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Is there more to life than this?
OK so you’re expecting me to say the “answer is yes there is more to life and God is the answer”. Well I’ve said it, so I hope you’re convinced.
Or I could say no there’s no more to life than this and what’s more the Bible says “Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die” Isa 22.13. I do need to say about these words that God is not advocating that lifestyle but for some that is was how they were living their lives.
Perhaps for some of you here you are asking the big questions what is life all about and why am I here?
In contrast to those words in Isaiah I want to think on the words of Jesus
“I came so that everyone would have life and have it fully” John 10.10 CEV
So yes I want to say there is more to life than this. I believe that to be true whether you are a Christian or not.
Why do I believe this?
1.
The
Universe
It’s vast, reckoned to be 10-15 billion light years across.
With a billion galaxies the size of the Milky Way, each containing some 100 billion stars the size of our SUN.
See the eclipse of the sun. I thought that was incredible but the universe, that is mind blowing.
To believe the cosmos just happened is incredible and takes a lot more faith that believing in a designer an architect that came up with the idea and then made it happened.
An old concept was lying a watch with all its parts on the ground and expecting it to evolve. Or to make it more contemporary, to see a scrapyard evolve with the passing of time to a jumbo jet.
The Bible tells us “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1.1).
2.
You
More to life than this - yes because of you. Wayne (our Children and
Youth Coordinator). come on down. Now Wayne is unique and Wayne has a fingerprint that is unique.
Now I know there is more to life than this because I only have a filofax, Wayne has an electric diary, with a thumb print. Now I naively thought that this thumb print was Wayne’s it’s not. It’s a copy. Yet each of our thumbprints are unique. we are all unique. One in 6 billion. we may think some look more unique than others but each of us is genuinely a human being. Again I go for design and I go for designer label. Each of us have a designer label.
Let me just say how much I went up in my kid’s opinion when I bought a pair of Vans. Vehicles? – no shoes. I just liked them. Apparently I ruined the image by tying up the laces in the front!
We carry the designer label of God. Some would say we just evolved. I believe we were created in God’s image. Genes 1.26-27 tells us all about that.
What’s more I believe we all are created to be in relationship with God and with others. Ecclesiastes which is a great Old Testament Book, describes the futility of life when God is left out of the picture. In Chapter 3.11 it says “He has also set eternity in the hearts of men”. There is that within us which is longing for that relationship with God, when God doesn’t fill that we try and fill it with others things.
3.
The
Earth
2
pictures Holly & Jessica, and the attacks on the twin Towers September 11.
Is there more to life than this, the murder of children, the act of terror that shocked the World. All within the last 12 months.
It made me think I want a different world. There is so much in our world that is beautiful and good, yet there is also that which tarnishes. The Bible calls that sin. The disturbing thing is that within us all there is that capacity for good or evil.
When Holly and Jessica were found I found myself longing for a different world where love is paramount , I wanted heaven on earth, where there could be peace and love and justice and all that makes for a truly good life for everyone.
4. Jesus
Jesus came to bring heaven to earth, for at the heart of heaven there is God, God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. God had so much love that he created the world and human beings and as the world has become wharped and gone it’s own way Jesus came to earth. Jesus lived his life on earth, demonstrating what it means to live a truly good life. He himself recognised that there is more and that was what he wanted to give. Life that is eternal, life which is the very life of God. Life which makes us children of the living God. For that reason this Jesus died on the cross for each one of us, for all the terrorists in the world, for the murderers but also for the likes of you and me for we all can be proud going our own way without God. This Jesus died for you. And this Jesus is the only one I know who can really bring life as it was intended to be. Life that to be as totally intended awaits heaven yet even now a life which can bring individual and community transformation.
On holiday we took with us an inflatable dinghy. On holiday Heather my wife and Iona our daughter were paddling away on the sea when they lost one oar, then another. Heather waved at us on the beach and we waved back, I then realised that they were in trouble and swam out to tow the dinghy in.
Last week I was in the dinghy there was an offshore breeze. I was enjoying drifting, I realised I was going out a little far; so I thought I swim in towing in the dinghy. I got out of the dinghy and the wind caught it and off it went. I did manage to save the oars but some other gallant guy ran along the beach and saved the dinghy. I think he thought I was in it. I was appreciative of his efforts.
Well is there more to life than this, it depends where this is. But if you are drifting at sea, Jesus is the one who can make a difference and lead us into that life which is eternal.
Next week: What is God like?