From his first steps away from Paradise and towards a cursed land, mankind has been on a frantic and long search. A search for something, anything, that will satisfy the deepest longings of the human soul. A search for contentment. And while this journey has lasted for over thousands of years, mankind has failed to attain this very thing. Nothing has been enough.
Nonetheless, mankind continues to exhaust every resource, sparing no cost to have the bottomless hole in his heart filled. He has sought true satisfaction through fame and power, building his palaces up to the Heavens and filling his halls with wealth beyond counting. He has bought and sold souls, ignoring the reality of these souls being made in the image of God. Yet, it has not been enough.
Mankind has sought this satisfaction through honour, fighting great battles and accomplishing mighty feats. Names of heroes have been written into history books, their praises sung for years to come. Their deeds have been carefully preserved lest anyone forgets their greatness. Mankind has built great monuments to honour such names, celebrating the mighty feats that man has accomplished. Yet, it has not been enough.
Mankind has turned to righteous living, believing that virtue and morals will be the key to such contentment. He tries to live a just life, yet is trampled by cheaters, liars and dishonest people. Regardless of how hard he tries, evil people seem to prosper as he struggles in poverty. Righteous living fails him, as he continuously receives the short end of the stick. It is not enough.
The search continues as mankind looks for contentment through knowledge, philosophy, and enlightenment. God is forsaken as knowledge is sought among atheists, agnostics and false teachers. Worldly wisdom is praised as man raises himself up higher and higher, reveling in the worship and exhalation. In his search, mankind has believed himself to be a god; invincible and untouchable. Yet, it is still not enough.
The search continues still as mankind turns to self to find contentment. Indulging every sick and filthy desire, he turns to total immorality and depravity. Mankind seeks fulfilment in wickedness, encouraging others to join in. Pornography, paedophilia, same-sex relationships, and so on, are celebrated. Man’s search for contentment drags him through the muck and filth of every evil desire his mind conjures up; no impulse is refused as self-control is altogether rejected, and every consequence of his actions are avoided at any cost. It is still not enough.
The search reaches a climax as the Son of God Himself steps onto Earth. Mankind looks at God and decides that his search has finally come to an end. The answer seems to be crystal clear: contentment is found in killing God. Foolishly, mankind eagerly fill his pockets with nails, rejoicing as he drives the long spikes through the hands and feet of Christ. Deeper and deeper he pounds the nails, as every stroke of the hammer brings a race of exhilaration to his heart. Mankind murders Jesus, believing he has finally found the contentment his heart has sought after for so, so long. Yet, this too is not enough.
And so, the search continues, as man wearily seeks contentment. This search becomes more personal when we realise that this is the journey each and every one of us has taken. It is not “them”. It is “me”. I have sought contentment from anything other than God. I have sought contentment from things, from fame, from money, from depravity, from immorality, from evil, from even rejoicing and partaking in the murder of Christ Himself. At every turn, however, I have received the same answer:
It is not enough.
To The Heart 