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Scripture Reading: Eccl. 1:2-3; Eph. 2:12
In this chapter and the five subsequent chapters we will consider God’s salvation from various perspectives. I hope that the words in these chapters will help those who have not yet believed in the Lord Jesus to make the best choice, that is, to receive the dynamic salvation of the Lord and thus obtain satisfaction in their human life.
The Bible is not merely a classical writing; it is the clearest and most definite record of God’s salvation. The Bible says concerning salvation that the gospel of God “is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16). Our experience also testifies that the Lord’s salvation is marvelous and powerful. This salvation not only saves people out of death into life (John 5:24) but also becomes everything to man so that man may receive God’s many blessings (Gal. 3:14; Eph. 1:3). The Bible shows also that the Lord is able to save to the uttermost and guard from stumbling all those who come forward to Him by believing (Heb. 7:25; Jude 24). Those who have received the Lord can testify that He has delivered them out of a life of misery so that they may have peace and joy in His life (John 16:33; Rom. 14:17).
Everyone who has had some experience in the human life knows that this life is full of suffering and misery. However, the most unpleasant thing about the human life is that its end is vanity. No matter how great a person’s accomplishments are, what position he has attained to, and how much enjoyment he has had in the world, the end of his life is still vanity of vanities. Some people may seem to be satisfied after they have become successful or famous. However, as soon as their situation changes, they will sense the vanity of human life. Others seem to be interested in what they are doing as long as they are busy. But after what occupies them is completed, they quiet down and then sense vanity of vanities. Some others may find meaning in life when they are striving to accomplish something. However, once they have accomplished what they are striving for, they sense the vanity of human life. Ecclesiastes 1:2 and 14 say, “Vanity of vanities...I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and indeed, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.” Everyone who has not received the Lord has in the deepest part of his being a sense of emptiness and a longing, a desire, that cannot be explained. The human life without God is empty and void, and everything that is done to fill this void ends with a greater sense of emptiness. Thus, there is a deep longing within human beings. This longing is a longing for God, and in simple words, people feel empty because they do not have God within them. None of the things in the human life can satisfy man. They only leave him with a sense of emptiness, because none of these things are the meaning of human life. God is the true meaning of human life. Thus, when people do not have God, they sense that their life is meaningless and that it is vanity of vanities.
There is a saying in Chinese that means “everything has its unique function and purpose.” Whether an electric fan, a microphone, an organ, a piano, a lamp, or a chair — everything has its unique function and purpose. We need to ask what the function and purpose of man is and why human beings exist in the universe. We know that people are on the earth not merely to exist and be satisfied by wearing nice clothes and eating good food. We have an inward realization and an inexplicable feeling that the human life should have a higher meaning than this. However, we may not know what this higher meaning is. Many philosophers have spent their entire lives studying the meaning of human life. Although they have written many books trying to explain the meaning of human life, our experience tells us that the answers they have given do not satisfy the longing within man.
We can find the answer to the meaning of human life when we come to the Bible. The Bible tells us that human beings were created for God. The purpose and meaning of our human life is to be a vessel to contain God and to express God (Gen. 1:26-27; Rom. 9:21, 23; 2 Cor. 4:7). Thus, human beings are on the earth to glorify God so that He may be satisfied. In the past some of us had a sense of emptiness within because we did not know the purpose of our human life. God created us to be vessels filled with Him so that we may glorify Him. If we do not see this purpose, we are like an object that has lost its intended function and usefulness.
The unique purpose of an electric lamp is to manifest the function of electricity by allowing electricity to shine as light through it. The shining of light through a lamp is the glorification, the expression, of electricity. Hence, the purpose of a lamp is to be a vessel to contain and be filled with electricity so that electricity can be expressed and manifested through it. If we try to use a lamp for any other purpose, that lamp will be worthless. If such a lamp could speak, it might tell us that it feels empty and that its existence is meaningless. This is because the lamp is unable to fulfill the purpose of its existence and is in an unsatisfactory condition. However, if we put the lamp in its proper place so that electricity can flow into and shine out of it, the lamp will function properly. If it could speak, it might immediately say, “This is where I should be. Here electricity can flow through me and be expressed through me. This is the purpose for which I was made. This is where I find genuine satisfaction.”
As human beings, we are similar to lamps in the sense that we exist for the expression and manifestation of God. If we allow God to flow through us and express Himself through us, we will have satisfaction, joy, and peace, and we will sense that our human life is full of meaning. Apart from this we can have no rest, satisfaction, or meaning in our human life. When we consider the totality of the human situation today, we will see that the living of many individuals is not proper, that many families are unhappy and damaged by divorce and separation, and that society as a whole is not in harmony. All these problems can be traced back to one origin — God is outside of man. A man’s living is not proper because he does not have God within him, families are damaged and unhappy because they do not have God in them, and society is disorderly and in disharmony because it does not have God within it. All the problems in life and all the difficulties in human society are due to the absence of God. When a person has God, he has the solution to all the problems in life and the way to overcome all difficulties.
