Searching

Everyday people are on the search. They are looking for meaning and purpose in their lives. Some find their meaning in trivial things - money, popularity, materialism, success. Others find it in religions that shove them deeper down into the pit of selfishness, pain, and feelings of never doing enough. Still others are too scared to face what they may find if they discovered their meaning in life, so instead they ignore it and live for the here and now - focusing only on the good and fun times.

I have journeyed "the search" and I am grateful for what I now know. There was someone who found the meaning in their life way before me and what they were taught has been helpful to me. His name is Paul. Paul experienced many trials and terrifying events in his life, but he also lived moments of joy. If you met Paul you would be amazed at his ability to stay calm in scary situations and the peace that overwhelmed any worry that may have crossed his mind. When life got hard, he made it through - and he did so full of joy and encouragement. How could he do this? How could he be joyful in prison? How could he be so selfless in so many difficult situations? How could he keep pressing on in the face of persecution and ridicule?

He knew the meaning of life. He received hope and the peace that surpasses all understanding. He rested firmly upon an unshakable foundation of truth. He looked beyond himself and surrendered to something - Someone - bigger than himself. He had a relationship with Jesus Christ.

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 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."

Colossians 1:15-16

Paul knew that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Paul knew that Jesus Christ is "fully God in every way" (MacArthur Study Bible). Paul knew that by Christ all things were created. He knew that all things were created through Christ and for Christ. As God, Jesus created everything for His pleasure and glory (MacArthur).

This lesson was pivotal in Paul's life and he speaks of these truths again in Romans 11.

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?

Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to Him again?

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.

To Him be the glory forever. Amen."

Romans 11:33-36

Amen! Look at the excitement in Paul's writing! He knows the truth and it has caused him to erupt into praise! It is relieving to know that I am not on this earth for myself. It is freeing to know that I was created for God, that I am breathing and living to bring God pleasure and glory. I am here to point others to Christ so that they may know His greatness and bring Him glory.

Once you know these truths and store them in the core of your heart, your life will change. It will be different from anything you could ever imagine. The sense of freedom in knowing these truths is indescribable.

This is the truth: You are not your own, you were made by God and for God to bring Him pleasure and glory. This life is not about you.

"All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being."

John 1:3

"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."

Colossians 3:17

"All that came into being exists for Christ - that is, everything exists to display the greatness of Christ. Nothing - nothing! - in the universe exists for its own sake."

John Piper

What's the Point?

What is the point of living?

Why are you here?

Where have you come from and where are you going?

If you could summarize your purpose for living in one sentence, what would you say?

I am very curious of what people would answer, so please do.

Once again I braved the storm of the Google sea of information to all of life's questions and I nearly immediately became disturbed from the answers I received. If you need to look for the answers to my questions, please do not Google them. It is likely you will find inadequate and somewhat dangerous answers. (I bet some of you will now. Who listens to "don't do this" statements anyways?)

Are you still looking for good answers to my questions? Please STOP. I know some people who have the answers and I am interviewing them for this blog! So exciting - I know! This first interview will cover question #1. Later I will interview someone else to answer the next question.

Interview #1: Job

Me: Job, you seem like a good guy. Can I ask you a question?

Job: Sure.

Me: Great. What is the point in living?

Job: Funny that you ask that, because I have been asked that before. I had one of the worst days ever a while ago. Whenever I say that to people they don't believe me... until I explain.

Me: I don't know, I've certainly had some really bad days. Do tell.

Job: Alright, I had a booming business in the field of raising livestock, you know oxen and donkeys. I had a number of workers who helped with the family business too. Well one day some terrorizing robbers attacked all of my workers and all of my livestock. The robbers killed every single oxen, donkey, and worker... well one worker survived. He's the one who let me in on the bad news.

Me: Wow that is a horrible day.

Job: Yeah but that's not even the worst of it. Before the surviving worker had even finished filling me in on the disaster at work another person came racing into my house. I forgot to mention that I also owned a lot of camels. I was right in thinking that this worried worker had bad news. A completely different group of robbers stole every last one of my camels and killed all of the workers who were caring for the camels. With the exception of the worker who escaped and told me the terrible news. In one day I went from being well off to dirt poor.

Me: I didn't know a day could get any worse! I guess that goes to show us how futile money and possessions can be.

Job: It sure does, but my bad day still wasn't over yet. Once again before that worker had finished speaking, another worker dashed into my house with a heavy look on his face. He had the worst news I ever heard. I never expected to hear the words that came out of his mouth in my lifetime. On that disastrous day each of my seven dearly loved sons and each of my three precious daughters were killed. A great wind, like a tornado, struck the house that they were all in and the house fell upon them.

Me: Oh Job, I am so sorry. I can't even imagine what that must have been like.

Job: It was awful. I handled the news about my livestock, camels, and workers pretty calmly. But when I heard of the death of all of my cherished children I fell to the ground in grief. And as I lay on the ground in my sadness I turned to God and I praised Him.

Me: What? Your reaction was to praise God? After you lost everything?

Job: How could I not praise God? It was God who gave me my business. It was God who blessed me with those invaluable children. He gave and He took away! After all, they were not mine, but His to begin with.

