The God Shaped Hole

I have lived a fairly long time by now. At least in comparison to what I thought was really old when I was twenty. In those years I have spent much time on a quest for understanding the nature of God, humans and the world.

I have been a keen observer of other’s and especially my own behaviour.

At times I have been like the Canadian Jewish nuclear scientist, Louis Slotin, who in the early days of discovering the power of uranium wrote down notes after an accident from which he later died when he held two pieces of uranium together. He and seven other colleagues were studying the atomic mystery of fusion that eventually would power cities and had a year before killed thousands of people in Japan. The screwdriver which was holding them apart slipped from his hand. By the time he realized what he had done to himself it was too late. His quick response to stop the reaction was said to have saved his colleagues. Still only a few days later he was dead from radiation poisoning. After the accident he was a faithful scientist recording the event and even what happened in his own body until almost the moment of his death. That record helped save many lives later as it underlined the need for extreme experimental safety in the atomic age.

Fortunately, though I have done much damage to myself in my quest, I never died from it.

There was another man who shared this same objective pursuit of truth as Mr. Slotin. He was also Jewish. His name was Solomon. He wrote the book of Ecclesiastes. He sought truth in much the same way as Louis would centuries later. It was a kind of a detached observation of his and other’s actual lives. He walked through his life taking notes all the way.

Solomon tried to find the meaning of life by setting no limits on his behaviour.

Ecclesiastes 1:12 I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I set my mind to seek and explore by wisdom concerning all that has been done under heaven. .. . . . 17 And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know madness and folly; . . . . 2:1 I said to myself, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself."...... 3 I explored with my mind {how} to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding {me} wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives... . . . 4 I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; 5 I made gardens and parks for myself and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; 6 I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and I had homeborn slaves. Also I possessed flocks and herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. 8 Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men--many concubines. 9 Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me. 10 All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure. . . .

Solomon was so intent to understand the meaning of life that he followed every desire of his heart. Different from many of us who perhaps would like to do the same, he could.

Like the atomic researcher, Solomon’s research eventually destroyed his life. But by his quest he left an essential message for we who follow. Let’s read from the notes he took even as he was spiritually dying from his actions:

Ecclesiastes 12:8 "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher, "all is vanity!"

All is vanity? Perhaps these are the ravings of an embittered person who did not really know? Perhaps life just went the wrong way for him? Surely there is meaning in life isn’t there? Not everything is vain is it?

No not everything is vanity.

Even Solomon knew that it was not. But the meaning came from nothing on the Earth. He correctly pointed out that every earthly activity in itself ends in vanity and futility.

We would be wise to listen.

In fact I have found that the earlier we understand what Solomon is trying to tell us the better our lives are. But you might ask, “how can believing that everything in life fails to give meaning to life give meaning to life?” It can’t! But understanding this truth tells us that we need to look somewhere else for that meaning.

Solomon found that meaning for life resides outside of this world.

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no delight in them";

Ecclesiastes 12:1

He tells us the answer is found in God.

My research tells me he is right.

But I wanted to know why is it so?

Why is it that no matter how much money a person has it never satisfies them?

Why is it that a person can have one of the most beautiful wives or husbands in the whole world and still they look with lust for another?

Why is it that a person can have the admiration of the whole world and yet be so convinced of their worthlessness they kill themselves?

Why is there an insatiable desire within the human heart for something we mistakenly identify with things, people, honour, freedom or anything that the heart thinks will meet it?

I believe it is because there is a God Shaped Hole in the heart of every person who ever lived except one.

Solomon felt it. He purposed to try and fill it with anything that he desired. He found that nothing could fill it. Even if it temporarily took away the ache it came back stronger than ever. He found that the only thing that could fill it was God.

The conclusion, when all has been heard, is fear God and keep His commandments...... Ecclesiastes 12:13

Solomon tells us to not follow his example. He tells us he had the opportunity to try out everything that we could ever deceive ourselves with to fill the hole in our heart.

He tells us to find the meaning of our life in God.

Nothing else but God Himself will fill this cavern inside of us.

This God Shaped hole is purposefully designed that we might seek Him and find Him.

Only He can ever fill it.

When we try to fill it with anything else it harms us and others.

When we fill it with Him we become a vessel of refreshment and provision for everyone we touch.