Want to know the basic flaw with most Christians? They do not seek pleasure enough.
God created us to pursue pleasure and pursue it with all that we are. Yet, many church leaders tell us just the opposite. “Suppress pleasure…deny pleasure…decline pleasure!”
Jesus said in John 10:10 that HE came that we might have life and that to the fullest. He came to set us free from the presence, power and punishment of sin. He delights in us as a Father does in His children. He loves being with us.
Here’s the rub? Do we delight in Him?
See, that is where, or in Whom, we need to pursue pleasure more and better.
Ps 16:11 says, “11You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
King David, at the height of worship and wonder in God says in essence YOU are the utmost pleasure. We settle for so little because we choose to pursue pleasure in anything and everything except God. As C.S. Lewis says, “we like children content to play in the mud puddle and miss a holiday at the beach!”
Two authors will blow your mind and challenge the focus of your faith are John Piper and Sam Storms. Piper has written Desiring God and it is summed up in this phrase. “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.”
When a husband brings roses to his wife on their anniversary and she thanks him and his response is he felt it was his duty, does she feel honored and treasured? NO. When he take her to dinner or watches the movie she wants to watch and she ask why and his response is “there is no one on earth I would rather spend time with, whose very presence gives me pleasure”, then she feels honored and valued.
It is the same with our Father. He designed us and desires us to long for His presence more than His blessings or gifts. He wants us to savor a relationship with Him.
Back to my opening sentence…we not only do not seek enough pleasure, we seek it from the wrong source. Sin delights for a season (brief time)…God is forevermore.
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