Psalm 126:2-3 – “Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then, it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”
One summer my family spent a month “vacationing” in a fabulous town while I ministered at a local church. Our condo was right in the thick of fun, family activities and shopping (for the ladies). We took advantage of being newcomers to this part of the country, enjoying great meals, a major league baseball game, time on the beach, and just being together. Having my family with me just before two of our children headed out for college remains a highlight.
Because of the onset of school however, my family left two weeks before I did. When you know your family is breaking up because of life’s realities – when you can literally count the weeks, then the days, and finally the hours before your family transforms from full to half empty – each moment is sweet, but in a slightly bitter sort of way. The morning I dropped off my family at the airport, I got into a suddenly empty SUV and mourned the passing time.
As I prayed, however, it dawned on me that because of Jesus Christ, I will never feel the pain of separation from God as I have felt the pain of separation from my family. There will never be a moment when God leaves, when I have to “say good-bye” to my Savior. Even the best pleasures in this world are transitory and vulnerable. We shouldn’t despise them because of that, but it does mean that we are on shaky ground if we set the foundations of our life and joy on them.
Using pleasure to point us back to God instead of allowing it to compete with him (or worse, letting it draw us away from him) roots us in the greatest pleasure that will never, ever end. God gives us many pleasures in our lifetime of pursuing him. If it were all to end today, can you say, “What a ride, Lord – what an amazing ride!”