Sweet Dreams

There was a song that was made popular many years ago now by the Eurythmics entitled “Sweet Dreams.” The song, with its haunting melody, explored the subject of happiness, and made the bold statement that “everybody is looking for something.”

Whether you like the song or not, it’s message is so true.

Many people today are looking for something — anything —to bring happiness and contentment to their lives. They sense a void in their life, so they try to fill it, by trial and error, until they find what is to them the true meaning of life and happiness.

People will try almost anything in order to fill the void. Strange things, foolish things, demeaning things, even harmful things. The lyrics go on to say, “Some of them want to use you. Some of them want to be used by you. Some of them want to abuse you. Some of them want to be abused.” It is almost unimaginable the depths to which some will sink in their search for satisfaction. These things may satisfy the flesh for a time, but they can never satisfy the soul, and will only leave the seeker with an even greater sense of emptiness in the end.

In searching for the meaning of life, one of the wealthiest and most influential men of all time, Israel’s own King Solomon, pondered his life and the world around him. He had more wealth than any other man of his day. He had all the wine, women and song anyone could possibly want, and more. And if that weren’t enough, people kept bringing him gifts from all over the known world. One would think that such a man would be as happy as a lark — and yet, in considering his life and the world around him, he exclaimed in Ecclesiastes 12:8, “Vanity of vanities—all is vanity.” In other words, “It’s all so empty.” You can almost feel the sorrow and emptiness of his heart. In fact, it made him wonder what the point of living was. Sadly, there are numberless people today who are nearly overwhelmed with that very same thought. Everything they do seems to be empty and meaningless, and nothing satisfies. Such a sad state.

Yet there is a remedy to the vanities of this life. Read on, and you will see that after carefully considering every aspect of life, with all of its trappings, the wise King finally came to a conclusion in his musings. He wrote: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13

Indeed, the sweetest dream — that is, complete satisfaction and happiness — can only be realized as we serve God, and live our lives according to His instructions. For only then will we truly be healthy, happy and whole. Only then will the void be filled and the emptiness dispelled. God knows our frame. He designed the heart and soul of every one of us, and He knows what it takes for us to find true happiness and peace within.

Everything that this world has to offer is only temporary. It lasts but a fleeting moment. I have talked with men who were in their nineties and seen the look in their eyes as they marvel at how quickly it all seems to pass. In fact, God’s Word declares that all the days of man “are as a shadow that passeth away.” But the things of God are eternal — they last forever.
Let us, then, not waste one more moment on the vain things which seem to allure us so strongly — but rather, let us live our life solely and completely for the One who gave us life.

Let us delight ourselves in Him, and in His ways, and He will fill our hearts with a joy that nothing in this world can take away. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalm 1:1-3

“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalms 37:4

Such a happy state”!

I challenge you to turn the reigns of your life over to the Lord Jesus Christ right now if you have not already done so, and live your life according to God’s Word — and see if you do not agree with the Psalmist who wrote, “O taste and see that the LORD is good . . .” Psalm 34:8

I’ll live for Him who died for me,
How happy then my life shall be!
I’ll live for Him who died for me,
My Savior and my God!