There’s a word in the German language, sehnsucht, that C.S. Lewis popularized in his book Surprised by Joy. Sehnsucht refers to the yearning and longing our human hearts feel for more, for an unnamed place or the fulfillment of desires that cannot be quenched in this world alone. This Romantic concept was key to Lewis’s eventual belief in Christianity. He often encountered everyday things that evoked this pang of longing, like the smell of a bonfire or the sound of ocean waves, and filled him with an insatiable desire for more that he couldn’t quite explain. It was really the truth behind Ecclesiastes 3:11 that seized him: God has put eternity in our hearts.
Think about that for a moment. Even taking into account what we do know, eternity is a bit of a mystery, isn’t it? From the Old Testament to Revelation, Scripture gives us clues, like tracks in the woods, but not enough to form a complete understanding.
In Scripture, the word eternity refers to the mind-bending truth that God has no beginning and no end, but it can also be used as shorthand for our future life with God—in heaven or in the coming kingdom. We will have the life of God, eternal by its very nature.
But in the same breath, the author also says that “no one can discover the work God has done from beginning to end” (v.11). This statement has always been a little confusing for me. If God put eternity in our hearts, why does He place limitations on our discovery? I want my longing to generate endless insight about what God is up to. Instead, I’m told “no one can discover” what God has done, at least not the full scope of it. There is knowledge He has reserved for His own purposes, which “no eye has seen” and “no human heart has conceived” (1Corinthians 2:9). And so our response to Him must be one of faith.
Although there isn’t anything particularly special about bonfire smoke or sea salt, there are things in this life that catch our attention and draw us toward heaven. For you, it may be the feel of your baby’s hair. For another, maybe the taste of raspberry jam. Whatever it is, Scripture tells us that God has built eternity into the fabric of our hearts and that all creation declares His glory.
But it is still a mystery. God gives us some knowledge, but not enough to discover His full and perfect plan. So, as Christians, we acknowledge that, even if we don’t fully understand what eternity will be like or how time works in the kingdom of God, by faith we believe that God places this longing in us so that we seek and find Him. We pay attention to this “inner knowing” and choose to trust what God has revealed. What we see is not all there is. One day, the veil will be pulled back. Eternity is coming.
Until then, we have crackling bonfires and ocean waves to remind us.
33I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
What encouraging words! I hold on to this promise especially during this time! It feels like Satan and the sins of this world are so powerful BUT that’s his trick isn’t it to make us forget that God has overcome the world!
I am very present in this metronome way or thinking. My older son is getting married Saturday. This covid-19 wedding has seen many changes not the least from a big Florida wedding to a small family only wedding / reception in my back yard. I find myself minute by minute flip flopping from praise that my son has found a wonderful woman to marry to sadness of a little bit of loss. A time to love. A time to let go.
This is a reminder to live in whatever season God has appointed to us with confidence & purpose. If God purposes this season, He can certainly be trusted in it.
I’ve been reading in a group C.S Lewis screw tape letters. it speaks of the difference between the devil and God. The thing about God is He loves us so much he allows us free choice. God will not reveal his ENTIRE glory and power to us because that is part of his plan for us to willingly come to him and seek him. the desire that isn’t fully quenched is because God has placed just enough glimpse into His wonder and eternity in our hearts to keep us seeking him and just enough mystery and unknown to make it a choice that he isn’t coaxing us and pushing us to him but he is letting us choose to love him and seek him. “by faith we believe that God places this longing in us so that we seek and find Him. We pay attention to this “inner knowing” and choose to trust what God has revealed. What we see is not all there is. One day, the veil will be pulled back. Eternity is coming.”
I just find that to sweet and makes my heart full toward the Lord knowing that he is giving me a choice but also glimpses into his eternity.
I spent time reflecting this morning on how I long for eternity in my daily life. For me, time spent with loved ones and warm fires, wind from boat. Moments in time where I forget about my own thoughts and worries and remember there is more. What catches your attention and draws you to heaven? “God places this longing in ya so that we seek and find Him”.
I also loved the verse Ecc 3:14b “God works so that people will be in awe of Him”.
My now is better than my past and my future is better than my now. All is wrapped up in time.
Realizing and knowing there is more to come and more to life than now.
I’ve read this passage in Ecclesiastes several times, but what jumped out at me this morning was “a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.” I’ve never fathomed a time not to embrace, and here we are. I’m our church’s children’s director and have been struggling with re-entry plans for our children and families. Such a dichotomy of emotions, wanting to create a safe and healthy environment, but it It breaks my heart to have to think of ways to temporarily distance from the children and families I typically greet with hugs each week. I needed to soak in the last verse today:
15Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account.
I love the verse about how God has prepared doe,thing greater for those who love Him. We long for it deep in our hearts, the closeness with God. And He has a plan, He made us, planned good works beforehand, and gives us a future and a hope, those who know Christ have been made righteous in Him! Praise the Lord, Jesus paid the price and rose to life, now we are His and we walk through life in Him!
There is a small town my family vacations to. We get sticky buns at the local bakery, early in the morning. We eat at the restaurant across from the local inn. We stay up on a hill, overlooking the downtown, with the ocean and the docks and we fill up the church on the Sunday we are there. When you walk through life with Christ, everything becomes more contentment filled. I love this small town, and I enjoy its beauties in the light of God’s handiwork, and His work in me, I enjoy it with Him and I look forward to something more beautiful. I can rest in each season and time, knwoing that Jesus walks them with me and He has overcome. The Spirit guides me and teaches me beautiful things. My Father holds me, and will never let me go.
As you go through your day, think of a verse that God uses to speak to you heart, and remember it, as you encounter each time and beautiful thing, and each speed bump along the way. You are not alone.