HUNGER OF THE SOUL
FOR THE BREAD OF LIFE

“For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” Ps.107:9

     For many years I vainly attempted to deny the existence of GOD. It was a subject that even though it was kept in the back of my mind my conscience had no peace over it’s continued reminder. My emotions responded with the spirit of anger every time the call to “Jesus Christ and him crucified” was urged on my mind. And I had plenty of fodder in my arsenal of defense such as the charlatan, Oral Roberts, who declared how GOD would kill him unless he raised millions of dollars, portraying GOD as some common mobster and thug who collects protection money; or Jim Baker praising the LORD while committing adultery with some church worker; or the 1,260 year history of popes celebrating the death of heretics. And the list goes on and on.

     But in all this rubbish from men claiming GOD'S service, this does not prevent the Spirit of GOD from working on the hearts of men. Before giving my life and my destiny into the hands of the LORD Jesus Christ, I knew there was a GOD knocking on the door of my heart. For many years I responded to that knocking by saying: “This far, and no further!” So, in molding my life’s experience with a mixture of blessings and struggles, the LORD, over time, brought me to the place where I was hungry for Spiritual things. And once that hunger began, a profound tug of love urged upon my heart, saying, “Follow me.” Matt.9:9.

     Love led the way, and I was brought to the Cross of Calvary where "the Dearest and Best" died, simply for loving His fellow man in the most profound displays of moral virtue ever seen in human history. To come to the realization that man is at war with Love’s Perfection proves the incapability of man to live in harmony with moral virtue. This was the spirit that I lived by my whole life: a life of... “me, myself, and I." It is an easy life to serve self, to think only of filling my own insatiable appetite for the many things drawing my affections, mingled with little acts of charity here and there to placate my unsatisfied conscience. I was just like the Pharisees “who were covetous.” Lu.16:14.

     To discover that this sin against GOD’S Command, “Thou shalt not covet…” stands at the very core of man’s rejection of Jesus Christ is a hard lesson for us sinners to come to terms with. This is simply because this sin against the 10th Commandment is the primary incentive for living what is viewed as a full life within our culture. And this explains why the most simple reforms that could undo a host of injustices in society never receive ANY redress. The entire economic structure is based on this completely unstable form of government that foments competition, envy, jealousy and greed. Because of this insatiable appetite of "the carnal mind [which] is enmity against God," desperation for life’s basic necessities is increasingly being imposed throughout our society.

     In essence, this sin is causing man's self-destruction. And because men refuse to repent of this sin and reform our government to shut the door on its many temptations, our world is soon to face a degree of hardship and ruin never experienced in any generation since the great deluge of Noah's day. This is why Jesus said, "And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man." Lu.17:26.

     The LORD gave explicit details on this closing scene of our world’s history: “She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.” “For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” Na.2:10; Jer.30:5-7.

     Of this most common sin leading to one’s eternal death, David wrote, “For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.” Ps.10:3. GOD despises any deeds that give allowance for the abuse of the dignity of life created by His loving Hands. This is why Jesus said, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." Jn.10:10.

     “In the beginning” GOD created life in tranquility and perpetual happiness. And upon its completion “God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” Gen.1:31. But when the intrusion of sin entered to steal that tranquility away, our Creator immediately intervened with the Gospel of Salvation. And after 76 generations of Adam's family, "when the fulness of the time was come" our Creator stepped down from His Throne in Heaven and became the LORD Jesus Christ to show men how to live in peace. His exemplary life cannot be denied whether for justice, mercy, or love. In Him Alone is seen the fulfillment of all of life's hungers.

     And for he or she “who hath ears to hear,” the LORD urges our consideration: “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” For it is GOD alone “Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.” “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Isa.55:2; Ps.103:5; Phil.4:7; Col.3:24.

     So, “every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing” Jesus says: “Whosoever drinketh of this water [of the world] shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Ex.35:21; Jn.4:13,14; Isa.55:1; Rev.22:17; Lu.12:34.