Meaningless?
“Meaningless, meaningless, everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “Utterly Meaningless!” With these words Solomon opens the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon, in Chapters 1 and 2, describes life – and how the same fate, death, overtakes both rich and poor, wise and foolish. He sees that, in the end, all that man strives to be and to attain comes to nothing after he dies – he is not remembered by future generations, and all his wealth is passed on to someone else. So, he wonders, why live wisely or chase after wealth? He does see that wisdom is better than folly, but what does man gain for his toil?
I see this attitude in the world all around me, especially in the teenagers I work with. They wonder, “Why live the way someone tells me I should? Why tell the truth if I would get in trouble? Having goals isn’t going to stop my parents from abusing me, gangs from controlling me, etc!” In the cliché words of the acting world, “What’s my motivation!?” They don’t ask me these questions in so many words, but these questions ring clear each time I teach a lesson. One day, I sat down to consider this, and realized that really, without God, there is no motivation to live “right.” The only motivation is to “make the world a better place” or be thought of as “a good person.” But if no one remembers generations later, and if it doesn’t change life circumstances, why bother?
I read once that “While Proverbs begins with God and asks, ‘How should we live?’ Ecclesiastes begins without God and asks, ‘Why should we live?’” This, brothers and sisters, is a revelation that has radically changed my perspective. God provides the motivation, the meaning, and the purpose in live. “For in Him we live and move and have our being.” “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Simply, it is God, not culture, not environment, not family and friends, that give life purpose and meaning. With God as your life center, you have Someone stable and unchanging on which to build your life’s foundation. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Isn’t this a wonderful promise? In a world whose ideologies and messages change like the shifting sand, we have a solid rock, Jesus Christ, “the Chief Cornerstone” on whom to build our lives!!!
Therefore, standing on this firm foundation, we have a calling – a calling to offer this Meaning and Purpose to those in the world – not violently, not in coercion, but in love. When you offer Jesus, the glorious message of the Gospel, to those around you, do so out of compassion and love, out of a desire to offer what is good and eternal to your friends and family. Give more than just a sermon. Give life, give purpose, and see what happens when God puts real meaning into life!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
The Great Commission
Witnessing. Sharing the Gospel. The Great Commission. Whatever you happen to call it, we're all as Christians called to do it. Ironically, this is the one thing that most of us find ourselves failing to do. I'm in that boat too. Often it's not that we intentionally set out NOT to tell people about Christ. We get too busy and miss opportunities; we aren't quite sure how to bring it up; we don't want to make the converstation awkward, etc. Whatever the reason, we leave the situation with that feeling like "I really should have said something." or "OH! I totally could have said_____!"
Sometimes I find that it is hardest to talk to family members and close friends about the Gospel. My Bible study group discussed this issue a few weeks ago - how many times we would much rather talk about Jesus to people we don't know and will likely never see again. The contradiction here never fails to baffle me, even though I often feel the same way. How is it that we feel comfortable telling complete strangers about God's love and the fact that they need salvation, but not our friends and family, whom we claim to love? Is it loving to dance around the truth, talking about things that don't really matter at all? Sometimes this hesitaition comes from fear - if the conversation gets tense, these are people we have to talk to again soon!
What I have also found to be true in my own life is that I am afraid that my friend or family member will ask me a question I don't know the answer to, and I will look like a fool. I know many other Christians feel the same way. I was talking to a friend of mine about this very issue, and he said to me "I'm just afraid I'm gonna talk to someone who knows more about the Bible than I do! What if they ask me a hard question and I can't answer?" This is a legitimate fear! This is a fear that paralyzes. I wasn't sure what to say, and all I can tell you is that what I said came from God, because I needed the reassurance too.
I told him, "It's okay if you don't know all the answers to every question. You are telling them about Jesus - you know him! Beloved brothers and sisters, God is not going to kick you out of His family just beacuse you don't have all the right answers. You have THE answer - the Way, the Truth, and the Life. You can tell people you don't know everything - but you know the One who does! Give the world Jesus; He is the one who died to set the world free. If you are a Christian, you have the Holy Spirit living within you, and you know Jesus.
