“But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” (Matt. 16:23)
You cannot be continuously happy; you cannot experience a moment of pleasure that will never cease in this life. The most incredible desire of the flesh will fade away after it is reached, the mind that knows a perfect peace cannot remain there, once a great desire is attained in this life, no matter what it is, it will be lost to time. That is what Satan savors, those are the things of mankind, grasping for, desiring, lusting after, attaining, but never being able to hold firmly to for long.
“I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” (Eccl. 1:14)
The best of what the world has to offer is what mankind desires, whether it is the largest yacht or the newest drug, the mind of the unrepentant man knows of nothing else.
We who serve Christ seek for pleasure as well, but many deny themselves pleasure here in hopes of greater pleasures in heaven. To put it bluntly, they desire heaven above Christ.
How often have you read and heard of those who speak of streets of gold, of the gates of pearl, of no more pain and suffering, of a place instead of a person, of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even Psalm 16:11 speaks thusly, of pleasures forevermore, yet is that pleasure in your mind envisioned as a place where the light never dims, do you see all there walking in white robes with continuous smiles on their faces, where the personal still takes precedence over the glory of God.
Do you see heaven as a benefit to yourself, or do you see being in the presence of the Lord as your goal?
To rest from our labors means the labor has been completed, and as long as you breathe the air of this planet that will not happen. In the presence of the Lord is fullness of joy, but if you look around you for as far as the eye can see and you see nothing but white, not one thing but eternal white, that fullness of joy will still envelope you.
“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
It would be wise of you to contemplate what the Almighty said to Abraham, “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” (Gen. 15:1)
Satan does not so much savor the materialistic as he does that emotionally charged moment when the desire has been achieved, will you do the same when you see heaven, or when you see Christ? Will any of the surroundings that you see when He first comes into your sight bear any consequence to you? Will you even notice where you are when His face first comes into view?
“When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.” (Psalm 27:8)
The pleasures forevermore, the joys of the wonders of heaven, of the New Jerusalem, of eternity that awaits us, all pale when we look at the Savior. When we see the Lord Jesus Christ for the first time, everything, past and future will flee from our mind, only that present moment will matter, for He is the culmination of all things.
All that awaits us, as they say, is icing on the cake compared to that moment.
The things that Satan savors, those things of man, cannot be eternally obtained, they are a constant pursuit, you know this as a truth, the thing will rust, the emotion will fade, only the present moment brings a false fullness, and then it passes away.
If heaven and all the wonders of what awaits those who have been born-again was never once mentioned in the Scriptures, would Christ be enough for you, would He be your one desire?
