and also He waits for the right time. Often we think, why does the Lord not fulfill our desires according to our timetable? There may be many reasons for it, which are hidden from us, but later we will understand that the Lord did that which was best for us.
The Fulfillment of Our Hopes and Desires Gives Us Great Joy and Encouragement!

” And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” Luke 2:25-32.

Can we imagine how happy Simeon was when he could hold in his arms the Saviour of the world? Now his desire was fulfilled, and his joy was great! I believe that this was the happiest moment to him in his life. Worldly accomplishments can never give such joy and happiness. He was old and saw no purpose to live any longer, therefore he prayed, ” Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant to depart in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.” Luke 2:29-30.

Are we longing to have the same kind of joy and happiness as faithful Simeon? If so, then we must also live as he lived. May the Lord help us in this.

We are waiting for the Lord’s return! Every day the signs of the times show us more clearly that the most important event on our planet will soon take place. Oh, our hearts start beating faster when we think of this event!

” And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Isa. 25:9.

Then our last desire will be fulfilled. The battle against sin will end for ever, and to us begins eternal joy and happiness.
” Soon there appears in the east a small black cloud, about half the size of a man’s hand. It is the cloud which surrounds the Saviour and which seems in the distance to be shrouded in darkness. The people of God know this to be the sign of the Son of man. In solemn silence they gaze upon it as it draws nearer the earth, becoming lighter and more glorious, until it is a great white cloud, its base a glory like consuming fire, and above it the rainbow of the covenant. Jesus rides forth as a mighty conqueror. Not now a ‘Man of Sorrows,’ to drink the bitter cup of shame and woe, He comes, victor in heaven and earth, to judge the living and the dead. ‘Faithful and True,’ ‘in righteousness He doth judge and make war.’ And ‘the armies which were in heaven’ (Revelation 19:11, 14) follow Him. With anthems of celestial melody the holy angels, a vast, unnumbered throng, attend Him on His way. The firmament seems filled with radiant forms’ ‘ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.’ No human pen can portray the scene; no mortal mind is adequate to conceive its splendour. ‘His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise. And His brightness was as the light.’ Hab. 3:3, 4. As the living cloud comes still nearer, every eye beholds the Prince of life. No crown of thorns now mars that sacred head; but a diadem of glory rests on His holy brow. His countenance outshines the dazzling brightness of the noonday sun. ‘And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, King of kings, and Lord of lords.” Rev. 19:16.” GC, p. 640, 641.

May the Lord have mercy on us, and help us to prepare for this great event.
AMEN.