From a book I just picked up by John Piper (don't waste your life -- haven't cracked it open yet):
"I will tell you what a tragedy is. I will show you how to waster your life. Consider this story from the February 1998 Reader's Digest: A couple 'took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30-foot trawler, play softball and collect shells...' Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: 'Look, Lord. See my shells.' That is a tragedy."
"God created us to live with a single passion: to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life. The wasted life is the life without this passion. God calls us to pray and think and dream and plan and work not to be made much of, but to make much of him in every part of our lives."
I look forward to the read.
Hear the Word and live the Word!
Grace and Peace
Showing posts with label purpose. Show all posts
Showing posts with label purpose. Show all posts
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Monday, September 21, 2009
Meaning Of Life
Who are you going to listen to regarding what life is about?
How about the philosopher? The one that says there is no God and life is meaningless. If evolution were true, which it is not, life would be meaningless. The philosopher would be right. We would just be here because of random chance. We would have no absolute moral standard. We would have nothing to look forward to after death. All the things we do in this life would in the end amount to absolutely nothing. That would be very, very, depressing.
How about the entertainer? The one that says life is all about pleasure. This person could say there is no God (in which case I life would really have no purpose anyway) or there is a God, but he just wants us to have the most fun we can before we die. We would be like those cursed pirates in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie who, no matter how much they have, they are never satisfied. I know that feeling well.
How about the the psychologist? The one that says life is all about self discovery? I don't even know what to say about this one. Self discovery, or finding oneself, just sounds dumb, doesn't it? When you're the lost sheep you can't find yourself; the shepherd comes and finds you.
None of these sound very appealing. Not one bit. No man made explanation regarding the purpose of life is satisfactory.
I'll listen to what the Bible says about what life is about. In a nutshell, glorifying God and enjoying him forever. We do that by fearing him and obeying him. By keeping focused on eternity and not our short time on this earth. By desiring to know deeply know him more and more and come to him in prayer. By following his purpose for our lives.
But first we need to get right with God, and that only comes through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Grace and Peace
How about the philosopher? The one that says there is no God and life is meaningless. If evolution were true, which it is not, life would be meaningless. The philosopher would be right. We would just be here because of random chance. We would have no absolute moral standard. We would have nothing to look forward to after death. All the things we do in this life would in the end amount to absolutely nothing. That would be very, very, depressing.
How about the entertainer? The one that says life is all about pleasure. This person could say there is no God (in which case I life would really have no purpose anyway) or there is a God, but he just wants us to have the most fun we can before we die. We would be like those cursed pirates in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie who, no matter how much they have, they are never satisfied. I know that feeling well.
How about the the psychologist? The one that says life is all about self discovery? I don't even know what to say about this one. Self discovery, or finding oneself, just sounds dumb, doesn't it? When you're the lost sheep you can't find yourself; the shepherd comes and finds you.
None of these sound very appealing. Not one bit. No man made explanation regarding the purpose of life is satisfactory.
I'll listen to what the Bible says about what life is about. In a nutshell, glorifying God and enjoying him forever. We do that by fearing him and obeying him. By keeping focused on eternity and not our short time on this earth. By desiring to know deeply know him more and more and come to him in prayer. By following his purpose for our lives.
But first we need to get right with God, and that only comes through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Grace and Peace
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