Looking for Completion

(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)

Every person possesses within his or her heart a completion scenario that delimits what would produce the ultimate fulfillment and satisfaction. This experience would represent the greatest encounter in life. Beyond this, nothing could be better. Our completion scenario is created out of a synthesis of our orientation to God, what we value, and what we think and feel. This completion scenario motivates desire and gives direction to our behavioral pursuits that are reinforced through immediate gratification. It is here within our very own version of our completion scenario that we seek to be validated by our God substitutes.

When the truth is revealed, we may be surprised to find these disturbing realities:

• My agenda is whatever will make me happy.
• I do not want to come to God to complete His agenda.
• I want to come to God so He can empower my agenda.
• Instead of serving God, I want God to serve me.
• I want to be self-centered, and I want God to approve.
• I want God to help me be more independent, more self-sufficient.
• I want God to empower me to not need Him.
• I do not just want to be independent; I want to be happy.
• I want all God’s benefits in addition to all my desires.

The emptiness of our hearts tempts us to continue the vicious cycle of seeking God-substitutes to fill the void. With continued resolve we contrive another plan of employing people, positions, and possessions for our power to live. Eventually the futility of the endeavor becomes evident through social rejection, compromised health, and a lack of personal energy to pursue the pathological dream. Alienated souls now stand stranded beside the road they thought would take them to the place of completion.

“See, they are all foolish, worthless things.
      All your idols are as empty as the wind” (Isa. 41:29 NLT).

In the second chapter of Jeremiah God expressed His feelings about those He offered to complete, but they chose their own completion scenario instead.

The LORD gave me another message. He said, “Go and shout this message to Jerusalem. This is what the LORD says:

“I remember how eager you were to please me
      as a young bride long ago,
how you loved me and followed me
      even through the barren wilderness.
In those days Israel was holy to the LORD,
      the first of his children.
All who harmed his people were declared guilty,
      and disaster fell on them.
      I, the LORD, have spoken!”

Listen to the word of the LORD, people of Jacob—all you families of Israel! This is what the LORD says:

“What did your ancestors find wrong with me
      that led them to stray so far from me?
They worshiped worthless idols,
      only to become worthless themselves.
They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD
      who brought us safely out of Egypt
and led us through the barren wilderness—
      a land of deserts and pits,
a land of drought and death,
      where no one lives or even travels?’

“And when I brought you into a fruitful land
      to enjoy its bounty and goodness,
you defiled my land and
      corrupted the possession I had promised you.
The priests did not ask,
      ‘Where is the LORD?’
Those who taught my word ignored me,
      the rulers turned against me,
and the prophets spoke in the name of Baal,
      wasting their time on worthless idols.
Therefore, I will bring my case against you,”
      says the LORD.
“I will even bring charges against your children’s children
      in the years to come.

“Go west and look in the land of Cyprus;
      go east and search through the land of Kedar.
Has anyone ever heard of anything
      as strange as this?
Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones,
      even though they are not gods at all?
Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God
      for worthless idols!
The heavens are shocked at such a thing
      and shrink back in horror and dismay,”
      says the LORD.
“For my people have done two evil things:
They have abandoned me—
      the fountain of living water.
And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns
      that can hold no water at all!

And you have brought this upon yourselves
      by rebelling against the LORD your God,
      even though he was leading you on the way!

Your wickedness will bring its own punishment.
      Your turning from me will shame you.
You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is
      to abandon the LORD your God and not to fear him.
      I, the Lord, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken! (Jer. 2:2-13,17,19 NLT)

To whom or what are you looking to complete your life?