A Word from God's Word

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.”

Psalm 42:1

ALTHOUGH THE PRECISE WORDING is in question, the philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal is credited with speaking of a “God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every person”. Similarly, Augustine said, “You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Tragically, the unbeliever often senses this empty void within but seeks to fill it with any number of things besides God: material goods and wealth, leisure, etc. Even very good things, good gifts from God, such as family and friends. But even God’s good gifts cannot take the place of God Himself; they cannot fill the “God-shaped vacuum”. Only God can.

Thus, in Psalm 42:1, the psalmist compares his desire for God to the thirst of a deer for water on a hot summer day. It is a deep thirst. But can this thirst be satisfied?

It is satisfied through God’s invitation to come to Him. “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters, and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!” (Isaiah 55:1) This thirst, this hunger is satisfied as God invites us to come… and we do so. As we come to Him by faith. As we come to Him through Christ. As we come to Him through Christ’s death on the cross of Calvary, that brings salvation to all who will trust in Him. Then, and then only, is the thirst satisfied and is the vacuum filled. For then, God Himself is our inheritance.

Pastor Craig publishes  "A Word from God's Word" weekly in the "Kootenay News Advertiser".