So, I guess all I'm trying to say is this: be bold. Most of the original 12 apostles were mere fishermen from Galilee. They had no formal seminary training. They weren't learned about all the questions every religion had about Jesus. But they changed the world through their testimony. They testified to what Jesus had done, and GOD CHANGED LIVES! Remember, you are called to sow the seed; God is the One who makes that seed grow.(I Cor 3:5-8).
Questions, comments (if for some reason you find you can't post here), or prayer requests, feel free to e-mail me. Theologynerd330@gmail.com
Sometimes I find that it is hardest to talk to family members and close friends about the Gospel. My Bible study group discussed this issue a few weeks ago - how many times we would much rather talk about Jesus to people we don't know and will likely never see again. The contradiction here never fails to baffle me, even though I often feel the same way. How is it that we feel comfortable telling complete strangers about God's love and the fact that they need salvation, but not our friends and family, whom we claim to love? Is it loving to dance around the truth, talking about things that don't really matter at all? Sometimes this hesitaition comes from fear - if the conversation gets tense, these are people we have to talk to again soon!
What I have also found to be true in my own life is that I am afraid that my friend or family member will ask me a question I don't know the answer to, and I will look like a fool. I know many other Christians feel the same way. I was talking to a friend of mine about this very issue, and he said to me "I'm just afraid I'm gonna talk to someone who knows more about the Bible than I do! What if they ask me a hard question and I can't answer?" This is a legitimate fear! This is a fear that paralyzes. I wasn't sure what to say, and all I can tell you is that what I said came from God, because I needed the reassurance too.
I told him, "It's okay if you don't know all the answers to every question. You are telling them about Jesus - you know him! Beloved brothers and sisters, God is not going to kick you out of His family just beacuse you don't have all the right answers. You have THE answer - the Way, the Truth, and the Life. You can tell people you don't know everything - but you know the One who does! Give the world Jesus; He is the one who died to set the world free. If you are a Christian, you have the Holy Spirit living within you, and you know Jesus.
So, I guess all I'm trying to say is this: be bold. Most of the original 12 apostles were mere fishermen from Galilee. They had no formal seminary training. They weren't learned about all the questions every religion had about Jesus. But they changed the world through their testimony. They testified to what Jesus had done, and GOD CHANGED LIVES! Remember, you are called to sow the seed; God is the One who makes that seed grow.(I Cor 3:5-8).
Questions, comments (if for some reason you find you can't post here), or prayer requests, feel free to e-mail me. Theologynerd330@gmail.com
Monday, May 3, 2010
Unanswered Prayers
Unanswered Prayers –
Perhaps there is nothing more difficult, more heartbreaking, more discouraging, than feeling like you have unanswered prayers. This may lead to feeling like God doesn’t hear, or doesn’t care, especially when your prayer is a cry from deep within your heart – something so incredibly important – a job so you can feed your family, a friend who desperately needs Jesus, a friend who is struggling with faith, a family member with a terminal illness – all those prayers during which you cry out, “God, this isn’t just anyone, this is my ________ (son, father, best friend, mother, etc.)
Often, it’s not so much a matter of doubting that God is powerful enough, or even doubting that He cares for you, but a struggle that develops when His ways are not your own, when He acts in ways you don’t understand. Isaiah 55 says, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord, ‘ as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” God sees all from the perspective of eternity. We only see today; we are so limited. Even when we think we understand how something should be, the truth is, only God can see everything, how all will pan out in the end.
I write this because I am currently facing my own “unanswered prayers.” I have some people close to me for whom I have been earnestly praying for months now. I know God is all-powerful, and I know He loves me, and cares for me. “Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you.” “One thing the Lord has spoken, two things have I heard; that you, O Lord, are loving, and you, O Lord, are strong.” I know God is faithful – He has been faithful numerous times before, and I believe He will be faithful again.
