I believe we are all created for relationship with God. Without that relationship, we are left with an emptiness that needs to be filled. The enemy cons us into believing that things of this world are capable of filling this gap and bringing us true satisfaction, when in reality these things destroy us. The red-light districts are filled with people who are looking for ways to fill this gap. They are searching for an answer for their loneliness, emptiness, and brokenness, and all the things they find on these streets are only going to lead them to more searching. But what if they were able to find an answer for all their pain here? What if we as Christians were the ones that brought them that answer? This is my hope as I stand on these streets and engage with men. I don’t desire to condemn them for trying to fill their emptiness in the wrong ways, but rather, to show them the only thing that will permanently fill that gap, eternally satisfy their hunger. I don’t want to tell them they need to change, I want to show them a changed life. I don’t want to tell them they are wrong, I want to show them that Christ is better.
As I read your post I thought of what Lewis said: “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” – C.S. Lewis
Yeah I love that quote! Always reminds me of the quote by Lewis that is something along the lines of “if you have desires that nothing in this world can fill, the only logical explanation is that you were created for another world.”
Very true — I believe in the power of Christ to fulfill the “God-shaped hole” every Christian knows; and, I daresay, every human being on this earth has felt.
Yep! I’m just hoping to be used by God to show these men the only thing that will fill that hole.
Powerful stuff Kyle. Praying for you as you engage with the brokenhearted and go into the hard places. Praying for the hearts of these men as they meet Jesus face to face through your witness.