{"id":3472,"date":"2018-01-24T00:12:52","date_gmt":"2018-01-24T00:12:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/takingeverythoughtcaptivetoobeychrist.wordpress.com\/?p=3472"},"modified":"2018-01-24T00:12:52","modified_gmt":"2018-01-24T00:12:52","slug":"a-saints-desire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/a-saints-desire\/","title":{"rendered":"A Saint’s Desire"},"content":{"rendered":"

“I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.” – Phil. 1:23<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Many of us struggle to find purpose in this life. Underlying this search for purpose is a deep desire for fulfillment. Consumerism has taken hold of this truth and utilized it for profit. \u00a0A person sitting front of the television for an hour will encounter more attempts to prey on the desires of the flesh than their great-grandparents experienced in a year. Most give in to the appeal as is evident by the expansion of the gaming industry. Some calculations estimate that 23.5 billion dollars was spent in 2015 on video games. Our desire for fulfillment is being fueled rather than quenched. Like a man who pours propane on a fire thinking it to be water, so the consumer is pouring money into cravings that will only multiply. <\/span><\/p>\n

For the saint, this must not be so. As we see from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, our ultimate desire is to be united with Christ. The avenue by which we will be joined to him is rather unappealing…death. No amount of money can satisfy the soul. Only when we (the saints) give up all in death are we given all through eternal life with our Lord. <\/span><\/p>\n

“Though death is a bitter cup, there is sugar at the bottom; it translates the soul of a believer to Christ. Though the flesh calls death the last enemy\u2014yet faith calls it the best friend; it brings a man to Christ, which is far better.” – Thomas Watson<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

To the consumer-driven world, death is a source of terror and fear. The horror genre attempts to capture death and stretch it beyond reality. As a result, we have many who are unaware of the reality of death and of its eternal implications. Death is decisive. To the saint, this must be something to look forward to. Packer once said that death to a Christian should be viewed as a date on a calendar. We are to look to that day with joy and anticipation. Christ is the water which revives the driest deserts of the soul. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Westminster Catechism states: <\/span>“What is the chief end of man? Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.”<\/em><\/span> Friend, where is it that you find your fulfillment? In the enjoyment of the creator of all things? Charles Spurgeon gave credence to this ever so eloquently, stating: <\/span>\u201cNothing teaches us about the preciousness of the Creator as much as when we learn the emptiness of everything else.\u201d<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether we are willing to realize it or not, we have a burning desire that will either be satisfied in Christ or fueled by the world. There is no middle ground. The battle for the soul hinges on its source of fulfillment. Like the earth absorbs the rays of the sun, so the soul absorbs the nutrients it is fed. Picture the soul like a garden. The gardener tills the land and plants each seed with precision and intention. Each day he walks through the garden watering each seed until they begin to grow. However, seizing the opportunity for growth, weeds begin to grow amongst these young sprouts. The gardener, out of a great care for his garden, uproots these weeds. So it is with the soul. The Lord has given us his Word. Each day we must search the Scriptures. Through sacred writ coupled with the inward working of the Spirit (Jn 16:8) we must pull from the garden of our soul the weeds which would seek to bring us to destruction. Let this be a challenge. We must first and foremost look to Jesus (Heb. 12:2) as the source of our fulfillment. A man who only has Christ, needs nothing, for he has all. A man who has all without Christ, needs something for nothing he has will satisfy him. <\/span><\/p>\n

Second, we must look to death not as a far-off source of fear, but rather as an established date that is to be longed for. Thomas Watson made three points on this topic: <\/span>“1. It is the desire of a true saint to leave this present world and be with Christ. 2. To be with Christ is far better. How much better it is, we shall better understand when we are in heaven. Some angel is best able to speak to this point. 3. That which keeps a saint here in the world, is a desire of doing service. This cast the balance with the apostle, and was the only enticing motive to keep him here a while. He looked upon his abode in the flesh as an opportunity of service. Paul was willing to die\u2014yet content to live, so that he might be a factor for Christ upon earth.”<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Let us rejoice at the established date of our joining with Christ. Oh, how we should long to see the face of our Lord. Let us echo with the words of Paul: For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Lord, may our fulfillment be found in you. Amen.<\/span><\/p>\n

Inspired by Thomas Watson’s “The Saints Desire to Be With Christ”:<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.monergism.com\/saints-desire-be-christ<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.” – Phil. 1:23 Many of us struggle to find purpose in this life. Underlying this search for purpose is a deep desire for fulfillment. Consumerism has taken hold of this truth and utilized it for profit. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":687,"featured_media":3473,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,25,27,32],"tags":[205,269,274,355,372,420,421,679,726,747,927,1014,1056,1078,1094,1105,1180,1247,1322],"class_list":{"0":"post-3472","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-culture","8":"category-faith","9":"category-gospel","10":"category-theology","11":"tag-bible","12":"tag-charles","13":"tag-christ","14":"tag-death","15":"tag-desire","16":"tag-eddie","17":"tag-edward","18":"tag-jesus","19":"tag-larow","20":"tag-life","21":"tag-paul","22":"tag-rags","23":"tag-riches","24":"tag-saints","25":"tag-satisfaction","26":"tag-scripture","27":"tag-spurgeon","28":"tag-thomas","29":"tag-watson","30":"entry"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/01\/misty_morning-scaled.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1295,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/the-sluggards-substitute\/","url_meta":{"origin":3472,"position":0},"title":"The Sluggard’s Substitute","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"March 9, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cThe desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.\u201d + Proverbs 21v25 The book of Proverbs is filled with immense practical truth. Scripture testifies to a strong work ethic; this proverb highlights that. A sluggard who is filled with his desire for sloth reaps death. There\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"bible\"","block_context":{"text":"bible","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/tag\/bible\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1221,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/closer-than-a-brother\/","url_meta":{"origin":3472,"position":1},"title":"Closer Than a Brother","author":"Joshua Jenkins","date":"November 24, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cA man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.\u201d + Proverbs 18v24 This ancient proverb is filled with prophetic truth of union with Christ. But first let us note three things. 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But,'\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Commentary"","block_context":{"text":"Commentary","link":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/category\/commentary\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/11\/moses-in-the-cleft.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/11\/moses-in-the-cleft.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/11\/moses-in-the-cleft.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2018\/11\/moses-in-the-cleft.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3500,"url":"https:\/\/themajestysmen.com\/joshuajenkins\/on-contentment\/","url_meta":{"origin":3472,"position":3},"title":"On Contentment","author":"Edward Larow","date":"February 19, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I write this not as a commander surveying the field of battle, but as a soldier in the thick of the conflict. 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