The more we consider our situation, the more we may sense an inner emptiness, and the more we observe others, the more we will realize that human beings are always lacking something and are never fully satisfied with anything. Sociologists have spent much time in trying to find the solution to the lack of satisfaction in the human life, yet all their labor has been in vain. Some have suggested that the emptiness within man can be filled with education, and others have said that man’s need can be met by raising his standard of living. However, history and our experience prove that the emptiness within man and the lack in human society cannot be solved by education or by the raising of living standards. Education trains a person’s mind, and a higher standard of living provides enjoyment for the human body; however, neither of these take care of the need hidden deep within man. There is a need within man that is deeper than the need of his body and deeper than the need of knowledge in his mind.
It is true that a person in poverty who is unable to sustain his life will know the need for material supply. However, when he does not need to worry about his basic necessities, such as food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, he will realize that material things cannot satisfy him. He may feel that he should seek satisfaction in the psychological and intellectual realm by advancing his education. However, many rich people have obtained as much enjoyment as is possible in the psychological and intellectual realm. Some have received a high level of education, and others have enjoyed many kinds of entertainment, yet in the midst of all this enjoyment, many find that they still have a need deep within them. This need cannot be satisfied by material things or by psychological enjoyment from knowledge, entertainment, and music. Many people have exhausted their energy in pursuing physical and psychological things with the hope that they would obtain satisfaction and fill the emptiness within them, but all their efforts have been to no avail.
The need deep within man is the need for God Himself. Man not only has a body with its physical senses and a soul composed of the mind, emotion, and will; he also has a human spirit, an organ deep within him (1 Thes. 5:23). Man is the most highly endowed of all creatures because there is a spirit within man (Job 32:8; Zech. 12:1).
According to the Bible, man has not only a body outwardly and a soul inwardly but also a human spirit deep within him. The human spirit is an organ for man to contact, receive, and have fellowship with God. God is Spirit (John 4:24). Thus, man, who was created in God’s image and according to His likeness (Gen. 1:26), has a spirit. God created man with a spirit so that He can have a relationship with man. God created a spirit in man so that man can contact God. Man’s spirit has the ability to contact God.
In order for a light bulb to receive, absorb, and shine out electricity as light, it needs a filament. The spirit within man can be compared to the filament in a light bulb. Man’s spirit is for contacting and receiving God so that man can manifest and express God. If the filament in a light bulb is broken, it will not give out light even if the glass of the bulb is fully transparent. In the same way, a person may enjoy material things, a high education, and all kinds of psychological entertainment. But if he is unable to contact God with his human spirit and allow God to shine through him, even if he cultivates his moral character and perfects his behavior, he will not be able to express God and thereby fulfill the purpose of his human life.
A light bulb that does not have electricity passing through it loses its intended function and the purpose of its existence. Similarly, if we do not have God in our spirit, we will have the sense that our human life is meaningless. If we do not have God as our Lord in the depths of our being, our human life will have no center and will be unable to reach its highest purpose. We will simply drift on the sea of human life, going east when the current goes east and going west when the wind blows west. When trials come, we will have no way to cope with them. When temptations arise, we will be unable to overcome them. When we encounter darkness and corruption, we will have no power to stand or escape defilement. This is because we do not have God within us as our center.
When we do not have God as our center, our human life is meaningless, without aim or direction. As a result, we have no satisfaction within or destination without. We have only the sense that we are persons who are wandering aimlessly without meaning or purpose. Consequently, when we calm ourselves down, especially in the dead of night, and consider our life and our future, we have the sense that everything is meaningless. Then we begin to ask ourselves, “Why do I exist, and what is the purpose of my being where I am? Where will I be tomorrow? What will my end be?” We fall into this situation because we do not have God, and we have no answer to these questions because He is not our center. No one can answer these questions for us. However, once we receive God into us, we will receive a clear answer to all these questions.
Christians have the motivating power and willingness to preach the Lord Jesus as the gospel to others because they have Him as the center of their being. He not only fills the void, the emptiness, within them but also meets all their inward needs. Many people in the world recognize that Christians have a motivating power within them. However, this power is not of the Christians themselves. Rather, this power is God Himself becoming the motivating power within them. An electric fan does not spin continuously by itself. It spins because electricity flows into it to be its power. Christians have the motivating power to preach, testify, and proclaim the Lord Jesus as the gospel to their relatives, friends, and everyone not because they have any power in themselves but because the Lord Jesus in them has become their motivating power. The motivating power of the gospel does not come from man, nor does it depend on man, but it comes from Christ motivating His believers within.