So, today, if you are facing a situation where your cries to God feel as though they go unanswered, take heart. God sees you; He hears your cries, and He cares. Don’t give up praying, but pray resting in the knowledge that God’s ways are higher than yours. James Dobson once wrote in his book Keeping the Faith when God Doesn’t Make Sense, “Jesus is always on time, even when He appears catastrophically late.” When Lazarus died, I’m sure Mary and Martha felt like Jesus didn’t care because He didn’t come when they sent word that Lazarus was sick. But Jesus had something better up His mighty sleeve – he wasn’t going to merely heal the sick, He was going to raise the dead! So, if Jesus appears catastrophically late in answering your prayers, He will work all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Continue to pray, take heart – “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” - Psalm 27:14
If you are in need of prayer, feel free to e-mail me at theologynerd330@gmail.com.
Perhaps there is nothing more difficult, more heartbreaking, more discouraging, than feeling like you have unanswered prayers. This may lead to feeling like God doesn’t hear, or doesn’t care, especially when your prayer is a cry from deep within your heart – something so incredibly important – a job so you can feed your family, a friend who desperately needs Jesus, a friend who is struggling with faith, a family member with a terminal illness – all those prayers during which you cry out, “God, this isn’t just anyone, this is my ________ (son, father, best friend, mother, etc.)
Often, it’s not so much a matter of doubting that God is powerful enough, or even doubting that He cares for you, but a struggle that develops when His ways are not your own, when He acts in ways you don’t understand. Isaiah 55 says, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord, ‘ as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” God sees all from the perspective of eternity. We only see today; we are so limited. Even when we think we understand how something should be, the truth is, only God can see everything, how all will pan out in the end.
I write this because I am currently facing my own “unanswered prayers.” I have some people close to me for whom I have been earnestly praying for months now. I know God is all-powerful, and I know He loves me, and cares for me. “Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you.” “One thing the Lord has spoken, two things have I heard; that you, O Lord, are loving, and you, O Lord, are strong.” I know God is faithful – He has been faithful numerous times before, and I believe He will be faithful again.
So, today, if you are facing a situation where your cries to God feel as though they go unanswered, take heart. God sees you; He hears your cries, and He cares. Don’t give up praying, but pray resting in the knowledge that God’s ways are higher than yours. James Dobson once wrote in his book Keeping the Faith when God Doesn’t Make Sense, “Jesus is always on time, even when He appears catastrophically late.” When Lazarus died, I’m sure Mary and Martha felt like Jesus didn’t care because He didn’t come when they sent word that Lazarus was sick. But Jesus had something better up His mighty sleeve – he wasn’t going to merely heal the sick, He was going to raise the dead! So, if Jesus appears catastrophically late in answering your prayers, He will work all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Continue to pray, take heart – “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” - Psalm 27:14
If you are in need of prayer, feel free to e-mail me at theologynerd330@gmail.com.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
The Way of Purity
This is something I wrote recently. I was thinking through what it meant for me to obey God and choose the way of purity, to dismiss the world's standards and live differently, especially in the area of relationships. I also wrote this specifically addressing trying to view the single years as a gift, instead of a curse. This is meant mainly to speak to women, but hopefully it can encourage young men as well:
I won't lie. The way of purity is often lonely, heartbreaking, and pain-filled. You will see happy couples everywhere you go. Your friends will be telling you engagement stories, and it will seem as though everyone you know is getting married.
Of course you will be happy, truly, sincerely happy for them - you will rejoice at their rejoicing. The weddings you attend will be happy affairs. But deep inside you, you will feel the ache, the longing. Every love song will remind you that you have no one to hold, no one to whisper sweet things in your ear and promise you forever. From somewhere in your heart, the loneliness will well up and threaten to suffocate you, squeezing the joy out of everyday life. There will be days you feel like running for your room, curling up in ball and crying until you have no tears left. I am not trying to be gloomy or negative - just honest - this is how it will feel sometimes.
But this is my hope, my ray of sunshine piercing the clouds of despair: My Savior, My God, who has called me to this, has not asked me to walk this road alone. He has not left me to walk my valleys alone. He is always with me, my Guide and my sufficiency when I feel broken and weary. When I am tired of walking this path, He is my strength - even when I feel no one is there, He is holding me. When that consuming loneliness and discontent come upon me, He will be my joy. That loneliness cannot stand in the presence of His love and His promise.
