Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

We have physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual needs. Of course, we need to find the legitimate and appropriate ways to meet those needs. But that is not as simple as we imagine. In fact, we often get our satisfiers crossed and mis-identify our needs. That is why, when we are emotionally stressed or feel lonely, we use food to bring physical comfort and relief. We are not really “hungry”, but since we can’t get emotional relief, we settle for physical satisfaction.

Deep within us we want to feel that our life matters, that we have a reason for being, that there is a purpose for us in life. Some have called the search for significance. Getting our wires crossed here, we seek significance in our career, our status, our reputation, our acclaim, our recognition. We think that by feeling important or successful, we will satisfy our need for meaning. But as the author of Ecclesiastes reminds us, death brings our hard work, our wealth, our fame, our position, and our influence to an end. From this perspective, he declares, “All is meaningless.” He spends a lengthy part of his book laying out the evidence that from this worldly, human perspective this is the logical conclusion.

He ends his book by pointing his readers upward toward an eternal perspective. We only find our ultimate significance in God through His Word because only the One who created us can tell us why we are here and how we can gain the significance we crave.

Deep within us we long to sense that we are loved unconditionally, that we matter to others, that we will be missed when we are gone, and that we have a future where we can always be with the people we love in a place of eternal bliss. Some call this the search for security. In this world we seldom find this kind of love or security. Parents may reject their children, children may neglect their parents, spouses may declare that the unending love they proclaimed for you has ended, lifelong friendships may suddenly come to an end over a misunderstanding. Putting our complete trust in any earthly relationship is precarious.

God says to his people, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” Only God’s love is clear, unconditional, complete and consistent. Only in him will we ever find the place of ultimate security.

Psalm 91:1-2 NIV
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

Deuteronomy 33:27 NIV
The eternal God is your refuge,
and underneath are the everlasting arms.