"More . . ."

When my granddaughter Stella was very little, she made good use of the word more when she really liked something. Her favorite food was quesadillas. No matter what time of the day — breakfast, lunch, or dinner — she wanted quesadillas. Only she called it a "dilla."

"Stella, what would you like to eat?"

"Dilla."

And usually when I would give her one, she would then say, "More."

It was the same when I read her a Bible story before bedtime. As soon as I finished the story, she said, "More." So I read her another story, and at the end she said, "More." So I did another. "More." And another. "More." And on and on it would go.

Quesadillas and stories about Jesus are good things, and to this day, we’re always happy to supply Stella with all she wants — of both. Sometimes, however, this desire for "more" can create problems for us — especially if we’re craving more of the wrong things. (Like ice cream or Krispy Kreme doughnuts.)

Deep down inside we’re all like little Stella, saying, "More." We always want a little bit more out of life — the newest, the latest, the freshest, the coolest. We want more. That is the way God has wired us. But here’s the problem: as much as we see, taste, and experience life, it always seems like it just isn’t quite enough.

Do you know why that is? As we read in today’s opening verse, God has placed a seed of eternity deep in our innermost being. In our heart of hearts, there is a recognition that this world won’t be able to deliver on its promises. No matter what this world gives us, we find ourselves wanting more: More life. More hope. More joy. More peace. More satisfaction. And, ultimately, more of the presence of God Himself.

In Heaven, those desires will be fulfilled in a way beyond what we can imagine. But until that day when we cross over to the other side, He willingly gives us more and more and more of Himself. And that’s the closest thing we have to Heaven on earth.