Thinking Out Loud

 And I—in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. – Psalm 17:15

 I like to think I’m a fairly simple man who doesn’t need much to keep me satisfied. I don’t run out after the latest models of most anything and still struggle to catch up and live in the 21^st century. I drive a 1996 GMC pickup I’ve had for over ten years and I don’t have internet on my non-iPhone phone. I recently purchased my first TV, without 3D (do I hear gasps?) and would I rather read a good book that watch anything  related to a reality show where in reality, the percentage of most people in any given setting aren’t that good looking.

What does it take to be satisfied in this life? How much is enough? When John D. Rockefeller, the noted billionaire and founder of Standard Oil, was asked how much money was enough, he famously replied, “Just a little bit more.” I don’t think Mr. Rockefeller was speaking just for himself; I think he was speaking for people all over the world. For most of us, the more we have the more we spend, so having “just a little bit more” becomes a way of life, not just a greedy aphorism spoken by a long-dead billionaire.

What is satisfaction? When will I sit back and say, “This is it. This is the good life. I’ve worked hard all my life to be here. There is nothing more I want, nothing more I desire”? Will I say that when I’m debt free with a million dollars in the bank? Will I say that when the kids and grandkids all live within walking distance of my house and I can spend all my leisure time going to their ball games and school plays? Will I say that when my next book sells 100,000 copies in the first week and I make the cover of Christianity Today and I’m invited to speak all over the world and share my massive knowledge about life and God?

Probably not.

So what will satisfy me? When will I get to the point where just a little bit more is no longer the goal?

Although I believe wise King David had it right when he said about God, “I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness,” I still find it hard to comprehend no longer striving for what I don’t have. Most of us have spent the greatest part of our lives going to work and living barely within our means. We keep going, breathlessly at times, just to make ends meet and not be too worried about a major hospital bill, being let go from our job or even how to replace the ’96 pickup when it no longer runs.

But I want to believe it. I really want to know that one day I will awake from the grave and see the likeness of God and in that instant, be satisfied. It’s hard to comprehend such an event this side of seeing God’s likeness, but I do believe it to be true. And believing this, it helps me to set aside Rockefeller’s observation and focus and what brother Paul called the true, noble right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy (Philippians 2:8).  It reminds me that no matter how much I love my grandchildren, would cherish owning a 2012 pickup (any model, thank you) or enjoy checking Facebook from the comfort of my phone, none of those things are satisfactory.

The final satisfaction in life will be when I get to see face to Face, knowing that the unconditional Love that died for want of my love is ever-present and there is no more “just a little bit more” to be had. The final satisfaction will be to know that I am in the presence of everything I will ever need because there will be no more to need. THAT is satisfaction.