We were all built with a God-sized hole in our hearts, and we can choose to fill it with things that satisfy or leave us empty, needing more, yet it will never be enough. I think people often confuse lust for love, chemistry for destiny, and personality for character. Those things can cause some serious blind spots and heart issues. Although charm can make you weak in the knees, it can be a bit dangerous. The true danger is what comes to your heart as a result of playing with fire. It’s only in your Creator that the void in your life will be filled.

All the pulls on your heart: the longing and wondering.. you shouldn’t have to wonder or long for love. You are loved! When we give our heart to real love we experience freedom and that depth of love feels like the biggest romance in all creation between you and God. Isn’t that what we are all looking for, that fire, real fire? Yet we often choose distractions from our real love affair with life. When we are not in sync with God we settle, we look for immediate gratification, but we have a choice, daily as a matter of fact. There’s One that quenches the soul when we seek Him with our whole heart.

I was reminded of this while camping this weekend, drinking lukewarm coffee that I was trying to make iced. It was gross! I either wanted it piping hot or ice-cold; it was a waste. Like this counterfeit drink was going to satisfy my taste. It didn’t. I couldn’t help but think of the verse in Revelation 3:15, being spit out of God’s mouth for being a lukewarm Christian. Even as ‘Christians’ we can settle for a counterfeit relationship with God, looking elsewhere and choosing sin… knowing full well it would leave us more empty. Sin is fun for the moment, yet stings and is filled with consequences. Even in my life, when I’ve wanted to walk away I still see His hand protecting me, closing doors and inviting me to sit at His table and partake of substance. He leaves us with the choice. Just like in relationships, you don’t give them a map, you let them choose and sit in their choice because you want to see their heart, to know it’s fully yours.

That sounds a bit… what’s the word?? You know, when you visit some churches and it feels like they think they are extra spiritual? Like, “You can’t wear that, OMG!” Condemning may be the word?  But think about it, do you want someone to sort of like you? When it’s convenient or only to uplift their day? No, you want them in the way they only want you, passionately, devoted, with real depth and security. So why should your relationship with God be anything less? You get what you put in, in all things. And in the small details, you know, the ones you think no one will notice? They matter, they are heart issues. It’s your heart, not your belief in Him that God wants. Like the song Make It Real by Santana, he sings (“Make it real, or let’s forget about it!”) No games, no half measures. The rest is just torture, isn’t it? Fake love, counterfeit, empty love with no direction, no solid foundation, the kind that leaves you desperately still seeking, wondering, floundering.. that’s torture. Jesus says, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

In Romans one of my favorite books in the Bible. In chapter 6, it talks about being free, that sin no longer has a grip on your life. Meaning it’s easier to walk in freedom and away from things that once mastered you, things that you were once enslaved to and couldn’t stop even when you wanted to.

So even when you’re stuck in the middle between flirting with sin and loving God, what does that give you? A distracted heart, left to man’s devices and that in itself affects your entire path, purpose, vision, growth, leaving you walking around aimlessly. Finding depth in the journey of choice. Luke 9:23: “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” (ESV) It’s in the seeking and finding, the intent.