The Hole in Our Hearts

“I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you” (Acts 17:22-23).
My dear friend, Barbara, is living in Thailand for the next several weeks. She is a keen observer and descriptive writer, and I love the images she is sharing as her adventure unfolds. Reading her emails, I’m captivated, as if absorbed in one of those wonderful travel shows on PBS. Some of the most intriguing sights she describes are the temples, which must be everywhere you turn in Bangkok! She writes about “intricate artwork, vivid colors, more buddhas than I could count…” She describes the standing buddha (105 feet tall), the reclining buddha, (150 feet long and covered in gold….this buddha depicts Nirvana, the aim of buddhism), the lucky buddha, and the emerald buddha on the palace grounds, to name a few. Barbara describes shrines that are “everywhere…in the courtyard of the apartment, in Starbucks, on the street corner, in the mall, in the yards of homes, in the park, in the market…” And she notes that the monks are treated with great respect, and given an elevated position in society. She is struck by the contrast of the devout faith that permeates that culture and the casual worship that is characteristic of our society. Barbara wrote “so maybe a difference is the people here are worshipping idols because they are trying to fill the “God hole” in their hearts with a god (imitation, but they don’t know) and people in America are filling their God hole with themselves…” Obviously, all of us have a God hole in our hearts. Paul mentions this God hole in Ephesians 3:19, and expresses his desire that we come to “know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” We all have an empty place that desperately needs to be filled. A study of world religions is a study of cultures trying to fill that hole. I began to wonder what Buddhism was all about, and became intrigued as I studied the topic.
In all that I have read, I know I have just begun to scratch the surface. Buddhism takes many different forms throughout India, China and Southeast Asia. The religion itself is described as “a continuous analytical process of life, not a mere set of ethics and rituals” (Wikipedia encyclopedia, article on Buddhism). Although Buddha is revered as a single supremely gifted person, worshippers recognize the existence of other Buddhas in the distant past and yet to come in the future. The form of Buddhism practiced in Thailand is known as “Theravada.” It’s ultimate theory can be summarized in “four noble truths.” And these can be simply stated as “the problem,” “the cause,” “the solution,” and the “pathway.” The goal of following the tenents of Buddhism is to achieve “nirvana.” Followers may have to be continually reborn until they achieve this goal. Nirvana can be described as “perfect peace of mind that is free from craving, anger, and other afflictive states.” Or, “the state of being free from the state of suffering and the cycle of rebirth” (Wikipedia, Nirvana in Buddhism).
You might say there are four noble truths in Christianity as well: 1)the problem (separation from God because of sin), 2)the cause (lack of belief, leading to rebellion), 3)the solution (the blood of Christ), 4)the pathway (the living Christ). I appreciate the simplicity of Christianity. As I studied Buddhism, my head began to spin. It is a very complex system of beliefs, that varies widely from culture to culture. Paul warns “I fear, lest by any means….your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (KJV, II. Cor. 11:3). He continues his discourse to the Athenians by saying, “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else……God did this so that all men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us” (Acts 17:24-28). We could never impress God with ornate temples and countless shrines. Faithfully observing endless rituals cannot win His favor (Gal. 2:15-16). Nothing we can do will ever fill our God hole. God purposefully made us incomplete, and He is the only One who can make us whole…”For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ…” (Col. 2:9)
I know that worship is never a casual thing for my friend in Thailand. And I cannot help but reflect that amongst all the artistry, gold, precious gems and devout rituals surrounding her in that land, her heart of worship is what God finds beautiful…swadikah
my friend….keep sharing!

“Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue…and dreams that you dare to dream really do come true….” Eva Cassidy’s lilting rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. As I close my eyes and listen, I imagine a beautiful rainbow filling the sky….I think I can even smell the sweet aroma of the earth after a refreshing rain. What is it about the rainbow? Sometimes dazzling…sometimes subtle…always delightful and amazing. Sometimes the appearance of a rainbow will make me reflect on the Biblical account of the first time anyone saw a rainbow. It was preceded by one of the darkest times in the history of man, a time when God grieved.

In Genesis 6: 5-6, we read about God’s broken heart….”The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that He made man on the earth, and His heart was filled with pain.” Creator God had kneeled on the ground and fashioned man with His own hands, and now His own creation was breaking His heart. But “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (v. 8). We are all familiar with the story. God destroyed the earth with a flood. Only Noah and those with him in the ark remained alive, including birds and beasts and pairs of creatures, representing all of the animal kingdom at that time. When the waters subsided, God told Noah, “Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you: birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth” (8:17). “So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth” (9:1). God had been grieved that He had made man…His heart was filled with pain…but His mercy endures forever! He made a covenant with Noah, a covenant for all who would live after him, including you and me. “Thus I establish My covenant with you. Never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth” (Genesis 9:11) (NKJ). “And God said, This is the sign of the covenant….I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant….”(Gen. 9:12-16) (NIV) I grew up thinking this was the time when the rainbow was created. We probably taught our children the same thing. But reading the scripture more thoughtfully, an astounding truth has filled me with awe. God told Noah that He would set His rainbow in the clouds….it was His! It already existed, and it belonged to God! And where was it? Ezekiel 1:26-28 gives a vision of God’s throne…”Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around Him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.” Revelation 4 gives another breathtaking vision of God’s throne, and “a rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne” (Rev. 4:3). A rainbow encircles the very throne of God! Hebrews 4, verse 16 refers to God’s throne as the “throne of grace.” What more perfect sign could God have given to Noah? In the rainbow, God gives us a glimpse of His glorious throne, a picture of mercy that truly reaches to the heavens. And dreams that we dare to dream….more than we could ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20)…really do come true!

