"Why Are We Here?"

Over the years people have asked me the question: "Why are we here?" I have heard sermons, discussions in Bible studies about this very topic. Some are shallow, some are thought provoking. Then I hear people come up with the thought that God has a purpose/plan for all of us. I am still thinking about that one because He has already explained what His will is for each of us and wants us to understand His will (Eph. 5:17/Col. 4:12/I Thes. 4:3/I Thes. 5:18/I Pet. 2:15). It seems to me if He wants us to understand His will, He would not leave us out there wandering to find His purpose or plan! I do not have a handle on it all and I know I never will, but it seems when we talk about God having a purpose/plan for each of us, people seem endlessly wandering about, looking for His purpose/plan for them with no sense of direction. Some never seem to arrive at anything their whole life! I am not trying to be difficult or condemning. I just want us to think about the statement that God "has a purpose/plan for each of us" and I am not real certain that is God's intention. The will of God, understanding the will of God gives us all direction, purpose and a settling down. He wants us to know His will and reveals it for us. That's why I listed some of the verses above.

Some time back I heard one say that God must be a little vain to want us here to worship and adore Him. The idea that He created us solely for the purpose that we would worship Him really narrows Him. God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have a holy eternal love and joy filled relationship. It was out of that eternal love and joy that God created us that we might share in the life He possesses. Our purpose and plan that God has for us is to be in this life, loving and joyous relationship He possesses! Read carefully Phil. 2:5-8. There we are given some insight into the very nature of God. Is He worthy of worship? Absolutely! But part of the reason we adore Him, admire Him is not that He is self absorbed as some want to claim but He is bent on giving us His life to the fullest by the sharing of His Son so we can share in His life.

Why are we here? We are here because He loves us and He loves us because of the very nature of His being will not allow anything less! We are created in His image. That should ring in our ears!!! That means in us God wanted us to reflect His character, His activity, His purpose by calling us to be holy, righteous and thankful. He gave us Jesus so we could share in His love and life of holiness!

We are created by God, in His image and we are here because He is life and wanted us, His creation, to share in who and what He stands for. Once we get a glimpse of that, His will becomes our desire. His love overwhelms us and we honor and worship Him for His greatness to allow us to share in His eternal love. Take some time and reflect on this. My mind cannot convey what I am really thinking. Why, I am not sure what I think right now! I am not sure what I am trying to get across. We have the purpose of God for each of us: reflect His character! We have God's plan for each of us: enjoy His life and love while bringing others into that relationship. I know this, God desires us to enjoy His fellowship and relationship! That gives us the real reason to why we are here.

"Strange and Bizarre"

Over the years, I have witnessed some of the strangest and most bizarre things in the church, at funerals and such like things. Some are hard to believe how people responded and what they did. I know you have had many things in your lives. What I would like to do is from time to time, I will share a "strange and bizarre" moment and if you do not mind, please share one of your with me (and others who read). This could get very interesting...

I was 25 years old and it was the very first funeral I ever did. It will always stick with me. I was preaching in Beardstown, Illinois and one of the members of the body there had a nephew that was stabbed in the heart during a fight. A horrible situation but the member of the body approached me and asked me if I would do the funeral as a service to her. I agreed, like a young knucklehead would do. My mind filled with all the opportunities I would get to speak to so many on behalf of the Lord. They were expecting a large crowd. He was 21 years old and had a nine month old daughter. He and his wife had been married two years. I was so excited...and naive!

