What Have You Always Wanted?

I saw a question posed the other day that asked ”What is it that you have always wanted?” This led me to do some thinking. As I mulled over my answer to that question, I realized that having all the money you could ever want was not the answer. Here in the United States, we are a prosperous nation, yet there is a great deal of personal dissatisfaction. Recently, the United States ranked as the 23rd happiest country in the world, but was 7th in Gross Domestic Product per capita. As I compiled my list, I realized anew that the most important things are not objects or experiences, but relationships.

My list includes a number of accomplishments that I have achieved. I have obtained a doctoral degree, I have run two marathons in under four hours, I have seen many of my favorite artists perform live, on stage, I have attended a New Year’s Day Bowl game, I’ve been to game seven of a Stanley Cup series (and saw my team win), I have two children and three grandchildren that I can be proud of, I have been blessed to be married to two fantastic women. I have published some books, I have obtained a CPA (and other professional certifications), I did own a convertible, an old beaten-up Karmann Ghia.

As impressive as that list may seem, there are a number of things that I have not accomplished. I would like to take a cruise to the Panama Canal. I’ve tried three times but have had my plans fall through every time. I scheduled a trip to Australia and COVID canceled that for me. There are other places in the world I haven’t seen although I would like to. I’ve owned a Thunderbird but not a Jaguar. I’ve never been up in a hot air balloon. I’ve not attended a World Series game or an NCAA Football National Championship game. I’ve always wanted to be in Boston on July 4 for the Boston Pops Concert.

I am fortunate that I have had many wonderful experiences and possessions during my years on earth, but the only thing that is really important is my salvation in Jesus Christ. As Paul wrote in II Corinthians 4:18 (NASB) “while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Everything on earth, the good, the bad, and the ugly will pass away. Any good we have seen on earth will be far surpassed by what is to come. Our sufferings on earth will be forgotten. We will dwell forever in a place of unimaginable beauty.

Someone might say that God’s word is not true. After all, Philippians 4:19 (NASB) says “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” At this point we need to make a distinction between needs, wants, and desires. A need is a requirement, something we must have if we are to survive and function in a reasonable manner. Things such as food, water, clothing, shelter, and safety. A basic meal is a need. A want tends to go beyond the physical basics and into our preferences. A well-prepared full-fledged meal is a want. We often ask our loved ones at what restaurant they would like to celebrate their birthday. “I want to have a good steak.” might be the reaction here. Finally, we get into desires. Our desires tend toward the emotional. ”I’d like to go to Bern’s Steakhouse. I am retiring and want to celebrate the occasion in style.”

There is nothing wrong with any of these. We are human and God placed in us a search for needs, wants, and desires. But we must not focus on the wants and desires to the point where we become indulgent. Many people today are “entitled,” believing themselves to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment. Such individuals feel deserving and think the world revolves around them. What we must do is to not lose sight of what is a need, a want, or a desire. When we get caught up in pursuing our wants and desires, we may think of them as needs and lose focus on what is actually important.

Before we go further, I can hear someone saying “but there are millions of people in the world who do not have even the most basic needs.” That is true and I don’t discount that fact. But we live in an imperfect world. When (and if) we die and go to Heaven, all of our needs will be met. Meanwhile those of us who have been abundantly blessed need to work to meet basic needs here on earth.

Someone else might say to me that John 15:7 says that Jesus promised us to ask whatever we wish and it will be done for us. He did say that, sort of. His preface to that statement was “If you remain or abide in Me…” To abide or remain in Jesus means that we are so attuned to Christ that we live in Him, fully attaching ourselves to Him. If we abide in Christ, we would not ask for something that is not in His will. We ask, knowing what would please Him and He will provide. James 4:3 reads “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request on your pleasures.” This is not easy. We are all human, we all sin, so we may ask for the wrong reasons and not receive what we sought.

One of my favorite Christian artists is Andrew Peterson. He often brings to his songs an account of his frailties. In the song “Faith to be Strong,” he writes:

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it’s hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong

I think Peterson might have been thinking about what Peter wrote in I Peter 1:4-9 God gives us “an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”

God has offered us something permanent and more wonderful than anything here on earth. Are you anticipating God welcoming you into His Heaven? What more could we want?