By Brody Thibodeau
Our Golden Retriever loves his ball. He enjoys chasing, but especially catching and chewing them to the point where we have to find the toughest and most durable type of ball to ensure that he gets the most out of his playtime. For Buddy this is the most satisfying thing in the world.
I watched one day as my daughter was trying out her new bubble blowing kit in the backyard. It was a calm day and each time she blew into the wand full of soapy water, many grapefruit sized bubbles would appear and slowly drift across the yard. Needless to say when our puppy got a glimpse of this game he wasted no time getting involved. To him, every bubble was a ball. He focused intently, ran hard and jumped high trying his best to get each one thinking he would be able to take it for his own. Bubbles by nature are empty and though there were many to chase and some were easy to catch, each one turned out the same…empty. He determined that the next one would always be different and when he reached it and clenched his teeth to seize it he found it was just like the others…empty. This carried on for quite a long time and the poor guy never did catch on to the pattern, he was just too optimistic to be realistic. His game ended with a long nap without any ball to show for his effort.
This may sound funny, but when we view Buddy’s bubbles thoughtfully we can easily see a metaphor for our lives. We are all seeking something that will be lasting and satisfying. In our desperation for substance we often chase things that appear full of potential but result in emptiness. Some chase the bubbles of worldly pleasure only to find that after each experience there is a need for another. Others try alcohol or drugs and quickly determine that high is only temporary, leaving them wanting more. Sincere seekers sometimes look to education and career success as the means of self worth and satisfaction, only to find out that this also is a vain endeavour. Yet some look to human relationships to fill that void and only become more and more disenchanted when they find out that most people care too much about pleasing themselves to ever truly care for others, leaving us sad and alone. The emptiness of these bubbles does not deter us in our quest, as we optimistically chase yet another empty bubble thinking surely this one will satisfy.
Perhaps we have never considered our deeper problem. Maybe some of us aren’t all that interested in the true answer. The Bible teaches that we as God’s creatures were designed specifically for relationship with and nearness to Him. In this design He actually placed an awareness of spiritual and eternal realities within us; a space that can only be filled by living association with Him.
Since sin first caused a disconnect between mankind and his creator, we have looked for ways to satisfy a longing in the heart that can only be satiated by connection to the Almighty. God has stepped in and provided a way to reconnect. The Lord Jesus’ death on the cross of Calvary is God’s way of solving the sin problem and every person who truly repents from their sin and puts their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will have their sins forgiven and find satisfaction in the purpose for which we were designed…to be close to God.
Consider the following verses of scripture;
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God: Isaiah 59:2
But this man (Jesus Christ), after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God: Hebrews 10:12
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 5:1
Real relationship, real peace, real satisfaction…no empty bubbles.
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