Are You Tantalized?

In Greek mythology, King Tantalus offended the gods and was punished in the underworld. He was placed in a lake of cool, fresh water up to his chin, but whenever he attempted to satisfy his burning thirst, the water receded. Over his head were branches full of delicious ripe fruit, but when he tried to satisfy his hunger they eluded his grasping hands. The things he desired were right there in front of him but yet were unattainable. Tantalus, therefore became the symbol of utter frustration. Even today, his name is remembered in the English word tantalize.

Many of us, if we look at how we live our day-to-day lives, find an appalling similarity between King Tantalus and ourselves. All people have a deep hunger and thirst in our souls and we spend our lives trying to satisfy it. We are tantalized by many things in this life: materialism, sex, power, leisure, sports, popularity, or just a comfortable and peaceful life to name a few. Although they may give us some temporary satisfaction, the inner peace and joy we ultimately long for remains out of our reach.

Solomon, the author of the book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament, was perhaps the richest, wisest, and most powerful man that ever lived. He pursued happiness through knowledge, pleasure, riches, and work, but nothing satisfied the hunger in his soul. So he wrote in Ecclesiastes 1:2, “Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” Later in Ecclesiastes, he writes that trying to satisfy his soul’s hunger through earthly things is like “chasing after the wind.” It was only when he focused on knowing and pleasing God (12:13-14) that he found life’s true purpose - what he was searching for.

The Bible says God created us to have an intimate, personal love relationship with Him. This is our purpose in life. However our sin has separated us from this relationship with God and gotten us off track from fulfilling our created purpose. The only way we can restore this relationship and have true satisfaction, peace and joy is by putting our faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. Then our relationship with God can be restored and the satisfaction we long for can be found forever.

The things this world dangles in front of us are tantalizing but unfulfilling. If you are among those who have been tantalized by what you thought would bring you happiness and peace, and you feel worn out and tired of “chasing after the wind,” come to Jesus. He promised in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” You will discover with joy that He has everything you’ve ever hoped for - and so much more!