Is Satisfaction Guaranteed for Christians?

There are a total of forty-three verses in the Bible where the word satisfied is used. Thirteen of those Scriptures contain a negative connotation about being satisfied. Below is a list of those Scriptures with the not-being-satisfied verses highlighted. Take time to read over them, but you may need to read surrounding verses to be able to gather the context to which it is referring. 

(Exodus 15:9; Deuteronomy 14:29, 33:23; Psalm 17:15, 22:26, 36:8, 37:19, 63:5, 65:4, 81:16, 104:13, 105:40; Proverbs 12:11, 12:14, 14:14, 18:20, 19:23, 20:13; Ecclesiastes 4:8; Isaiah 44:16, 53:11, 66:11; Jeremiah 31:14, 50:10, 50:19; Lamentations 5:6; Joel 2:19, 2:26; Micah 6:14; Habakkuk 2:5)

Today, we are going to look at the book of Joel. The book of Joel cautions the individuals of Judah and can be applied to the Christians of today. The people of Judah had become thrivingly comfortable in their lifestyle and self-satisfied in their relationship with God. While underrating God, they had become self-important. They revered icons (idols) and fell into sin and transgression. Joel alerts them that this lifestyle will unavoidably make God cast his judgment down upon them.

In the initial segment of chapter one, Joel predicts that a plague of locusts will happen and announces that they should repent. In chapter two, Joel cautions them of the oncoming judgment, admonishes them to get back to the Lord their God, and tells them that God will spill his Spirit out upon them. Finally, in chapter three, Joel lets them know that the Day of the Lord is close.

Today, we will examine verses twelve through twenty-seven, focusing on verses nineteen and twenty-six.

In verses 12-13:

God had told his people to come back to Him while the window of opportunity was still open. There was no time to spare, and annihilation would arrive before long. There is no time for us to spare either. Since we do not have any idea when our lives will end, we ought to go to the Lord now while we actually can. We should not allow anything to keep us away from going to God, nor can we afford to (Deuteronomy 4:29-31).

Heartfelt shame was often shown by the tearing of one's clothing. Yet, God did not simply want an outward presentation of guilt without genuine internal atonement (1 Samuel 16:7; Matthew 23:1-36). We should be certain that our mentality toward God is right, in addition to our outward deeds.

In verse 18:

Joel arrives at a defining moment in his prediction. He moves from forecasting about an overflow of God's judgment to forecasting about a generous flood of God's pardoning and favoring. Yet, this would come provided that the individuals tried to live as God directed them to and surrendered their evil ways. Where there is atonement, there is hope and trust. This segment of the book caters to that expectation. On the off chance that it was not there, Joel's prophecy would only bring hopelessness. This guarantee of pardoning ought to have urged the individuals to be contrite.

In verse 21:

Joel differentiates the feeling of dread toward God's judgment (2:1) with the delight of God's intercession (2:21). Sin will welcome judgment on the Day of the Lord, and only the forgiveness of God will bring celebrating. If we do not atone for our sins, our transgression will bring about judgment. We need to allow God to intercede in our lives, and then we can celebrate on that day since we will not have anything to fear. Before, there were diseases, fasting, and lamentations; then, there would be a harvest, feasting, praise, and worship. When God reigns, His retaliation is finished. Meanwhile, we should recollect that God does not guarantee that His people will be prosperous and wealthy now.

When God does pardon, He reestablishes our relationship with Him, however this does not ensure individual abundance. However, God vows to meet the most profound requirements of the individuals who love Him by adoring us, excusing us, providing us with motivation throughout everyday life, and putting a mindful group of Christian family and friends to help us along the way.

In verses 26-27:

Assuming that the Jews could at no point in the future experience a fiasco like this plague of locusts (“shall never be ashamed”), how can one make sense of the imprisonment in Babylon, the Jews' bondage under the Greeks and Romans, and their oppression under Hitler? It is significant not to take these verses in the wrong way (out of context). It is still a segment of Joel’s prophecy of blessings. If the individuals really atoned for their sins, would they escape destruction like Joel had portrayed? God's gifts are guaranteed uniquely to the people who earnestly and regularly follow Him. God guarantees that on the last day of Judgment, His followers will never experience this sort of calamity (Zechariah 14:9-11; Revelation 21).

In this prophecy and in Ezekiel 39:29, God vows to spill out his Spirit on humankind. The early church accepted that this started to come to fruition at Pentecost when God's Holy Spirit came to abide in all believers (Acts 2:1-18) (you shall be satisfied and no longer a reproach among the heathen). Being satisfied means having all that we need in the Lord.

• Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
• Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
• Philippians 4:11, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

We need to learn to be satisfied with what we have, with all that God has given us and what He continues to give us.

Is God satisfied with us?

For those who are saved by the Grace of God, by believing in the birth, life, death, burial, and resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus Christ the Messiah, then God is satisfied with them. When God looks down from Heaven and looks at the Saved, He sees His Son Jesus, the One who came down from Heaven and took our place upon the Cross of Calvary. Placing our faith in Christ is what is required.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” - Isaiah 1:18

But is God happy with how we live the lives that Jesus bought and paid for? I am not sure who the author is, but there is an old song titled “Is He Satisfied with Me?” Do you ever search your heart as you watch the day depart? Is there something way down deep you are trying to hide? If this day should be the end and eternity begin when the Book is open wide, would the Lord be satisfied? Is He satisfied with me? Is He satisfied with me? Have I done my best, and have I stood the test? ls He was satisfied with me. 

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Chris Swanson answered the call into the ministry over 20 years ago. He has served as a Sunday School teacher, a youth director along with his wife, a music director, an associate pastor, and an interim pastor. He is a retired Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman with over 30 years of combined active and reserve service. You can contact Chris here, and check out his work here.

This article originally appeared on Christianity.com. For more faith-building resources, visit Christianity.com.