Kant wanted lasting happiness which led him into experimenting different means. He set his heart on being wealthy and owning only branded items. His material possessions increased and so did his position in the medical world.
He became an expert in his field and yet felt empty. He realised that possessions easily lose their charm. He ended up believing that human desire is part of the lower order of creation. He concluded that he must kill his desires if he wanted to find lasting happiness.
Kant grappled with the question ‘if material things don’t give permanent happiness then what does or rather who will?’ This led him to explore the nature of God.
Kant wanted to know if God desires? He turned to the Bible to find the answer. Kant smiled as he read that even God desires. The Bible states, “God desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4). In order to save humanity and liberate mankind from the chains of a darkened mind that separates us from the life of God and makes us feel empty; God sent His Son into the world as an atoning sacrifice for our sins and deliver us if we turn to him.
Kant was overjoyed as he realised that all desires are not inferior or evil. Jesus revealed the self-sacrificial love of God when he incarnated and became one of us yet without sin. On the day of Pentecost, God poured out the Holy Spirit on all those gathered, fulfilling the promise that he would pour his Spirit on all flesh. It is the Holy Spirit who pours the love of God in our hearts (Rom.5:5) and empowers us to witness (Acts 1:8) and live a Christlike life.( 2 Cor.3:18). Kant found lasting happiness as he desired God revealed in Jesus. Do you have lasting happiness or are you on a never ending search for what satisfies?