Fulfillment.
In America, it is a concept that we are born into. It’s only a walk, bike-ride, or drive away from the comfort of our homes. Whether it look likes our favorite meal or “getaway” hobby, what I have come to realize is that it has followed me to these overseas countries. Even though it may not be that Mexican restaurant back home that whispers my name sometimes before I go to bed or simply the connection and opportunity I have back home to friends, fulfillment is an assumption of my daily life. There is no question in my mind that there will be a breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout my day. However, my time here in Asia has began to peel back those preconceptions and made me think more of fullness.
Fullness that comes from communion and intimacy with God. The treasuring (which I think is a word) of Jesus Christ as my true savior. The Holy Spirit as the comforter and the truth-speaking friend to my soul. With these realities at the forefront of my mind, fulfillment and fullness lose their grey hue and return to a differing black and white. It’s so evident to not only find but actually see the lives of those that live out of fulfillment rather than the fullness of God.
So, how can I live in the fullness of God when surrounded by a culture of fulfillment?
The American dollar carries great weight in all the countries I have come to.
7 Quetzals to 1 US dollar in Guatemala.
30 Baht to 1 US dollar in Thailand.
1500 Chat to 1 US dollar Myanmar.
I have to admit, my heart squealed a little when I looked into the bakery shops and saw the 50 cent pastries and dollar coffees (Btw, they are amazing). But as I have stepped into relationship with my Father, perspective has been raining down on me. Asia has provided me with the opportunity to live in a way that is full of fulfillment. There are cheap adventures, unforgettable night markets, bakeshops, and wifi. I know all of this can make the world race seem less of a “race,” but God has obviously brought me to a unique place to share His truth in my life with you Hallelujah. He is discipling my eyes and heart to see and feel in ways I can not describe in full.
That’s honestly why I wanted to share this concept with you all. It’s not even about all of that which fulfills me, it’s about what isn’t and what lies behind it.
In my last blog, I mentioned an ache for the Lord that had developed in my time in Thailand. I was able to work through the fact that I didn’t spend enough time with God and had inaccurately gauged my relationship with Him. It was the beginning of seeing what I believe to be a life with Jesus Christ. A life that I knew of but was hidden from me. Ultimately, I want to call out the deception that was in mine and distorts the culture we live in. The reality we step into every day is that we will be surrounded by people, transportation, food, and therefore; fulfillment.
The assumptions are that of connection to others, efficient travel, satisfied hunger, and in the end, a fulfilled life. Not to even mention our homes, AC, tv, wifi, and occasional social outing. All these things filled up my life when I was back home and have even at times being here on the race. I believe also that most of them will not change too much when I go home. What will change in all of this will be the reality in which I walk into each of them. All of these assumptions hinge on what is being satisfied within myself. The deception is these earthly connections and things are actually full and the established assumption we have ownership of their presence in our lives.
The Truth in all of this is that we are spiritually dead and can do nothing without Jesus Christ. Not in any of those things was Jesus listed but He actually determines and should constitute their relevance in my life. The blessing of connection from God’s sovereign structure of society is amazing and should be a focus of my life. However, only with Jesus and through the Holy Spirit can I even extend the grace and mercy to others that was extended to me. Only through the Truth of Scripture can I walk out of the door of this hostel to a place to even eat. When I replace Bread of life for bread, I have become deceived by my flesh that food is more full than the Word of God. Lastly, to look at the ability to roam around the Earth as an obvious outworking of society, I have not quickened my feet with the Gospel. Even under the roof of His provision, I can sit idled by social media. I lived in this for so long.
It was just an obvious and harmless deduction. But now, food should not satisfy me like Jesus Christ. No person should satisfy me like Jesus Christ. No experience should satisfy me like Jesus Christ. When my heart, when my soul, finds Jesus Christ as the True Treasure of life, all becomes reconciled to Him. All flows from Him. All answers to Him. In this way can I only make sense out of living for the Gospel. He saved me from the reality that was unbeknownst to me. Into the marvelous I am brought of the darkness to the knowledge and experience of His fullness.
So what does sit behind all of these things that miss the mark of being full? Sin.
Sin will trade you every counterfeit in the book so that you are fulfilled and not full. It will make you think it is food you yearn for, people you deserve, and places you must go. It is in the most basic workings of our body to hunger and thirst. It trains us to look all around us except upwards. It trades the Glory of God for moments of oblivion. So how do we live in the fullness of God in culture of fulfillment?
We live for the fullness found in communion and relationship with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It’s the only way.
We live in His Word. We talk to Him about everything, literally everything. We fast our flesh from food. We thank Him for those around us. We thank Him everyday for waking us up. We thank Him for consciousness. We thank Him for the chance to know Him. We thank Him. We know Him.
Colossians 2:7
“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
(I hope to write on this through again in the future!) Thank you so much for reading!
-will
