Introduction
Good morning everyone. Welcome to Life Hope Community gathering. It is my prayer that you’re all at your most comfortable seats.
Before we move on let’s look at this:
-Flappy bird video
How many of you are familiar with this computer game? I think sometime in 2013 when this game hit the top list of the most downloaded games on mobile phones. But too sad it was removed due to some copyright issues. You may wonder why a game as simple as this, talking about its graphics, will be loved by the gamers. I think one of the reasons is that, it’s just so simple, and the moment your game is over you can easily reset or restart the game. As simple as another tap on the screen.
Well i think, most of you, if not all, would wish with me for life to be like that. When you’re about to die, you will just press a reset button and t hen puff, you’re renewed again. But we know that will not happen. We all gonna live once and life will end here on earth.
You only live once. YOLO.
In every generation, a saying comes out that people embrace and live.
Who knows what Carpe diem means? What about Memento mori?
• Carpe diem: “Seize the day.” And Memento mori: “Remember that you will die.”
There is a new one popular in youth culture: YOLO: You only live once. Same concept.
A yuppie’s slang. This phrase has become so popular that it has its own website, hashtag and acronym (YOLO).
(show slides)
Movies:
-If I Stay
-If Only
-The Vow
-PS I love you
-The Fault in our stars
If we are keen enough, today’s pop culture, through these movies teaches us to make the most out of our lives today. To do whatever we can, to maximise living. Because not all of us get to have a second chance in life.
You only live once. YOLO.
transition: quotes:
What makes life so precious is that, it ends.
-The Fault in our stars
The first time I became aware of this phrase was when I spent a week with academy students for a week of prayer. "What is the meaning of life?" I said, asking them to respond in a sentence or two. Several students didn't even need a full sentence. They answered my question with this 4-letter acronym, YOLO.
For the next four days, we discussed the meaning of life from God's perspective, but the conversation continually came back to this phrase. For many of the students, this phrase said it all – providing meaning for their identities and telling them all they needed to know about life.
Since then, I have continued to ponder this phrase and its potential for defining a generation and culture.
It has been my experience that YOLO is often critiqued from the Christian viewpoint as the very definition of narcissism. There is some validity to this perspective.
YOLO is often used as validation for following our desires without thinking about the consequences or how our actions might affect others.
Yet, I wonder if we have not missed a wonderful opportunity to engage in a rich theological dialogue about the positive aspects of YOLO
While often used as an excuse for narcissistic habits, I find YOLO refreshing because this mantra acknowledges a fact that was often missing from the prevailing ideology of the past generations.
I grew up in the world of Nintendo video games where second chances were plentiful; Mario could always find another life easily.
There’s always a point in every generation, season, decade, when people had come to see death as optional, and safety as given. There’s always a point in life when people just enjoy complacency. Then a tragedy, perhaps an earthquake, or terrorists’ attack will happen, next thing you know, people are back again to valuing their live more than ever.
After 9/11, the U.S. was forced to acknowledge that our sense of safety and security within our borders was a myth, and that death was an inevitable reality.
Before 2008, the prevailing attitude was that if you needed extra cash you could just use credit, as you would easily pay it back later when you graduated from college and secured a well-paying job in our robust economy.
After the economic downturn, the american were forced to face the fact that a college education may not guarantee the American Dream or even allow us to provide for our family.
We Filipinos also have a fair share on this kind of experience. The Yolanda tragedy, the Bohol earthquake.
YOLO embraces a reflection on reality that many people found lacking while they were growing up: Life is finite, resources are limited, and death is a reality that cannot be ignored.
Spending time engaging in dialogue with some of the students at Pasay Adventist Academy during the week of prayer has given me hope because YOLO doesn't have to be the next cultural trend with which the church does battle. It need not be viewed in a purely negative light.
Instead, it can be the starting point for a dynamic theological dialogue over the meaning of life. It can lead to conversations about the Christian hope that death doesn't have to have the final say while encouraging us to live our days from a sense of purpose and calling.
-The recent earthquake. (Tagaytay experience).
-Jam of JAMICH. Share conversation with Carmi.
The truth is, once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.
-Mitch Albom
You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.
