Filling the Void
Where there is a lack, there is a void. When there is a void, the tendency is to fill it. That void, or emptiness, represents a need. A need demands satisfaction. When a need is met, there is a sense of fulfilment, even if it is only temporary. It is like when someone is hungry. The stomach cries out for nourishment. It has a need to be filled. When we eat, the need is temporarily met, until we are hungry again. When I fast, I usually drink sparkling water. The gas in the water deceives the stomach that it is full. It works for a time, but is not a permanent solution. When one is hungry, they can also fill their stomach with that which is not good for them. The felt need is met, but there will be negative and long term consequences.
Years ago I was on a 21 day fast with a friend of mine. On the last two days of the fast, we decided to go to a hotel, where we could pray without being interrupted. On the 21st day, as we were ending our fast, all we could think of was eating pizza. For some reason we thought this would be a great way to end our fast. So as the sun went down on our 21st day, we ordered a large pizza to our room. Oh, did it taste good. Our hunger and desire for food was met, but the next days we paid dearly for this indulgence. Both of us had diarrhea for a month.
There is a difference between felt needs and real needs. Felt needs are less important than real needs, but are often on what we focus most of our attention. Felt needs are: acceptance, happiness, comfort, affection, etc. Real needs are: love, worship, security, salvation, covenant relationships, etc. When the real needs are not met, the tendency is to try to fill this void by giving attention to felt needs. By concentrating on felt needs, one searches in all the wrong places and tries to be satisfied with “junk food” or “gassy water.”
Let me give you some examples of this. Immorality is the search for affection. It may satisfy this felt need for a time, but the void remains. The felt need can only be satisfied by meeting the real need of finding true love in a committed, covenant relationship. Rebellion is the search for security. Hurts and disappointments by authority figures create a void, which is temporarily filled by trying to protect oneself from future hurts through hate and rejection of authority. Idolatry is the search for a god to worship. Idolizing people or things, via music, sports or films, is an attempt to satisfy this need. We were created to worship God alone and we will only be really satisfied in doing so. Fantasy is the search for reality. Many study mythology and science fiction to find reality. Excessive amounts of entertainment in virtual reality never can fill this void. True reality is spiritual reality. It is to be found in a relationship with God, not through fantasy, drugs, false religions, occult or mysticism.
When man sinned, the Spirit of God left him. This created a void that man has tried to fill ever since. Isaiah gives us the solution: “Come, everyone who thirst, come to the waters…,” (Is. 55.1-3). Jesus said: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied,” (Mat. 5.6). And again He said: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6.35). Only Jesus can fill the void. Receive Him into your life today.
Scriptures to meditate on:
II Tim. 3.2-5; I Sam. 15.23; Rom. 13.2; I Cor. 6.18-20; Dan. 3.7; John 4.21-24; Rev. 9.20;