For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
Motorways have a strange effect on me, peculiar as I am; amidst flashing lights and screeching tyres, sirens and indicators, I pause and consider the meaning of it all (much to the anger of the drivers stuck behind me!).
Have you ever looked at the sheer mass of lorries and simply thought- why?! In one short journey think how many Eddie Stobart lorries you might see? And then consider: half of those were traveling one way, half the other. Wouldn't it just be more efficient to let the people in the North keep their things and the people in the South theirs? Hundreds upon hundreds, thousands upon thousands of people....all..... moving, talking, working, sleeping, eating, driving.... and why? What's the point of it all?
I like watching Reggie Perrin, a TV series in which an overworked middle manager comes to terms with the futility of his existence (some sitcoms actually do contain some serious content!) In an earlier blog- A-Road Inspiration- I told of Reggie's annoyance at his work: he designs and sells razors, but after all his concerted effort and care, people's hair just keeps growing back!
Frankly, a life without meaning is meaningless. Agreed?
Good news though. This, my fourth 'positive spin' on being a follower of the Messiah of the bible, is this: Jesus gives us a purpose.
There is a popular children's song, based on a bible character, which goes like this: (for a bonus point see if you can work out who the character is!)
Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone.
Dare to have a purpose bold and dare to make it known.
So what is this 'purpose bold'? Why should Jesus Christ give our lives meaning?
Simple really, it was through and for Jesus that we were created in the first place!
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
I don't know how you react to the news that we were created by and for someone else, but our great-great-great-great-great-grandparents didn't like it one bit! They rebelled against the Lord God and no longer 'walked with him'. They did anything and everything they could think of which would anger God- from their revolt came murder, theft, lust, perversions, lies and deceit (to name but a few).
A righteous and just God would have no choice but to utterly destroy any rebellion and wickedness going on in his kingdom. The good news which the whole bible is focused on is this: God sent his only son to be punished so that his rebellious subjects could be forgiven and not destroyed. Why? Because he loved us. Why? We don't know.
When we are forgiven and become followers of Jesus we re-discover that purpose and meaning which our ancestors lost. An old Church document, called the Westminster Catechism, was made- using the bible- to remind Christians of the basis of their faith. One thing it said was this:
Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever.
Perhaps this puts you off of Christianity. Why should I dedicate my life to someone else's glory? If you need to ask that question then you have missed the whole point of the bible. When Jesus died on the cross, he died because he loves us. That kind of love cannot help but be reciprocated. We love God, the scriptures say, because he first loved us. Get this: we actually want to serve and glorify Jesus! And it brings us a great joy to do so.
By worshiping Jesus Christ in all we do, we actually discover that life is fuller and more wholesome than we originally thought! I remember one speaker we had at church took an elder by surprise with these words, "Someone once asked me what Christians do. He said that we are strict and have so many activities which we won't do. So lets find out what Christians are up to this week- can we have the notices please, John?" That made him jump, he'd been nodding off at the back!
Yes, there are activities that believers avoid. Not because we want spiritual 'brownie points' (or pozy points, as we had at lower school!) but because we love our Saviour and want to be like him.
Its a generally accepted rule that 3 sets of results which agree are 'fact'. Well the bible has this to say- not once, not twice, but thrice:
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for menChristians are weird. Christians don't do what other people do. Christians boggle the mind. Why? Because they aren't living for career, or love, or wealth. No. Instead they are living for Jesus.
They have a purpose. Do you?
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