It is a reality that we were made for GOD. YAHWEH created us to fill us with His love, so inherently we have an infinite capacity for Him, because He is an infinite being. What happens when we are not in relationship with Him and are incapable of receiving all the love He has for us? We end up with a hunger which seems insatiable. This displaced hunger is the root of all addiction and the strength of the bondage to sin. Men try in futility to satisfy their soul with things created instead of the Creator. Because creation is from GOD it brings some satisfaction, however it is not fulfilling because only the Creator can fulfill the soul. The devil exploits the condition of man’s disconnect from GOD to bind him to sin. The devil deceives man into thinking that sin can satisfy him, but it only leads to bondage. Men become slaves to sin because in order to maintain the fleeting satisfaction, they must continually indulge, or the dissatisfaction of their lives resurfaces. True freedom is not to need anything from this world system in order to have peace or joy. Of course we need the basics of creation to maintain healthy lives, however you can look at the extremes of materialism around you to see there is something deeper at work than a sober pursuit of a means to live healthy and securely.
Through ignorance and deception, men have taken the deep longing for GOD and aimed it at pleasures and symbols of validation to satisfy the soul, and it doesn’t work. It doesn’t work because the things of this world are temporal and fleeting. Look at the teaching of the Apostle Peter related to this matter,
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (1st Peter 1:13-21 NKJV)
It is evident throughout history that the men before us sought the wealth of gold and silver more than the wealth of the knowledge and wisdom of GOD, and it resulted in their moral decay and destruction. There are numerous examples around us today of those wealthy in the things of this world yet with out true peace and joy. Unfortunately, even in the face of countless examples, many still are deceived into thinking the acceptance of people and the gathering of material things can heal the heart. We must learn to live in the revelation that our soul salvation is in GOD alone, for it is only then that you can be free. The powers of darkness will continually try to ensnare you with the “trappings” of this world.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (1st Timothy 6:9-11 KJV)
This is the line of thought behind popular Buddhist teachings, the concept of detachment from lust and desires in order to find peace and contentment, however it misses the mark of truth because the resting place of our soul is not any state of Nirvana but in the abundance of the life of GOD. The fire or suffering of the soul is not quenched through the delusion of “I don’t need anything,” the fire of the soul is quenched through the living waters given through YAHWEH the Messiah.
6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14 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. (John 4:6-14 KJV)
The answer is not in overindulgence or complete denial, the answer lies in the fulfillment of the soul through the life that is in YESHUA the Messiah, which liberates us to live in enlightened moderation, righteously without dependence. The cross is where we detach from the slavery of insatiable carnal desires to reach our predestined state of fruitful branches, attached to the tree of life which supplies all we need for the soul to flourish, through the conduit of the Spirit. This is the true salvation of the soul through YESHUA HAMASHIACH, Jesus the Savior.