Is there anything that stirs our hearts like a good love story? The books and movies I remember best are the ones that revolve around a love story. I’d venture to say there is no great story unless there is a love story within it. Perhaps that’s because the story of our lives is a love story, and the story of God’s plan is the greatest love story imaginable.
I believe the outline of God’s love story is preserved in His holy days. Three seasons of the year, the Israelites were commanded to “appear before the Lord your God at the place He will choose.” These times were The Feast of Unleavened Bread (which began with Passover), the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and the Feast of Tabernacles. This past Sunday, May 31st, was the day of Pentecost (Pentecost literally means “count fifty.” The day after the Sabbath immediately following the Passover, a single sheaf of the firstfruits of the harvest was brought to the priest. The priest waved the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted on behalf of the people…an obvious type of Christ being accepted on our behalf as the first of the firstfruits. Seven weeks were counted from the wave sheaf offering to arrive at the feast of Pentecost 50 days later…hence, it is also called the “feast of weeks.”) There is a wonderful love story associated with this holy day.
The book of Ruth is one of the Megilloth (festival scrolls, read on annual holy days). It is read in Jewish synagogues on Pentecost (referred to as Shavout). The events recorded in the book occurred between Passover and Pentecost in the late spring, between the early and late spring harvest. The timing of the book is fascinating. It occurred during the time of the judges, a time when “every man did what was right in his own eyes,” and the result was chaos, violence, disobedience and idolatry (Judges 21:25). So it becomes a story of God’s grace during a dark time in Israel’s history.
As the story unfolds, we learn that, because of famine, Naomi, her husband and two sons move to Moab and her sons marry there. Shortly thereafter, her husband and both sons die, and Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem (1:1-7). Naomi implores her Moabite daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, to stay in Moab. Orpah agrees, but Ruth adamantly refuses. Her words to Naomi have been used countless times in weddings as a beautiful depiction of steadfast love, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.” (1:16-17). I find it a little amusing that, although this is quoted in weddings, it actually depicts the love of a daughter- in- law for her mother- in- law! I have a mother in law I love dearly (Audrey, I hope you are reading this!), but I am often told this is not the norm for our day and age….I doubt it was then either! But her devotion to her mother-in-law led to an unexpected romance, a radical change of circumstance, a prophecy of future redemption, and to Ruth, herself, becoming a part of the lineage of Christ!
Ruth returned to Bethlehem with Naomi and participated in the first-fruit harvest, mainly in the fields of Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi’s dead husband. Boaz noticed Ruth and learned about her faithfulness to her mother in law. He was impressed. “May the Lord repay you for what you have done…may you be richly rewarded by the Lord…” (2:12). He protected her, allowing her to glean and gather sheaves left behind by the harvesters. Days later, when the barley and wheat harvests were finished, Ruth went to the threshing floor where Boaz was winnowing barley. When he had fallen asleep, she laid down at his feet. I love the account the scripture relates…”in the middle of the night something startled the man, and he turned and discovered a woman lying at his feet” (3:8). I forgot to mention that Ruth had washed and perfumed herself…and I would love to have some of that fragrance! Boaz’ response to her, after being startled in the middle of the night, was “ The Lord bless you, my daughter…this kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier…” Faithful to the custom of the “kinsman redeemer” (Deut. 25:5), Boaz made sure that the one relative with prior claim to Ruth renounced his claim, and then he made Ruth his wife. Truly a match “made in heaven,” their descendants include King David and Jesus Christ, Himself!
How appropriate that this book would be read on Pentecost. Ruth left everything of her own world, even her religion, to follow Naomi. Though a Gentile, she married an Israelite, embraced a new faith, and became included in the lineage of Christ. God shows us that Gentiles can become spiritual Israelites and take part in the marriage of Christ to His “firstfruits” (the Church). Boaz’ love for Ruth is a type of Christ’s love for the church, and prophetic of the redemptive work of our Saviour/Redeemer. He is the “Husbandman” who provides for and protects his bride. Boaz protected and provided for Ruth, even when she was unaware (2:15-16). Ruth “prepared herself” and laid at Boaz’ feet. The church is making herself ready to become the bride of Christ. Boaz redeemed Ruth, who had nothing and was powerless to change her circumstances. In this book, God reveals His heart. “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord your God” (Lev. 23:9,22). So Israel was commanded to care for the poor and the alien. Without this law, there would be no book of Ruth. God’s provision was not solely for Israel. His intent was to use Israel to bless others. Pentecost, in the New Testament, ushered in the church age, and now His church has the responsibility to express His heart in caring for others. He invites any who are willing to glean in His fields, to become a part of His early harvest, and to discover their Kinsman Redeemer. And the love story continues….