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Deepest Desires

What are your deepest desires? I mean, if you could identify half a dozen things that you would like to own, be, or do, what would your list include. If I am to be entirely honest with you, I have to confess that often I’d prefer not to reveal my deepest desires. Like many people, I can control my external life to a reasonable degree, but my deepest desires are very selfish.

What’s more, even those which are not selfish on the surface, are motivated by selfishness. For example, I would love to be a world-class violinist. It might interest you to know that I do not play the violin at all, only touched one a few times, in fact. But if I were starting over, it’s something, I’d take a shot at.

Now there’s nothing wrong with a deep desire to play a musical instrument well, but I know why I want to do this. Just this once, I’ll pull back the curtain on the window of my soul and give you a peak inside. First of all, I’ll tell you that it’s not because I have a deep love of music as an art and I find the solo violin repertoire inspiring. I love the sensuality of the violin. Its expressive potential from pathos to passion ignites something in me. But that’s not all. I also want the applause of people who are blown away with my virtuosic ability. I want to be admired, loved, yes, even adored.

Kind of ugly, isn’t it? I wasn’t going to tell anybody about this. I hope I can trust you to not spread the news. But enough about me. What about you? What are your deepest desires. One thing I know for sure is that they are all tainted by sin. We want things that will please us directly or indirectly. Even the most altruistic desires are motivated by the pleasure and satisfaction that succeeding gives.

Now, turn your attention to Jesus. He was different. His purpose on earth was “not to be served, but to serve.” On top of that the Bible tells us that he came “to give His life a ransom for many.” (See Matthew 20:28) Jesus’ deepest desire was to be what you need Him to be - your saviour, redeemer, mediator, advocate. That this was His deepest desire is proved by His act of selflessness on the cross. There He experienced death so that we could live. He endured pain so that we could enjoy the pleasures of God. He suffered humiliation at the hands of men so that we could be honoured as sons and daughters of God.

When it comes to our deepest desires, there’s a world of difference between ours, which are ultimately self-serving and selfish, and those of Jesus, who was entirely selfless, eager to serve, and willing to die.

Ron Hughes
© November 2008