Part Six: What Innate Desire Does Every Human on Earth Have That This World Can’t Satisfy?

C. S. Lewis and other scholars have correctly argued that every natural desire the human family possesses expresses a real and necessary human need. In the physical realm, we need food, shelter, rest, and warmth to live comfortably. Humans also desire love, self-esteem, and acceptance to feel emotionally content. These two needs are tangible, easy to recognize, and satisfied by our environment and human relationships.

As Lewis further explained, if human beings possess a natural desire for something in which the world offers no fulfillment, something outside the world will fulfill it. That something is God. Every human (whether ignored or denied) craves spiritual fulfillment because God has placed that desire in us (e.g., Eccl. 3:11; Rom. 1: 18-20). Fourth-century theologian, Augustine, put it like this: “Thou [God] has made us for Thyself, and our heart is restless until it rests in Thee.” Only by satisfying our spiritual needs can we experience genuine and lasting inner fulfillment and peace.

The quest for spiritual peace of mind is a worldwide phenomenon and a characteristic of the entire human race as far back as history and archaeology allow us to investigate. All peoples in every culture exhibit belief in supernatural beings and seek to live in harmony with them. Moreover, modern secular societies that have attempted to suppress this instinctive drive have invariably met with failure. The resurgence of religion following the collapse of the former Soviet Union and the estimated 100 million-plus Christians in communist China demonstrates that even an atheistic society cannot suppress humankind’s spiritual needs.

But let me add this. Of the three innate drives we seek to fulfill, our desire for spiritual fulfillment is the most vital for lasting peace of mind and meaningful life. Physical health does not necessarily lead to peace of mind. Many disabled people experience genuine spiritual peace of mind. Likewise, neither does money nor material possessions guarantee peace of mind. Many spirit-filled poor people are vastly more content and happy than many rich people. Nor does emotional fulfillment necessarily lead to peace of mind. Many thousands of prisoners isolated from normal social interactions and after years of living angry, violent, and bitter lives have come to possess a profound peace of mind and deep spiritual fulfillment by experiencing God’s love and forgiveness.

What’s my point? Whereas fulfilling spiritual needs can result in peace of mind despite unfulfilled physical or psychological needs, the opposite is not true. Fulfilling physical or psychological needs does not lead to lasting peace of mind without spiritual fulfillment. Regardless of how healthy, wealthy, or satisfying one’s life seems to be, there remains a longing for something this earth or human relationships cannot provide: spiritual fulfillment. Only God through the “crutch” of Jesus Christ can satisfy this longing. (Read last week’s blog for the definition of “crutch” and “weak” as I’m using it concerning Jesus.) ©

Next week  I’ll respond to two common objections: (1) Many people claim to have peace of mind without religion, and (2) non-Christians religions can also provide spiritual peace of mind.

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