The curse of the Black Pearl

Psalms 84;2

2 My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.

Today on my way home from work, I kept thinking about how we as humans are wired to NEED God.  Many people try to fill the void with drugs, alcohol, sex, success, or many other THINGS.  The fact is that God created us to fellowship with Him.  When we are not in fellowship with Him, it creates a deep void that can never be satisfied with anything else (try though the flesh may).  I was reminded of the "Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the black pearl" movie, when Captain Barbossa explains the curse

 " Aye. That's exactly what I thought when first told of the tale. Buried in the island of the dead that which cannot be found except by those who already knows where it is. Find it, we did. And there be the chest... and inside, be the gold. We took them all! Spent 'em, traded 'em and fritted 'em away, for drink and food and pleasurable company. But the more we gave them away, the more we came to realize. The drink would not satisfy, food turned to ash in our mouths, nor the company in the world would harm or slake our lust. We are cursed men, Miss Turner. Compelled by greed, we were. But now, we are consumed by it."  

This description of "The curse" draws a strange parallel to the "Human Condition".  Without Jesus, we are cursed men.  Without Jesus we are compelled & consumed by Greed, by the nature of self, and by the things of this world.  

On the opposite end of the spectrum,when we accept Jesus as our Savior, our heart changes, we change, our desires change.  THINGS become a distant second and great fulfillment and joy are found in simply spending time with Him.  Our very soul desires to spend time with Him and longs for the day when that is all we will do for eternity.  It's better than any THING could ever be, it brings joy that we were created to experience, and it just keeps getting stronger and better.  

If you feel like there is a void in your life tonight, it can only be filled with Jesus.  His joy is a joy that knows no earthly bounds and will last for eternity.  Seek Him today.