“Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart, But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” -Psalm 73:1

Can you relate to any of that? Ever wonder why the wicked seem to have it better than you? Ever wonder why sin seems to be more satisfying than service? Ever wonder if any of this waiting for God is even worth it? I have.

“All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence...” -Psalm 73:13

And I don’t know about you but it comforts me greatly that even the guys that wrote the Bible felt what I feel. I’m not the only one. According to Psalm 73 I’m not the first to wonder if this whole obedience thing is all its cracked up to be. I’m not the only one thinking that sin looks pretty attractive sometimes. I’m not the first to wonder if I’m missing out.

Thank God. He knows our fragile hearts. He knows what a wretched machine we drive. He knows our need.

And in Psalm 73, He shows us how to fight. He shows how to find a place of “disenchantment” with the world. Like in those old fairy tales when the evil sorcerer’s spell is broken, He shows us there are ways that we can break the bewitching that this world has held on us, and wake up from our daydreams.

But you know, it takes an opening of our eyes, and an unraveling of our heart’s desires. It takes a deconstruction of our idols. It takes an awakening.

Look at this guy in the Psalm. He’s looking around and saying to himself, “Dang. This world has a lot to offer. And you know, excess and wild indulgence looks pretty good right now. Those guys are doing it, and they’re having a good time. They don’t look sick or worried, they look like they’re enjoying themselves! Maybe I’ve had it all wrong about moderation. Maybe I’ve had it all wrong about sin, about God...about everything.”

And just when you think He’s just gonna give up on God; jump ship and jump in. Just when you think sin is truly going to be more attractive to him than Christ, the writer comes out with this:

until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood their end.”

And then, just a few verses later, he proclaims the unthinkable and cries, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

“My portion forever?” “Nothing on earth that I desire besides you?” Wait. What? Nothing on earth? Weren’t you the guy who was jealous of the wicked? Weren’t you the guy that was just thinking purity was vain? What on earth happened? What changed?

“until I went into the sanctuary of God.”

You see this right? For 16 straight verses this guy is questioning everything. He’s wondering why He’s been pure. He’s been thinking that the created might be better than the creator. He’s wondering if God can really give him more than the world can.

THEN something happens. Something happens to him in the sanctuary, and it’s so incredible, so utterly fantastic, that it actually transforms the very desires of his heart. And so much so, that the spell is not only broken, it’s completely destroyed.

Can you guess what it was? I’m sure you can surmise, as can I. But I don’t think we have to think too hard to know that what he encountered must have been God Himself. Or at least, some form, some shadow, some foretaste of God Himself. Because really, what else could change everything so quickly or emphatically? The world and its charms are no longer any match for the ten thousand charms he has experienced in God’s presence. You can see it in his own words, “earth has nothing I desire besides you.”

Oh man, I want to experience God that way. I want to encounter Him in the sanctuary and be ruined for the weak and momentary pleasures this world offers us. I want to be disenchanted. Don’t you? I mean, I know I’m not the only one. How many times have we all been running after the momentary, after fame or prestige, or success or money or sex or respect only to come up empty? Only to have it turn to dust in our hands? Man, I want to be done with the pretty things. I want to be done making the good things He has made for us to enjoy into ultimate things that can never satisfy. I want to meet Him in the sanctuary. I pray that you do to. God give us eyes to see.