There's a concern I've been carrying - especially for those of us who have been around church for a while, or maybe even grew up in it. Over time, it's easy for church to become about something other than the person of Jesus.
For some, Christianity is simply the belief system you were raised in. You grew up in a Christian home, learned the doctrines, attended Sunday services, and you continue to do so. For others, maybe you turned to the church because something was missing in your life. You were hoping to find peace, community, or help with your marriage.
And the church is a beautiful place for all of those things. You can build deep relationships, find encouragement, help and a sense of belonging. But the danger is, you can experience all of those things and completely miss what it's all about.
At its core, Christianity is about an intimate, transformative relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself is the great treasure, not His teachings, gifts or blessings. Sometimes I wonder, how many people truly get this? Not just know the right answer, but really experience it - so much so that they are utterly captivated by Jesus. So deeply satisfied in Him that everything else pales in comparison. There's an old hymn that says:
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of His glory and grace."
I love that. Because it's not about trying to love earthly things less. It's not a forced detachment. It's that something happens when you truly see Jesus - suddenly, the things that once obsessed you just don't have the same attraction. Not because you're suppressing desire, but because your heart has found something infinitely better to love and long for. That's what it means to treasure Jesus.
What Satisfies You?
Psalm 90:14 says,
"Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days."
Imagine that - not as some sort of poetic hyperbole, but as an actual reality. Waking up each day fully satisfied, not because circumstances are perfect, but because the God of the universe loves you. This is the core message of the gospel, the heartbeat of the Christian life.
Now contrast that with Psalm 17, where the psalmist describes those who don't know God:
"Deliver my soul ... from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants." (vv. 13-14)
That's the mark of the unbeliever - they are satisfied with this life. Their family, their wealth, their legacy. The psalmist then says:
"As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness."
This is so important. Sometimes in church, we almost idolize the idea of a nice Christian family. I have heard believers say things like, "my family is everything to me." And while a nice family is a beautiful blessing - something I'm personally very grateful for - it's not the ultimate goal, and it's not what we should be putting our hope in.
The true mark of a believer is this: "I will be satisfied with your likeness." Not just what God gives, but who He is. That's what my heart longs for.
Psalm 73:25-26 puts it even more plainly:
"Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
We don't long for heaven just because it means no more death or sickness or pain. Those are wonderful promises - but the real joy is that Jesus is there. Heaven is heaven because of Him. And while it's natural to miss those we've lost and to look forward to seeing them again, we must ask ourselves: Is that what I'm most excited about? Or is it being with Jesus?
Because knowing Him - loving Him, pursuing Him, treasuring Him - is what sets us apart. It's what gives us a joy that no one can take away. So ask yourself: is there anything other than Jesus that is captivating your heart? Turn your eyes upon Him today. Gaze on His beauty, and allow everything else to fade away.
