Created for One Addiction
But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.
Philippians 1:23-24
An addiction is something we crave, and nothing stops us from seeking to fulfill that craving. Satan tempts us with many types of worldly addictions, such as food, work, exercise, drugs, money, alcohol, pornography, shopping, and many more. It interesting how easily we can become addicted to something, almost as if God designed us that way. When something is pleasurable and/or rewarding, we have a tendency to make it a habit, which can lead to an addiction. If God did create us to be addictive, then what is the addiction he wants us to have?
I think God wants us to have addiction that brings us closer to him. Do you think there is anything God wants more than for us to know him and want to be with him? Do you think our Christian life is based on knowing God? Do you think everything we do should help us to understand and be closer to him? Can seeking to understand God more and have a closer relationship him, become as addiction? Do you have a craving to be closer to the Lord and serve him, and let nothing or no one stop you?
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3) Our eternal life is centered on knowing the Father and Son. We are being molded by God in this life to the mind of Christ. If we have the mind of Christ we will certainly know the Lord. God created us to live with him forever in a close, intimate, loving relationship. If we don’t know God how can we have a relationship with him?
I am using the term addiction to describe our desire to be closer to our Lord. When we serve the Lord and his love fills our hearts, we have the realization that everything depends on him. We depend on the Holy Spirit to help control our thoughts, words, and actions so we can have Godly wisdom to guide us as we minister to the world. We get closer to the Lord and as a result our faith, love, peace, and joy increases. This, in turn, drives us to seek the Lord more. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (Psalm 34:8)
Seeking to be closer to the Lord is not like an addiction because all worldly addictions have tolerance. Tolerance means they become less effective with time and usually damage our mental and physical health, our relationships, and finances. Our desire to be closer to the Lord produces an increase in love, peace, joy, and faith (the character of God), which continually increases until we step into heaven where they go on to infinity. Craving to be close to the Lord improves our mental and physical health, our relationships, and usually our finances. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21).
Today, seek to be closer to the Lord and reap the reward of a renewed mind to that of Jesus. Seek to experience the love, peace, joy, and faith of Jesus. The Lord’s desire to be closer to you is more than we could ever imagine. He wants you to have all the love, peace, and joy that he possesses. I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. (John 17:13) Jesus prayed that his disciples would have the joy that he has and he wants you to experience the same joy.
Prayer: Lord, fill my heart with an ever increasing desire to be closer to you, to know and understand your ways. Help me to know the truth that I cannot exist without you, and that I certainly cannot be light for Christ without the Holy Spirit. Mold me to the mind of Christ so I may understand your thoughts and your ways and so that my faith will approach perfection. In Jesus’ name, Amen.