What is wrong with you? Hey, I don't want to eat nothing but pancakes, I want to live!

Johnny Mac was in the local area Friday night. He was speaking on Luke 15, particularly the parable of the "Prodigal Son" (audio).

It was a good message and there's a quote I just have to share:

The gospel of Jesus Christ does not offer the sinner what the sinner, in his flesh, already wants. Any gospel that appeals to what an unregenerate sinner already wants is not the gospel of Jesus Christ. Unregenerate sinners want health, wealth, prosperity, success, happiness. That’s what sinners in their unredeemed condition want already. The gospel doesn’t come to offer the impenitent sinner what he wants in the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. The gospel offers the sinner what the sinner must have, which is forgiveness of sins, even if it costs him everything. (emphasis mine)
– John F. MacArthur, Jr.

The regenerate person, one born again, wants what this world cannot offer. One born again unto faith desires true life, not the counterfeit of trying to numb the pain with stuff or our best life now.