Is There Life Out There?
Selected Passages
July 1999
I. Reba MacIntyre Song
A. Song about a mother’s sacrifice
This is a typical song about the sacrifices that a mother has made by sacrificing her dreams and plans for the well being of her family. This mother longs for something more out of life and a fundamental life question is offered through the song: “Is there more to life or is this it?”
B. Chorus
Is there life out there So much she hasn’t done Is there life beyond Her family and her home She’s done what she should Should she do what she dares She doesn’t want to leave She’s just wonderin Is there life out there
Key Question: Is there life out there?
II. William Shakespeare Quote
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
What a completely dismal view of life!
Key Question: Is there life out there?
III. The lack of meaning and purpose in life
A. There is more to life than merely being alive
Life should be more than just a pulse and steady breathing but unfortunately that is all that life means to some people. Why? For the majority of these people they have no real meaning or purpose in their lives and they merely drift from one thing to another without any direction or drive to life. They are alive physically but dead on the inside
B. The church needs to be a place of help
1. Gallop Poll
Gallop did a research poll about churches and the results seem to be amazing. “70% of Americans believe that churches today are not effective in helping people find meaning in life.”
2. The search for “life”
Far too many people are filling their lives with stuff and that stuff brings nothing but fleeting joy and little hope. People are longing to fill their lives with something even if it is the wrong thing.
People are filling their lives with pleasure. Most try to live a life of pleasure through the means of sex, drugs or alcohol.
People are trying to fill their lives with relationships. They go to one of two extremes, either they have a large number of temporary relationships or they focus on a few that become the entire focus of their life.
People try to fill their lives with material things. They are constantly in search of the bigger house, the faster car and the better things of life.
People try to fill their lives with religion. They are constantly trying to live by a set code of rules or regulations without a true relationship with God. They are merely searching for the “god” feeling in their lives.
We search for meaning and purpose in so many places, in so many things and in so many ways.
Key Question: Is there life out there?
IV. The Nature of Human Life
A. Life is a gift
1. God has given us this life
Life is a gift from the creator of all of the universe and we needs to view life as a gift. Every single moment of life is precious and every new day that we are given is a blessing from God
2. We take life for granted
We far too often take life for granted. Life needs to be well spent and most of us would agree with that statement but few of us believe that this could be our last day on earth. We need to start living like there is no tomorrow and re-evaluate the priorities we have set for life.
B. We all have the same problem
1. We are all sinners
We all have a common problem, death. We are fallen humanity and God did not create us to die but death entered the world as a result of sin. Sin is the ultimate leveler of life. It results in a destruction of life and it can, if you allow it, to steal the meaning and purpose from your life.
2. We are all dying
Every person is in the process of cellular decay which will eventually lead to death. This was not God’s plan for life! The grim reality of this is that we are living to die while we are dying to live.
Key Question: Is there life out there?
V. There is new life out there
“I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:25-26
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
A. The reason for new life
1. God loves you
You are God’s precious masterpiece and He has created you as the highest of all creation. The simple fact of the matter is that God loves you. As the highest of creation we were made to have a relationship with God.
2. God gave up His Son for you
God has provided new life for us, so that we would not have to die eternally. However, that new life through free grace came at a high price. God’s love for you is so great that he sacrificed His Son to solve your sin problem.
B. The requirements of new life
1. You must believe
The only requirement for new life is that you believe in Jesus. It is not a belief by the intellect or the mind but you must believe with your heart. For the heart is the very core of your being.
2. How must you believe?
The Apostle Paul clears this matter for us in his letter to the Roman church. “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified. And it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10
C. The results of new life
1. We will live forever
This physical life will end and we will enter a new life, an eternal life. This life will be spent in heaven, a real paradise, with our Savior, Jesus.
2. We will receive new life here and now
God not only provides for the eternal life but He will also give new meaning and purpose to this life as well. Jesus has promised that He came so we could experience life in its fullness and He is calling you to enter into abundant life.
Conclusion
Many of you have probably never heard of Daniel Rohrbough and that saddens me because he is a modern day hero. Daniel Rohrbough attended Columbine High School and was there on that horrible day when two students went on a rampage of violence and terror. Daniel Rohrbough stopped his escape from the building to hold a door open so that other students could escape and he was killed holding the door. Daniel died while helping others have a new chance at life. (Adaped from an Article in People Magazine)
Today Jesus holds the door: I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. (Revelation 3:8) Jesus sacrificed Himself to hold open the door to new life.
There is life out there! Do you want it? Are you sure you have it? New life will cost all that you are now and it will take you to all that you can become.
