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Nothing human beings experience in this world can ever fully satisfy them.
Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. (Proverbs 27:20)
Jesus knew the woman at the well was unsatisfied. She wanted more than all her restless pursuits had given her.
Jesus held forth to her a guarantee of lasting satisfaction that would end her wearisome and repeated trips to the world’s “well.”
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)
When the woman wanted to switch topics and talk about her faith vs. His faith, Jesus quickly pointed her away from religious differences and toward what the Father was after – people who would find genuine, intimate relationship with Him.
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23,24)
Religion will never be enough. The only thing big enough to keep anyone satisfied is Christ Himself. He is the Bread of Life. The god of this world spreads an enticing “table” before the dissatisfied. He offers them something more satisfying than religion.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:35)
Coming to Christ is not a “one-and-done” event. To find the promise of guaranteed rest we must continually come to Him.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)
Christ Himself was the chief pursuit of Paul’s life and the focal point of His ministry.
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:5,6)
Paul had religion. In Judaism, he thought he possessed the perfect religion. But even after coming to Christ, and discovering the truth of the gospel message, he wanted to know something more than a correct belief system. He wanted to possess Christ Himself.
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death (Philippians 3:8-10)
Our mind may be satisfied with what we believe, but our hearts yearn for more than intellectual knowledge. If we’re not growing in an intimate relationship with Christ, we eventually become restless, bored, and re-opened to what the god of this world has to offer.
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:18,19)
Christ must be our fascination. Discovering the details of His person, life, and work must be our chief and overriding interest. The satisfying result of such a love affair with Christ is transformation into His image.
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. (Psalm 17:15)
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18)