The funeral started with some loud old country bar drinking song! I thought, "I didn't know they were going to play this!" After the song, I got up to speak. I had not gotten out a few words and suddenly, a wailing like I had never heard, shook me to my socks. His wife just blurted out crying. That sent the crowd into hysteria! For a few moments it was completely chaotic and I was unable to speak. I had to let the crowd settle down. Finally, family members helped the wife and others gain control. I spoke again and the words flew out of her mouth, "I can't believe he's gone! He will never see his little girl again!" The loud crying hit again. I was completely lost and confused!! The worst was yet to come. After long pauses due to the outbursts of crying and wailing, I finally and thankfully reached the end. People began to leave and the room emptied, passing by the coffin for a final view, leaving the family for their final last moments. I stepped outside with the crowd to wait. I waited, waited and then from behind a door a hand reached out and grabbed me by the shoulder. It was the funeral director. He pulled me in and said, "We need your help! Get in here!" I looked up and you wouldn't believe it. The wife of this young man had climbed up into the coffin, having wrapped her arms around his neck, sitting on him, kissing him and wouldn't let him go. I was in shock. The director said, "We have never had anything like this and she won't listen to us. You have got to talk her down!" Me? A 25 year old greenhorn who never had done a funeral? The one who was in shock over what happened during the service? They were asking me to talk her down? I was still in my preaching diapers!!! I walked over talking to her. She wailed holding on to her husbands corpse with all her being, lifting him up toward her. I reached out and touched her shoulder while continuing to talk. She wailed louder. I patted her arm and asked her to look at me. She finally did. As I continued to speak, (I can't remember one word I said because I thought I was in a dream world), she finally let go of him, took my hand and climbed down. She really messed up the body of her husband, that was for sure. Let me say, I grew up a lot that day!

What about your "strange and bizarre" experiences? I am waiting to hear...

"Bounce Protection"

Sometimes banks have a customer service called "bounce protection." I am not sure I really like it. It is nothing more than when you write a check without enough money in the bank, instead of returning the check as 'insufficient funds', they cover it and charge you a whopping fee! I know mistakes can be made and it can be a valuable help for those few times one is overdrawn, but the danger is one can become comfortable and use it consistently to be overdrawn. There needs to be a lifestyle change in order to not abuse this service. You end up paying more in fees than what the resending of a check may cost.

There are more than one way to be "overdrawn". Couples make too many emotional demands on another's emotional bank without making deposits. The wife tells the husband to "trust me" while breaking that trust over and over and over again. She consistently writes emotional checks, looking for "bounce protection", while making very few emotional deposits. The husband consistently writes "hot checks" while emotionally hurting his wife, only to say "I'm sorry! It won't happen again" without ever making a deposit of security into her heart. In both cases, the giving runs out and the "bounce protection" comes to a halt because the limit has been reached. Neither gives the other a reason to believe that they truly want the account built up by making more deposits than they take out because they do so little to change their heart and lifestyles.

This not only happens between spouses but you see it between parents and children, friends and in the church. It seems there are those that bend people over and over until they break and then they complain when the one shattered too many times isn't acting like they still have an open account!

Isn't it rather unique that the very ones who call out for 'unconditional love' of another usually has no clue because they are not in an every day stream of abuse in some form or another. I know our Lord laid down His life for us unconditionally, but He does not allow hard hearted, unrepentant people a free ride in His love! There are conditions on the relationship with Him. When there is repentance, a real sorrow for offending or hurting, there must be a deposit made with that sorrow. Just read Luke 11:23-26 and make the application! Too many are sorry, according to the world that they have been caught or their hand called with no intention of changing their attitudes and lives. They continually call on the other for "bounce protection" when they go beyond the limit. Godly sorrow produces real results that leads to salvation. (II Cor. 7:9-10)

What about you? How serious are you about your walk with the Lord. It will be reflected in your dealing with those around you. And get on your knees and thank the Lord for those who have to deal with your continually 'overdrawn' without making deposits that they continue their "bounce protection" to help you along. Let's learn to deal rightly with one another and help each other make it to heaven!

Can I Ride A Buffalo?

She snuggled up under my arm. With her big blue eyes, looking up at me she said, "Grandpa, can I ride a buffalo?" I looked at her and said, "Oh dear, I am not sure anyone can ride a buffalo. They are big and aren't meant to ride." She paused and said, "But grandpa, you're going to ride a buffalo!" It stuck me what she was saying. I had announced that I was flying to Buffalo, New York for a meeting. That is where I am presently. I am returning home tonight. It has been a great meeting, a gift from God.

I looked at my granddaughter, chuckling at her and said, "No dear, I am not riding a buffalo, I am flying to Buffalo!" I saw the 'thinking' look come over her face. She replied, "Grandpa, that's silly. Buffalo's can't fly!" End of discussion. She had her innocent simple way of breaking things down. Oh the things a child can come up with. Maybe next time, I'll ride a buffalo. At least she could understand that concept! May God bless.

We're Standing On Holy Ground!

We need to get a better understanding of our heavenly Father and His ways. We are too familiar with our ways and wants and push them instead of submitting to God. It can easily happen. Rather than a denial of self, we promote our own desires and thinking. The result is seen in our approach to our God in our worship of Him.

