From Selection to Fulfillment

One of my favorite dates with my hubby is to visit random antique stores or unique small shops.  We love to look at all the special (and not so special to us) trinkets, memorabilia, and all of the stuff in each space.  Often we walk through many shops and find things we like, but just don’t get that “I got to have that!” experience.  Today was one of those times, we walked around this very large antique store that had hundreds of stalls with so many items, but our cart was empty and we didn’t find anything we just had to have.

I can say, I really love it when we find that special-something that we just can’t leave without and end up taking it home with us. I love when we bring it home and find that special place that was meant just for it.

I was drawing this picture and couldn’t help but think about the items on the shelves.  All of the items are special.  Some are from loved ones who passed on, some were found in antique shops, some were gifts and some represent special times with loved ones.  As I was trying to think about what I should draw to make it so there weren’t empty spaces on the shelves, I found that I couldn’t come up with what to add.  Eventually, I decided I would leave them as empty spaces on the shelves.

It made me start thinking about how we (me included) try to fill empty spaces in our lives with the wrong items. We fill our time, our relationships, our hearts, and our lives with things, but we have to ask ourselves, are these the things we should be filling these areas with?  Are we filling these areas up so much that there isn’t room for the best, the “right” things?

Part of the message the Pastor Terry Roberts shared at church this morning was about Revelation 3:20, where it says Jesus is knocking and wants to come in.  I used to think this verse was about Jesus knocking at the heart of unsaved people to open up and respond to His saving grace. While that is so important and is the first step to inviting Jesus to be your Savior and Lord, this verse is an invitation for saved individuals to allow God to be in every part of our lives and hearts.  Pastor Terry challenged us to look introspectively in our own lives and hearts and think about which doors are closed; to think about where God is knocking and where we have a not given every part of us to Him.  He used the analogy of our houses and which rooms the doors are closed and we aren’t letting the Lord in.

Somehow, we (me included) think we have control and our selections, the way we choose to fill (or not fill) our lives is going to be fulfilling.  It may even “feel” fulfilled temporarily.  Eventually, the feeling ends and we find ourselves right back where we started.

I guess what I am hearing from God and His word is, it is better to wait for God to direct my heart, to fill my empty spaces.  His selections, his guidance, is the only true fulfillment, the only true joy-filled completeness that isn’t temporary.

So empty shelves, open spaces, (in other words open hearts) will leave room to let God fill us. Move everything else out of the way, open the “door” to our hearts and every space in our lives to allow God into every thought, every action, and he will come in. He will stay with us and “dine with us”.  He desires our intimacy with Him.

Be Christ-selective in what we fill our empty spaces with and we will surely find His joy-filled and ultimate fulfillment as the Holy Spirit fills us and guides us.

The quiet, open space, is where God will speak.  It is there where we have given the area over to him, that we can expect Him to come in, to fill us and stay.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20 (ESV)