Man’s Desire

Note this phase from “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”:  O come, Desire of nations...

Or this phrase from “Angels, from the Realms of Glory“:  seek the great Desire of nations

And this phrase from “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”:  long desired, behold Him come

What is the “desire” longed for by men and sought by peoples everywhere?

No, it is not health, wealth, weal (happy) or greatness – O men will take these and not find their soul satisfied – not find their desires met.  So, what are those innate desires common to all men?

All men everywhere clamor for peace, love, hope, joy and value.  These are the desires all men universally want and pursue. 

Think about it!  Who doesn’t want peace in their home or workplace or group?  Who doesn’t desire love – what is the theme of countless secular songs?  And what is pursued with great expense and effort but joy?  For joy: buy a boat, hold season tickets, make trips to the Caribbean, buy a new truck then another, hunt near and far, have weekends at the beach and make for evenings at a bar/club with friends.  It is chasing hard after joy/pleasure.

And who is not for hope?  Hope drives insurances, locks and investments.  

Who does not want to be valued, acknowledged, praised or honored?  

Peoples the world over and through all of time desire these things.  These are the desire of nations – the things long desired!

In “Hark” the phrase “long desired” is followed by “behold Him come.” Yes, He came!  

The desire of nations came and is found and offered in – JESUS! 

So, Jesus shows up at your door and announces, “I am the government and I am here to help!” The truth is that we all fear such an offer from both our human government AND from Jesus who is the King of kings and Lord of lords (Unto you a child is born and a Son is given and the government will be on His shoulder, Isaiah 9:6).  Why do we fear an offer from either government? Because there is always a catch – strings attached!

With the human government there are guidelines, limits and expectations.  Government help almost always turns into pain and bondage.  Best to reject and flee that government’s help.

Then there is the Jesus’ government – strings attached?  Yes, Jesus will help in response to asking with confession, repentance, submission, commitment and thankfulness. Jesus’ knock on the heart door offering hope, love, joy, peace and value is rejected with: “No thanks. I like my autonomy, my freedom and my rights.  I like being the boss.  I like the pleasures of this world.  I’ll do it my way, thank you.”  

Man is bent to reject because of who he is naturally – and this is true of all men.  All men are selfish, prideful and rebellious.  Men are all about self, see themselves as cool, smart and worthy and don’t like rules and rulers.  It is who men are – who we all are naturally. 

Ephesians 5:21 instructs those who are His to “submit to one another” which is really an important truth for all mankind to grasp. Every parent has a battle with this trait in every child.  If the child doesn’t learn to submit, they will have a hard life and a horrible eternity!

Jesus calls all people to submit and obey: “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me,” Mark 8:34.  An essential part of coming to true salvation is to submit to God as Creator and Controller (Lord).

Men all attempt to find love, peace, hope, joy and worth in things other than Christ and find that if something is close to one of the desires, they find that it is either an allusion or fleeting.  Only in Christ are the desires of every longing heart fulfilled both now and forever.

Jesus is the prince of peace, the love of all loves, the door to an eternal unbelievable hope, a joy unspeakable and full and One took flesh and died which gives man immense worth.  

Submitting to Jesus fulfills the heart’s desires. Submit to Jesus today!