For this reason we Christians often feel that there is something “burning” within us to the extent that we cannot help but preach the Lord Jesus to others. There is a fire burning within us, stirring up our burden for the gospel (cf. Luke 12:49; 2 Tim. 1:6-7). It is not that we are enthusiastic; rather, the Lord is touching us and motivating us. He desires that we would preach the gospel to all our relatives and friends, saying to them, “Your life is like everyone else’s life. Your real need is the Lord of the universe. Without the Lord, your life is meaningless and aimless. When you receive the Lord, you will have joy and satisfaction.”
The Bible tells us the way to receive God and to gain Him. Acts 17:27 says that God is not far from each one of us, and Romans 10:8 says that the word of the faith is in our mouth and in our heart. Although man fell and was far away from God, God became a man to seek and to save those who are lost (Luke 19:10). He died for us on the cross and was resurrected from the dead to become the life-giving Spirit (Acts 2:23; Phil. 2:8; 1 Cor. 15:45; 2 Cor. 3:17a). Then He ascended to the heavens and poured Himself out as the Spirit so that He can reach everyone who believes in Him (Acts 2:17, 21).
Today it does not matter what time it is or where we are, nor does it matter who we are; as long as we are willing to open our heart and call upon the name of the Lord Jesus, we will receive God as our Savior and our life, and immediately there will be a change in our heart (v. 21; Ezek. 36:26-27). Initially, we might have been full of darkness, but after receiving the Lord, we will be light in Him (Eph. 5:8). We might have been weak, wavering, and in turmoil within, but after receiving the Lord, we will be full of peace and strength and will be unwavering and secure (Col. 3:15). Once we receive the Lord Jesus, we will have a center and a power that calms us. As a result, we will have a joyful human life, a living filled with light, and a proper conduct. This is the positive result of the Lord Jesus entering into us to rearrange our human life and satisfy our inward need.
This is not an empty theory or a mere saying but a spiritual reality and a fact in the universe. Today the Lord is the Spirit who can enter into us so that we may be satisfied in spirit and turn from darkness to light. As long as the Lord enters into him, even a vile and corrupt person can become a good and loving person.
In the past I had a friend who studied in Japan, and after he returned to China, he held a high position in the political circle. He eventually became the mayor of Tientsin, a special municipality. However, when I met him some time later, he was lying on a hospital bed. As soon as he saw me, he cried and said to me, “I have tasted many kinds of enjoyment, received a high education, and held a high position. Regarding material possessions, I am rich. Concerning my family, my wife and children are all by my side, and I can say that I have a happy family. However, as I lie on this hospital bed, I am sorrowful within, and I do not know why I am sorrowful. I feel that I lack something and that I desire something more, yet I do not know what I lack or how to obtain it. Can you please help me to solve this problem?”
After he spoke, I did not answer immediately. Rather, I calmed down and then spoke to him softly. I said to him, “This is a very simple matter. The real meaning of human life is God Himself. In a sense, your experience is proper and complete. You have had many kinds of enjoyment, received a high education, and held a high position. You are also rich in material possessions and have a happy family. Some may say that you have everything. However, you still have a need deep within you. This need is God Himself. You are a person with a large intellectual capacity. Please consider, why are you here? What is the meaning of your existence? Actually, your life is for God, and God is the meaning of your life. Without God, your life is meaningless. What you are lacking inside is God Himself.”
As soon as he heard these words, his eyes lit up, and he asked, “How can I obtain God?” I replied, “Today God is the Spirit who has been poured out on all flesh. He is waiting to enter into those who believe in and receive Him. If you open your heart and pray a simple and sincere prayer to receive Him as your Savior, He will immediately come into you.”
At first, he was a little doubtful and asked if it was really that simple to receive God. I responded, “Yes, it is that simple. Do not be surprised. The things that people need the most can often be obtained in the simplest ways. Consider the sunlight and the air. These two are great needs to man, yet it is very simple for man to obtain the sunlight and breathe in the air. God is man’s greatest need, and it is likewise very simple for man to receive Him. I encourage you to try it right now.” He immediately agreed and prayed on the bed to receive the Lord. After praying, he said to me, “I used to oppose Christianity. I never allowed my wife to join any Christian meetings or my children to receive education in Christian schools. However, I want you to know that now from this day forward, I want my children and my wife to attend the meetings.” I asked why he wanted this, and he said, “After I prayed, there seemed to be a ray of light shining within me.” Then I said to him, “This is a good beginning, and I hope that you can pray to the Lord in this way every day.”