Me: To be honest, I don't think I would react in that way. My reaction would probably be to question God, not praise Him.

Job: I had days where I questioned God. My bad days continued as I became ill. My body was covered in sore boils. Literally covered from the sole of my foot to the crown of my head. It was traumatic. I had no medicine or pain relief. It was unbearable.

Me: Oh my goodness. That sounds awful.

Job: Trust me, it was. But to go back to my original statement before I got into this story... that someone had asked me what was the point of living. Well it was at this point in my life that my wife told me she didn't see much of a point for me to keep living. Do you know what she told me?! She said to me, "Curse God and die." As you can imagine that rubbed me the wrong way.

Me: Awe that is so mean. What did you say in response?

Job: I told her she was speaking like a foolish woman. Then I challenged her with truth. I said, "Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" My whole life God blessed me. God had blessed me with a successful business, a beautiful family, good health. I received all of those blessings gladly. How could I curse against God after He had done all that for me when He did not even have to. I have heard of many sad stories from other people's lives. I have been blessed.

Me: I feel so convicted. My attitude is bad so often and I have not experienced anything close to what you have.

Job: Well it wasn't easy. My wife discouraged me and on top of that my best friends brought me down too. I experienced bitterness and I loathed my life at times. I questioned God and I argued with Him. I had times where I hoped and trusted in God. There were times I wondered where God could be. I wanted to argue against God and prove to Him that I was innocent.

Then one day God spoke to me.

Me: What did He say?

Job: He set me straight. Though I had been the one asking God all of the questions He brought that to a sudden standstill and began to ask me the questions. I'll tell you exactly what He told me...

"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you will instruct Me!

Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

Tell Me, if you have understanding, Who set its measurements? Since you know.

Or who stretched the line on it?

On what were its bases sunk?

Or Who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together

And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Or Who enclosed the sea with doors

when bursting forth, it went out from the womb;

When I made a cloud its garment

And thick darkness its swaddling band,

And I placed boundaries on it

And set a bolt and doors,

And I said, 'Thus far you shall come, but no farther; And here shall your proud waves stop?'

Have you ever in your life commanded the morning,

And caused the dawn to know its place,

That it might take hold of the ends of the earth,

And the wicked be shaken out of it?

It is changed like clay under the seal;

And they stand forth like a garment.

From the wicked their light is withheld,

And the uplifted arm is broken.

Have you entered into the springs of the sea

Or walked in the recesses of the deep?

Have the gates of death been revealed to you,

Or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?

Have you understood the expanse of the earth?

Tell Me, if you know all this.

Where is the way to the dwelling of light?

And darkness, where is its place,

That you may take it to its territory

And that you may discern the paths to its home?

You know, for you were born then,

And the number of your days is great!

Have you entered the storehouses of the snow,

Or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,

Which I have reserved for the time of distress,

For the day of war and battle?

Where is the way that the light is divided,

Or the east wind scattered on the earth?

Who has cleft a channel for the flood,

Or a way for the thunderbolt,

To bring rain on a land without people;

On a desert without a man in it,

To satisfy the waste and desolate land

And make the seeds of grass to sprout?

Has the rain a father?

Or who has begotten the drops of dew?

From whose womb has come the ice?

And the frost of heaven, who has given it birth?

Water becomes hard like stone,

And the surface of the deep is imprisoned.

Can you bring the chains of Pleiades,

Or loose the cords of Orion?

Can you lead forth a constellation in its season,

and guide the Bear with her satellites?

Do you know the ordinances of the heavens,

Or fix their rule over the earth?

Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,

So that an abundance of water will cover you?

Can you send forth lightnings that they may go

And say to you, 'Here we are?'

Who has put wisdom in the innermost being

Or given understanding to the mind?

Who can count the clouds by wisdom,

Or tip the water jars of the heavens,

When the dust hardens into a mass

And the clods stick together?

Can you hunt the prey for the lion,

or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

When they crouch in their dens

And lie in wait in their lair?

Who prepares for the raven its nourishment

When its young cry to God

And wander about without food?"

Job 38

Me: Woah, I bet that was so humbling.

Job: Believe me it was. God didn't stop there, He kept going. But I will let you read about that in my book called, "Job." It's in the "Bible," make sure you read chapters 39 through 42. You won't regret it.

Me: I will definitely check that out. I know this interview has been going on a while so would you please give any closing comments you would like to share?

Job: Sure. As you can see from that short excerpt from my book, God is big and mighty. He is sovereign and in control of literally everything. I could have gone on questioning God forever but He doesn't have to answer me the way I want Him to. Sometimes He will just remind you that He is God through the good and the bad times of life. He doesn't have to prove anything and He doesn't have to justify anything He does. He is always just and fair. God is always the truth, the answers to all questions are found in Him... even the answers we don't understand or may never fully know. You need to know that God can do all things, and that no purpose of His can be thwarted (Job 42:2). What is the point in living? Because God has blessed me with life and I am here to worship and glorify Him for as long as He gives me breath.

Me: Job thank you for being so honest in sharing your story. I will be sure to check out your book so I can catch up on any details you left out of this brief interview.

