Do you ever feel like you would have the entire world if you just had that one thing? It's always something super enticing, like a new job, a new outfit or maybe the latest Apple product. Whatever it is, you just have that feeling inside that if you can get that one thing, you won't want anything else. You'll be satisfied.
I hate that feeling because that feeling is a lie, and not only is a lie, but it's a lie we tell ourselves. It's like our own mind is trying to trick is. It's a feeling that's rooted deep down in the gut, and it's hard to ignore because really, it's a lie we all want to believe. We all want to be satisfied. We all want that one, last thing that will truly make us happy.
This 'grass is always greener on the other side' feelings hits home about every year around this time for me because it's Christmas. It's the time of year where I think to myself, "If I only get that one gift..." Or "This New Year is going to be the last time I want..." It's such a tricky time and such a tricky feeling. It's such an easy lie to believe that after we get all we want, we'll be truly happy.
But what do you get someone who already has everything, or better yet, what do you do if someone offers you everything? If someone offers you the world at only a small cost?
I'd probably take everything, wouldn't you? I mean, if someone had everything, why would anyone ever want anything again? Problem solved.
Except it's not. This one time, 2,000 years ago, Jesus was offered everything. He was offered everything in the world, every Kingdom, all authority and all glory, but He turned it down. Isn't that crazy? Literally everything in the world He could have had, but He said no. He didn't want greener grass.
Thinking about this, I realized how often when I'm tempted with wanting anything at all, it always seems like if I had that one thing I would literally have everything in the world. The power of want is that strong. The power of desire is that real. It can take over and create a sense of authority and glory that aren't really there. It's a lie, just like the one about your neighbor having greener grass.
Jesus was offered the entire world if He would only bow down to Satan, much like we feel we would receive the entire world if we would only bow down to our desires; however, what are our desires and will they really give us the world, or will they really just give us a thirst for more of the world? Think about it.
-Cliff
Cliff's Note: The grass may be greener on the other side, but what kind of crap are they using to fertilize it with?