Our Deepest Desire

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. All this I will give you, he said, if you will bow down and worship me. Jesus said to him, Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.

Matthew 4:8-10

Now the devil moves into the essential, basic part of the human life, the realm of the spirit. He removes all his pretenses, masks and disguises, and comes up with a direct, sheer naked appeal to the deepest desire in the heart of mankind, placed there by God, that his life might be worthwhile; that he might invest it in something of value and make an unforgettable mark in this world. Who doesn't want his life to be worthwhile? Who does not fear wasting his life, or to live in such an unexciting and meaningless way that when he is gone he is immediately forgotten? Who does not want to be remembered, and feel that he has done something eminently worthwhile? That is simply basic to our humanity.

And the devil quickly picks this up, taking Jesus to a high mountain, in some wonderful way showing him all the kingdoms of the world. In some sense, Jesus saw all the kingdoms of the earth and their glory, all that has attracted human hearts, causing men to sometimes leave their families and possessions in order to win the power and place of exaltation and authority of such kingdoms. And the devil said to him, You can have all this if you will fall down and worship me.

Think of the force of that. For these kingdoms were exactly what Jesus Christ had come to earth to get. He came in order to win the world, that he might be Lord of all, that he might be exalted to the highest position in the universe; that every tongue should confess and every knee should bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God. This is why he came. Now the devil is offering it to him.

But notice how Jesus immediately sees through it; his reply is almost contemptuous: Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only. Notice the conjunction of words there: worship and serve. To worship is to serve. To serve is to worship. And only God can give the value to life that you are suggesting. The kingdoms and glory of the world will never give it. What you are striking at is the deepest desire of a person's life — to have a life that is worthwhile. That only God can do, therefore you shall worship and serve only the Lord your God.

Lord, worshipping and serving you only is my heart's desire and gives my life meaning. I bring all my passions and dreams of making a lasting impact and lay them at your feet.