"Who has given to Me that I should repay him?

Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine."

Job 41:11

"Then the Lord said to Job,

'Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?

Let him who reproves God answer it.'

Then Job answered the Lord and said,

'Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You?

I lay my hand on my mouth."

Job 40:1-4

Shouts of Deliverance

Once upon a time there was a beautiful girl name Little Princess. This girl had everything she could ever ask for. Her father was the King of all the land and they loved each other dearly. He was always there for Little Princess, through the good times and the bad. They talked everyday and were full of joy. Little Princess was loved and cherished, cared for and protected.

Then one day Little Princess was walking through the grounds of the castle when a strange figure started to walk towards her. The figure was dark and as it neared Little Princess she felt shivers down her spine. Suddenly she became cold and felt her joy slipping away.

"You shouldn't be here," she sheepishly told the hooded figure. "The castle is protected and intruders are forbidden." The figure hovered before her and did not seem to hear her timid pleas for him to leave.

Darkness grew upon them and before she knew it Little Princess was feeling sick. Her heart grew heavy and she started to feel shortness of breath. Then a strange thing started to happen. The frightening figure started to place it's hand on her shoulder. The weight of his hand on her was nearly unbearable.

Just as Little Princess began to question if this figure knew how to speak he startled her with icy, stinging words. "You are no longer a princess. You are worthless." Little Princess gasped. "No, that's not true!" she exclaimed, though in heart she started to believe him. "You are a failure, just look at yourself. Do you know how ugly you are?" he replied with no hesitation.

Little Princess felt as if she had been stabbed in the heart. There had been times in the past where she questioned her beauty and struggled to believe that she was not ugly. "Not to mention that you are a terrible girl. Do you remember when you ditched your best friend at school last year so you could go talk to Jake?" Of course Little Princess remembered, she had felt horrible for hurting her friend. "But I realized I was wrong and I asked for forgiveness. Why are you bringing that up?" she said with a trembling voice. "You are not good enough for forgiveness, how could you even think such a stupid thing?!" he said with a growing anger in his voice.

Before she could answer, the figure grabbed her by the neck and started choking her. "I haven't even mentioned the really horrible things you have done...you could never be forgiven for those things could you?" he said slyly as Little Princess struggled for any trace of air. He released her and threw her to the ground shouting, "Answer me! You could never be forgiven! They are so evil I can't even repeat them." Tears streamed down Little Princess' face and she knew what he was talking about. She had done terrible things, things she never wanted anyone to ever know. How did he know? Slowly she believed him, she knew she could not be forgiven. The figure started to laugh, a heavy dark laugh that lead her to cry heavily in desperation.

Suddenly a bone chilling shriek pierced her ears and she quickly darted her eyes towards the torturing perpetrator. There was a bright figure standing behind her enemy. The person was engulfed in so much light that she could not make out the face of the mysterious addition to the group. He walked towards Little Princess and picked her up from the ground, brushing the dirt off of her knees.

Before she knew it the dark hooded figure was back by her side, pulling her away from the man who appeared to be her protector. Again the icy voice glided into her ears with more words to tear her apart. Weakness fell upon her once more and her knees started to buckle.

At once she felt her right arm grasped and wrapped around a warm neck. She started to raise above the cold hard ground and realized her protector was firmly placing her within his arms. The icy and deafening words began to reach her mind again, but were quickly crushed when her protector's words chased them away. "You are my Little Princess," the words were spoken in sincerity. The words drew a small, but growing hope in the heart of Little Princess.

"You are of worth to Me. You have a purpose. You have not failed Me and you are not a failure. You are beautiful. You are My treasure. You have been forgiven. You will always be forgiven." Little Princess felt warmth and joy begin to return to her heart. She was experiencing healing and truth.

Time began to pass and the longer Little Princess looked to her protector she began to see his face. It was the face of her Father! "How could I not recognize the face of my own Father?" He looked at her with gentleness and understanding. "My child, why did you walk away from Me and believe the lies of the enemy...the lies of Shame? Shame has been attacking many in the kingdom because they forget what I have done for them. My Little Princess, do not listen to Shame's lies anymore. No longer are you to experience that bondage."

At that moment Little Princess was humbled and realized that the longer she allowed Shame to be in her presence, the further she was pushing her Father away. "Thank you for saving me Father," she graciously replied. "I love you with an everlasting love My Child and I will never let anything separate you from Me."

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?"

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:35 & 37-39

That is a detailed list, and as if the dozen ways we will not be separated from Christ were not enough, Paul thought he should end by emphasizing his point that nothing in all creation will ever separate you from the love of God. NOTHING.

It doesn't matter what you have done or ever will do - NOTHING will separate you from the LOVE OF GOD.

"that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God."

Romans 8:21

God doesn't want you to live in bondage to shame. You are His child and He wants you to experience the FREEDOM that only comes through life in Him.

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Romans 8:1

"You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sin."

Psalm 85:2

"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is not deceit.

For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity;

I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,' and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to You at a time when You may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.

You are a hiding place for me; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with shouts of deliverance."

Psalm 32:1-7