When Moses encountered God at the burning bush (Ex. 3). The voice of God called, "Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground." Holy ground is in the presence of God. The idea of holy literally means not to treat as common. The wilderness area was full of sand, bushes and rocks yet this one area, the area where the presence of God appeared, was holy. It was different than all the common ground around and God wanted some reverence and respect shown for His presence so He instructed Moses to remove his sandals. Moses was not standing in the presence of common man on common ground. What did Moses do? He hid his face and was afraid to look at God (Ex. 3:6)! It sent a respect and reverence (fear) because of the presence of God.

When that high priest entered the Holy of Holies, the very presence of the Lord, there was reverence and respect shown. The room was not common like other parts of the tabernacle and only the high priest was allowed into the very presence of God, once a year. The high priest was standing on holy ground and he showed great reverence for God, not a lot of commotion.

The prophet Habakkuk spoke out clearly for the Lord God, stating that "the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silent before Him." (Hab. 2:20) God's people began treating Him as common and God was going to punish them by sending the Chaldean's to hurt them. They lost His holiness for their lives!

There are so many examples used to show us the holiness of God. Reverence is what seems to be lost in the church today. The church is tied to God/Christ and that makes us holy. We aren't common like some public gathering or event but we are the holy temple of God (I Cor. 3:17). Worship must be a worship that is not treating God as common but recognizing His greatness, His power and holiness. True worship is God centered and when we take our eyes off of God and center it on us, the holiness of God is lost. The danger is we take the worship as Christ's body and treat Him as common, like some type of production or human event. Worship for many is becoming a place of entertainment and emotional charges. People want to "experience God" so they try to make their worship a place of emotional release, not understanding that taints the holiness of God. When worship becomes man-centered, man-motivated and man-manipulated it is no longer God centered, much less holy. I am not trying to bash anyone. I want us to grasp who our God is and our approach in our worship reveals our reverence or lack thereof. Our worship reveals our understanding and knowledge of God. When our worship is evaluated by what happens in our emotions or uplifting experience, it is geared to man and we become the center. Worship becomes common while using the holy name of our God to promote our ways and desires. Once our worship heads toward common ground, common man, it is extremely difficult to get people to turn back to the holiness of God because of what they "feel" in their worship.

Real, genuine worship takes place in the heart of the worshiper, not orchestrated by man or man's instruments. Too many are confusing religious entertainment with God centered worship because they do not realize or understand the holiness of God. True worship in the heart can affect your emotions but worship that is designed to stimulate the emotions is an entertainment or moving experience we would see at some function in the common world. "Therefore, since we received a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire." (Heb. 12:28-29)

We are the people of God! We are holy because of God! God does not treat us as the common world but as His holy, sanctified, redeemed people. We need to realize who we are and who we belong to. Our lives should reflect holy behavior (I Pet. 1:15-16). Our worship should not be treated as a form of entertainment but a recognition of the holiness of God. Too much of our worship reflects the entertainment saturated society we live in. It cost Israel to go into captivity over and over because they took on the attitude of the lost world around them, following their practices and lost the holiness of God. We too, in the church, are following the worlds practices gearing our worship to world appeal/people appeal rather than God appeal. We might ought to wake up and realize, We're standing on holy ground!

SAVED!

They were sitting watching a tv program. A knock at the door. The wife gets up, answers the door and speaks for several minutes with someone. She comes back and sits quietly back down. The husband asks, "Who was it?" She responds, "A Christian!" He asks, "What did he want?" She replies, "He wanted to know if I was saved." The husband speaks, "Did you tell him you went to church regularly?" "He didn't ask me that! He asked me if I was saved." The husband looks over, "Did you tell him you are involved in our church and community programs around here?" "He didn't ask me that! He asked me if I was saved." The husband responds again, "I know you said that but did you tell him you were a school teacher, sang in the choir and visited the shut ins?" Frustrated she looks at her husband, "Are you listening to me? He didn't ask me any of those things! He asked me if I was saved....and I am not!"

It seems everyone wants to save us from something. Teachers want to save us from ignorance, doctors want to save us from diseases and sickness, financial advisers want to save us from poor financial decisions and manage our money and health instructors want to save us from being unhealthy. These things are important, no doubt, but these things cannot touch the deepest need each and everyone has within their being. Only Christ can do that.

