法國哲學家巴斯卡（Blaise Pascal）有句名言，提到每個人心中都有一個「無限的空洞」，唯有無限的上帝才能填滿。神學家奧古斯丁曾向上帝禱告說：「主啊！祢為自己的緣故創造了我們，只有找到祢，我們那焦躁不安的心，才能在祢裡面得享平靜與安息。」詩人大衛也說，我們就像身處在沙漠一樣，極其乾渴，身心靈都「切慕」上帝（詩篇63篇1節）。

但令人驚訝的是，並非只有人會有渴望，上帝也有。雖然這位無限的上帝創造了宇宙，祂無需從任何事物來得到滿足。但聖經說，當我們遠離上帝，祂「深願」我們能回轉歸向祂（雅各書4章4-5節，當代譯本修訂版），並一再表明祂渴望有一群屬於祂的子民（出埃及記6章7節；希伯來書8章10節）。

數千年來，這份渴望推動上帝展開拯救工作：祂差派先知使悖逆的百姓能回轉；最終差遣祂的愛子尋找迷失的羊（以賽亞書30章18節；路加福音19章10節）。好消息是，這渴望終將實現！啟示錄21章2-3節說：「他們要作祂的子民。上帝要親自與他們同在，作他們的上帝。」將來上帝和人類會永遠同住。

人類對上帝的渴望，以及上帝對人類的渴望，都沒有任何事物能取而代之！因此，一個罪人悔改，在天上也為他歡喜（路加福音15章7節）。當我們奔向上帝的懷抱，我們與上帝的渴望都能得到滿足。

Blaise Pascal famously said there’s an “infinite abyss” inside us that only an infinite God can fill. “You have made us for yourself, O Lord,” Augustine prayed, “and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” As David put it, like thirsty people in the desert, our whole being “longs” for God (Psalm 63:1).

Surprisingly, however, it isn’t only humans that experience longing. God does too. While the infinite God of the universe needs nothing outside Himself to be fulfilled, the Bible says He “longs” to have us back when we stray (James 4:4-5), and repeatedly says He wants a people to call His own (Exodus 6:7; Hebrews 8:10).

For thousands of years this longing has fueled God’s missionary endeavors: sending prophets to win back His straying people and ultimately sending His Son to find His lost sheep (Isaiah 30:18; Luke 19:10). The good news is that in the end, this longing will be fulfilled. “They will be his people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God,” and God and human beings will dwell together (Revelation 21:2-3).

Humans long for God, and no substitute will satisfy. God longs for humans, and no substitute will do. So no wonder there’s rejoicing in heaven when one sinner repents (Luke 15:7). When we run to God’s open arms, everyone is fulfilled.