That loneliness is now my signal to run into His arms. Yes, it is okay to take your loneliness, your broken heart to Him. He is "a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering" (Isa 53:3). He made every part of you, sees each piece of your heart. Run to Him, lay your head on His chest and give Him all your pain. Let His presence soothe away your ache and let His nail pierced hands dry your tears. Look into His eyes, and hear His sweet voice saying, "I have summoned you by name; you are mine." Bask in the beauty of holiness, in the glory of belonging - belonging to the King of Kings, the Bridegroom. When all truth seems drowned out, - hold onto this one fact, this one truth - you are loved by the King of Kings. If you run to Him, He will soothe away your hurt, and fill you with His sufficiency and joy.
So, as I said, I won't lie: the way of purity is often lonely, heartbreaking, and pain filled. But there is One who knows your heart even better than you do. He will supply all your needs. Run to Him; delight yourself in Him. Remember: in the end, when all is said and done, no one ever regretted obeying and following God - it WILL BE WORTH IT!
I won't lie. The way of purity is often lonely, heartbreaking, and pain-filled. You will see happy couples everywhere you go. Your friends will be telling you engagement stories, and it will seem as though everyone you know is getting married.
Of course you will be happy, truly, sincerely happy for them - you will rejoice at their rejoicing. The weddings you attend will be happy affairs. But deep inside you, you will feel the ache, the longing. Every love song will remind you that you have no one to hold, no one to whisper sweet things in your ear and promise you forever. From somewhere in your heart, the loneliness will well up and threaten to suffocate you, squeezing the joy out of everyday life. There will be days you feel like running for your room, curling up in ball and crying until you have no tears left. I am not trying to be gloomy or negative - just honest - this is how it will feel sometimes.
But this is my hope, my ray of sunshine piercing the clouds of despair: My Savior, My God, who has called me to this, has not asked me to walk this road alone. He has not left me to walk my valleys alone. He is always with me, my Guide and my sufficiency when I feel broken and weary. When I am tired of walking this path, He is my strength - even when I feel no one is there, He is holding me. When that consuming loneliness and discontent come upon me, He will be my joy. That loneliness cannot stand in the presence of His love and His promise.
That loneliness is now my signal to run into His arms. Yes, it is okay to take your loneliness, your broken heart to Him. He is "a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering" (Isa 53:3). He made every part of you, sees each piece of your heart. Run to Him, lay your head on His chest and give Him all your pain. Let His presence soothe away your ache and let His nail pierced hands dry your tears. Look into His eyes, and hear His sweet voice saying, "I have summoned you by name; you are mine." Bask in the beauty of holiness, in the glory of belonging - belonging to the King of Kings, the Bridegroom. When all truth seems drowned out, - hold onto this one fact, this one truth - you are loved by the King of Kings. If you run to Him, He will soothe away your hurt, and fill you with His sufficiency and joy.
So, as I said, I won't lie: the way of purity is often lonely, heartbreaking, and pain filled. But there is One who knows your heart even better than you do. He will supply all your needs. Run to Him; delight yourself in Him. Remember: in the end, when all is said and done, no one ever regretted obeying and following God - it WILL BE WORTH IT!
First of all..
Hello, anyone reading this blog.
I decided to start a blog, where I can post my reflections, reactions, and responses to what God is teaching me through His Word.
I don't claim to be highly wise, or theologically brilliant, I don't even claim to always make sense. But I thought that, just maybe, I can use what God is teaching me, the ways He is stretching and encouraging my life, to encourage someone else out there. So, I don't know how often I will post, but look for updates recounting the circumstances of life God is bringing me through, and what He is teaching me through His word. My hope is that somehow He can use whatever I may post here to encourage or challenge you as well, and to bring glory and honor unto His name!
Thanks for reading my ramblings - Blessings!
I decided to start a blog, where I can post my reflections, reactions, and responses to what God is teaching me through His Word.
I don't claim to be highly wise, or theologically brilliant, I don't even claim to always make sense. But I thought that, just maybe, I can use what God is teaching me, the ways He is stretching and encouraging my life, to encourage someone else out there. So, I don't know how often I will post, but look for updates recounting the circumstances of life God is bringing me through, and what He is teaching me through His word. My hope is that somehow He can use whatever I may post here to encourage or challenge you as well, and to bring glory and honor unto His name!
Thanks for reading my ramblings - Blessings!
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