Jesus came to this earth to bring life, the life of God into human lives. He taught the body is more than putting clothes on and life is more than eating and our possessions. Keeping house, working and enjoying pleasures of this earth are good, but that is not what we are created for. We have families and friends the Lord has given us, but the Lord does not want us to make that a substitute for our real need. He created us for more than all of these things.

The one solitary thing in our lives we need freedom from to enjoy the blessings of all the above is freedom from our sins! Only Christ can save you from your sins. The list of things we have done wrong down through the years. The things that bring shame when you recall them. The "little" wrongs that cross your mind in certain situations that show your guilt. The pain staking sinful acts that shamed you, your mate, your family or your friends hit hard at certain times.

Let Him save you from all these! Let Him save you from your lack of purpose and emptiness that sometimes hits you. Let Him save you from the mental distress caused by guilt and shame. Let Him save you from poor self esteem because you know how evil you are capable of being. Jesus Christ wants us saved!!! Think about the very word "SAVED" and what that means. Jesus Christ our Lord does not want us to settle for just things on this earth, even though He created it for us to enjoy. He wants to enrich our lives, to live on this earth a brief time grasping the depths of His love. He gives us Himself to make a difference. Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Bask in His salvation! Why were you baptized into Christ? For the lack of salvation? To be miserable? Is that what Jesus wanted? We must humbly, willingly submit to His will and receive His salvation (it takes faith). Your union was with Him! Enjoy your salvation! Exclaim because of Him your sins have been wiped clean and that results in one thing: SAVED! Go ahead, don't be afraid to believe it. SAVED! Don't think little of it. SAVED! Let it wash over you like a warm soaking bath. SAVED! Your life is complete in Christ Jesus (Col. 2:9-10) and He guarantees it! Sing it! Believe it! Love it! Say it! SAVED!!!

"Wish You Didn't Have To Leave!"

We have been there. That visit with dear friends or family and you hear the words, "I wish you didn't have to leave!" I can recall certain times when those words were not just words, but spoken in sincerity and my heart wanted to stay. (Resa tells me that when I go away on my trips and I do not like leaving her!) I felt the pain of leaving. You probably can recall some of those instances too. The words warm the heart!

Could you ever imagine how you would feel if you had visited with Jesus Christ while on earth and when you were about to leave His presence, He said, "I wish you didn't have to leave!" I am not sure what I would do, do you?

"Do not let your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for i go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:1-3) I have heard every one's input about what these words mean and some have even tried to 'spin' them but let me say this and reach for a little nugget from the words of Jesus to His own disciples. Let's combine the words of Jesus with the text of I Thes. 4:17, "...and so we shall always be with the Lord." Read the words from the lips of Jesus carefully. Listen to the assurance and astonishing promise. Can you hear Him? Did you receive what He was saying? Jesus wants His disciples around and was going to make the necessary arrangements for them. Combined with I Thes. 4:17, He wants to have us around....FOREVER!

I know sometimes people probably wish we would leave! People, for whatever reason, just wish you would go away and leave them alone. We look at our flaws, looking back at our history and we remember we have hurt people so deeply that they wish we were gone....FOREVER! Sometimes people dislike us for no reason and other times we have brought on our own disliking because of our actions. In view of our failures and deep hurts we have caused our Lord, isn't it rather stunning that He wants us to be around....FOREVER?

What do we learn? Christ's love for us is a redeeming and transforming love. It is a love beyond our thinking that He has no plans to send us away, to disown us when we walk in our stupidity and sinfulness. He will discipline us when we need it (Heb. 12) but He knows we can bear it as it is for our good. (I'm not speaking to the hard-hearted and unrepentant!) However He deals with each of us, it is always with one thought in mind, "I don't want to you to go away! I want to have you around....FOREVER!"

Listen to His voice. He wants us to stay! Never doubt your Lord and Savior. We might become arrogant and our actions are not lovely. We throw our filth out not caring who it bothers or hurts. Why we might become so hard and brazen that we don't care if we end up in hell! (That was hard to write!!) But it is true in our ungodliness. And all the while we walk disdainfully against our Lord, He gently, humbly and sincerely speaks...."I wish you didn't have to leave!"

That should soften the heart.