-Mae West
The "you only live once" concept can provide a starting point for us to reflect on the meaning and significance of life, which can remind us that self-centered living is contrary to Jesus' teachings and encourage us to advance the common good with our words and through our actions.
I am the way, the truth, and the LIFE. -Jesus
So if we only live once, what do we need to do, to live it in such a way that glorifies God. Let me share at least 4 things Jesus wants us to do with life.
A. So Grow Like Never Before
When people look back over their lives one of the things they often wish they had done differently involves spiritual growth. I’ve heard of several very successful people who came to the end of their days and wished they had prayed more and studied their bible more. Many an individual has regretted the lack of spiritual growth in their lives. You do not have to be a person that lacks spiritual growth!
If you could get advice on how to live your life from anyone in history, who would it be?
I am guessing you might consider Jesus as a reliable source of advice. When it comes to spiritual growth Jesus had some pretty incredible things to say. Let’s look at what Jesus said in Matthew 7:24-27.
Your life does not get better by chance, it get’s better by change.
-Jim Rhon
B. So Care With All Your Heart
It is true that we only have one life to live. That means our time is short to accomplish all that God wants us to before we come face to face with Him. One of the things Jesus did while He was on this earth was to truly care for people. He showed it in His words and actions. He hurt with people, cried with people, loved on people, healed people, and told people the truth. He has also called us to imitate Him in all of these actions. However, the simple truth is that many times we just don’t treat people the way He wants us to.
Sometimes the reason we don’t show care and concern for people is because we just don’t see them! The message put it this way – we see them as Faceless. They are right in front of us. They are hard to miss. But if we get so caught up in our own lives and issues and calendars we can just step right over them, like they were not even there. That doesn’t mean that we are being mean or spiteful, it just means that we need to open our eyes.
Can you think of a time a person with a need was right in front of you and you just missed them? What was keeping you from seeing them? What did it feel like later when you realized that you had missed an opportunity?
Galatians 6:2
ALL ABOUT THE LAW
-People become too careful with life and stopped caring about others.
C. So Serve with all You’ve Got
If a pastor stood up to talk at your funeral in the not too distant future, would he have plenty to say about how you have served in the church or very little to say? The point of that question is this: if you only live once, are you using what God has given you to serve others?
Without question, Jesus was the model servant. Christ’s life was driven by the needs of others. Jesus came to serve, not to be served! (Matthew 20:28)
At times, the disciples struggled with the concept of serving. Like us, they had a hard time learning how to serve rather than being served. In Mark 10:41-45 we see how Jesus taught His disciples about the importance of living as a servant. Let’s take a look at what Jesus taught.
Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them. -Dalai Lama
B. So Give More than Ever
I recently heard someone say, “There is no reason to be the richest person in a cemetery!” How true is that? Once your life is over the treasures you have stored up on this earth mean nothing. A wise man uses what he has been given in this life to impact the next life.
You only live once so what you do with what you have been given is extremely important. You do not want to waste the resources God has blessed you with on things that do not matter.
Jesus had a lot to say about making your life count when it came to your resources.
And He wants you to do it in the right way with the right motives.
Matthew 6:1
Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. (expound)
Appeal:
What does 23,375 mean to you? It’s the average number of days a person has to live (75 years).
If you are 16 years old, you have lived 5,840 days and have 21,535 days left. What will you do with those days? You only live once!
If you are 25 years old, you have lived 7,800 days and have 15,575 days left. What will you do with those days? You only live once!
If you are 50 years old, you have lived 18,250 days and have 9,125 days left. What will you do with those days? You only live once!
Take a look at John 10:10; “The thief (Satan) comes to kill steal and destroy, but I (Jesus) have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.” Do you hear that? The thief wants you to believe that you only have one life and you should so whatever you want whenever you want – you only live once. But Jesus says we have one life on earth, and He wants us to have it to the fullest.
Let’s reclaim this “YOLO” message and begin living life. You can’t go back and change the days you’ve already lived, but you can change the today and how it impacts the days to come!
The concept of YOLO isn't to go smoke and drink and make an ass of yourself. It's to go out and do something with your life that matters.
-Anonymous
