He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV

Before I came to personally know Jesus as my Lord, I had of course heard of him. I would have even called myself a Christian, because I “went to church.” Once I was “confirmed” however, I never returned to church except for an occasional holiday program, so as to make my parents happy.

At the age of 19 I left home to begin my life in “the world”, never once giving thought to living a Christian life. Drinking, drugs, sexual escapades, partying and having a good old time.

I was finally free to do what I wanted!

At the age of 24 “maturity” began to set in a bit. I wanted to settle down. Having a family seemed to be the right thing to do. So, my new world began. Marriage, the house, the child, the business, the vacation home, the nice car and some money in the bank – who could ask for more, right?

But why was I so miserable?

I had a longing in my heart for something more, something deeper inside – I would wonder, “isn’t there more to life than this?” Even though I had everything this world could offer.

Soon came heartache, sorrow, bitterness, anger, loneliness, cheating and divorce. Why had my so-called perfect world turned upside down?

If I had been reading God’s Word I would have learned from 1 John 1:15-17:

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

I had this longing for something different in my heart. One desperate night I cried out to God, “if you are real, I need you! Help me God!”  And he did – immediately!  My life has never been the same since. 

As I now know, God had planted eternity in my heart – and he showed me he was definitely real!

Jesus said in Matthew 10:38

Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

I had everything anyone could want in this world, but I was so unhappy.  But when I was willing to let go of my way and turn my life over to Jesus as my Lord and Savior –  oh, the peace, the joy and the contentment I experienced as he filled me with his Holy Spirit! A true miracle.

God’s will is that you yield your heart to his will – but he will never make you.

Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29-30

I strive to trust in God with all my heart, yielding to his will rather than my own.  Have I been perfect?  Far from it.  But praise God that his mercies are new every morning!  Has my life been free of troubles?  Absolutely not, but when I do have troubles or trials, I have the Spirit of Jesus, the comforter, the advocate, who is always there to help me and guide me, according to his will, in my time of need. 

Jesus teaches us in John 16:33:

 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

In every situation of my life I strive to fix my eyes on Jesus, on his Word, and on eternity in his kingdom, rather than focus on the world and its ways.

Each day I remember that my God came from eternity to take on human flesh and die a dreadful death on the cross so I could have life. Life with him – now and for all eternity.

God has the perfect plan for your life and he truly wants to bless you – he loves you. I can assure you, knowing Jesus and living according to his Word offers so much more than anything in this world.

Follow that longing, for God has planted eternity in your heart.

From eternity to eternity I am God. Isaiah 43:13