This was the only occasion on which I saw him after he was hospitalized. Later, I heard that he passed away not long after my visit. However, I received a report that just before he passed away, his last words to his wife and children were, “I have believed in Jesus, and I am genuinely happy. I hope that you can all attend the church meetings to hear the gospel and receive Jesus as your Savior.” Although this person was highly educated, had held a high position, and had tasted many kinds of human enjoyment, he left with such last words. This is because in him the deepest and ultimate need of human life, which nothing except God can satisfy, had been met.
Man has a need for physical and psychological enjoyment and for spiritual satisfaction as well. It is true that there are many kinds of material supply on earth to meet man’s need for his existence, and it is true that without these supplies the human life cannot be sustained. However, we need to recognize that in our deepest part there is another need that far surpasses our material needs.
After World War I, many people had blind faith in the advancement of the material world. As a result, many German young people studied science in order to pursue material enjoyment. From that time the material civilization made great progress, yet this progress led to World War II. During and after the Second World War, the Germans suffered the most because they had paid the most attention to advancing the material, physical things and to scientific progress. After the First World War and prior to the Second World War, many young people went to Germany for advanced studies. At that time, if anyone mentioned anything about belief in God, people would scorn him and say, “This person is outdated and is not living in the present age.” However, those who visited Germany after World War II could testify that on every Lord’s Day, almost every Christian meeting place was full of people. Many people were considering and asking questions about God. Many people realized that improvements in the material realm could not solve the problems of human life. Thus, they were seeking the Lord inwardly. This proves that the spiritual need deep within man’s heart surpasses the material needs of man’s physical body.
If man takes care of only his material needs and the improvement of his outward environment without maintaining an inward stability and without having a center deep in his heart, he will often make the mistake of taking the improvement of his outward environment and the meeting of his material needs as ends in themselves. Therefore, man needs an inner center, a stabilizing power within him, so that he can properly use the material things and properly enjoy the psychological things. This shows that there is a need deep within man and that this need is greater than the outward material needs.
I once met a friend in Tsingtao who had studied medicine and had become a doctor. When he saw me, the first thing he said to me was, “I do not feel that I have peace and satisfaction within.” I asked him, “Why don’t you have peace and satisfaction within? You are a person in the upper class. You have received a high level of education, and you have a first-class career. Is it that you do not have a happy family? Are you in want financially?” He replied, “I do not have any problems with my outward circumstances; rather, my problem is in my inward frame of mind. I always feel that I lack something within, and I do not know what it is.”
I smiled and said to him, “What you lack is God. You lack the Lord of the universe, and you feel empty because you do not have Him within you. I do not need to give you many teachings. Please consider, when you are thirsty, you can quench your thirst only by drinking some water, which is easy to obtain. This same principle can be applied to your present inward lack. You have a need within that can be satisfied only by God, and it is easy to receive Him into you. God is Spirit, and He is omnipresent; He is everywhere at the same time. You only need to open your heart, call upon the name of Jesus, and believe in Him by receiving Him as your Savior. If you do this, you will spontaneously have a sense within that God has flowed into you. This is similar to radio waves being transmitted into a radio. You can try this right now.” He agreed, and he prayed with me.
After praying, he said that he had tasted something. Then I said to him, “When you go home, you should pray again. You only need to come before the Lord sincerely and speak to Him from the depths of your being, from the feeling in your heart. If you have the sense that you have wronged others, you should confess these sins before God and receive the Lord’s cleansing. When you confess and receive His cleansing in this way, He will forgive your sins and enter into you to satisfy the needs in your human life.” This is the simplest way for us to gain God.
God is our spiritual sunlight, food, and drink. When we do not have Him, we have the inner sense of darkness, hunger, thirst, emptiness, and dissatisfaction. God is also life to us; without Him we are dead and depressed. We are neither lively nor fresh and are without vitality.
In summary, without God, man is in darkness and is hungry, thirsty, and disappointed. Without God, man’s life will not be proper, families will neither be happy nor on the right track, and society will become chaotic and disorderly. However, those who have God will be in the light and will be proper persons; families that have God will be happy, satisfied, and on the right track; and a society that has God will be peaceful, harmonious, and glorious. Therefore, every person, every family, and every society needs God. Without Jesus, who is God, everything is a chasing after wind. With Jesus, a vain human life will become meaningful, a family will become sweet and perfect, and society will be full of harmony.
Hymns, #1024 says, “You need Jesus! You need Jesus! / Men and women all need Him! / To escape from vanity, / To obtain reality, / To make life significant, / Yes, you need Jesus!” If we have Jesus, our human life will not be empty but full of satisfaction because He is what we need, and He is the One in whom we can trust. With Him we have everything. If we receive Him, our life of vanity will turn into a song.
