Recently, I went to see The Great Gatsby with some friends. Throughout the movie my heart ached for Gatsby. He had almost everything in the world, yet was still so lost and unhappy. He had enough money to do whatever he wanted. He threw huge wild parties and spent so much money each and every weekend just for love.
The movie made it seem like the only way for Gatsby to fill his void of emptiness, loneliness, and unhappiness was if he and Daisy could finally be together forever, true love till death do us part. The movie got part of it right, that only true love can bring fulfillment, but that love can not be filled by any human.
Only by Jesus dying on the cross for our broken and sinful selfs can that love be fulfilled. His death is what allowed us to experience communion with God. That communion is the only thing that can bring us never-ending complete joy.
Gatsby's story is not an original one, it also parallels a story from the book of the bible Ecclesiastes.
"I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem[a] as well—the delights of a man’s heart. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
and this was the reward for all my toil.
11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun." - Ecclesiastes 2:5-11
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
and this was the reward for all my toil.
11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun." - Ecclesiastes 2:5-11
The man denied himself nothing, yet in the end he realizes he has gained nothing, just like Gatsby. Oh how this is our world today. If only I had this, then I would be happy. I can also think of things to fill the blank. If only I had ___, then I would be happier. But unlike Gatsby, I've experienced the only thing that will ever fill that void: communication and love with my creator.
