"Seeking pleasures in this world is vain"

 

When we look around us, we find this world is so attractive and joyful. But when we start exploring, we will realize that everything is vain. The pleasure of this world is temporary and meaningless. As we grow each of us has our own definition of happiness and we try to achieve it in our own way either through education, a job, extra-curricular activities, etc. But, nothing in this world can add eternal pleasures to our life. It's all like a mirage.

King Solomon in all his riches at last found it meaningless and said it all is vanity. Neither his property nor his kingdom and wisdom satisfied his heart. He ends the book of Ecclesiastes by saying remember the Lord in days of your youth, fear the Lord, and obey HIM.  

The world can not satisfy our thirst. Yes, my dear friends, the world can never quench our thirst, the thirst for belonging, the thirst for acceptance, the thirst for a happy life. But, Christ can. Jesus accepts us as we are. HE cleanses us from our sins and makes new creations in HIM. And when we are a new creation, we will have joy in Christ and surpass peace. That’s why Paul says in Philippians whatever was gained for me, now I consider loss for the sake of Christ and he runs his race to know Christ. At last, he says to rejoice in the Lord. JESUS loves us with everlasting love and only HE can satisfy our hearts and give us absolute joy. As, St. Augustine said, ‘Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.' How a branch, when cut off from the tree or fish without water, cannot live, in the same manner, we also can't leave by separating from Christ and we will have rest only in Christ.

So, let us come before GOD and confess our sins, invite Him into our lives, give our hearts to JESUS, and surrender our life in His hand. Then only we will be able to experience His love, joy, and peace. Let us continue our journey to our father's heart by trusting Jesus, leaning in HIS arm, and focusing on HIM. There is only one source of happiness and that is Christ.