What is Your Life all About?
Purpose Driven Life #5
Montreal/Cornwall
August 30, 2003
What is on television says a lot about the times, and what is on these days says a great deal about our times. In particular, the game shows that are airing right now are declaring a lot about how we feel about life- at least what some people are thinking about life- it is my hope that this is not what we all think.
We have had a rash of programs like Survivor, Big Brother, Joe Millionaire, and Fear Factor. To look at these, we could conclude that, as metaphors of life, at least, or indicators of how people look at life, that we see life as being a contest. We might conclude that we see life as a contest where everyone can’t win- there can only be one winner and everyone else ends up with nothing. Then, again, we could conclude that life demands a certain amount of required nastiness. In all of these shows, which I’ve seen bits of over the past year or so, people get nasty. Alliances are necessary so that weaker people can overcome some others who are stronger. Nasty things are said about others and there is a lot of expression of hoping that someone doesn’t succeed. There is a lot of backstabbing. Again, this might indicate the belief that life really does not have enough and that one can have it and others have to settle for only the scraps that might be left. I hope life isn’t as antagonistic as these programs portray, but it must be for some. At least, many must think this is the way life really is.
We’ve heard it said that some believe that, in life, ‘he who dies with the most toys, wins’. This seems to be being reflected in current television.
I, seriously, hope that life is not, in general, like these programs portray it as being. Again, seriously, we all look at life in many different ways, and some do see life as a big game. Some see life as a racetrack to be negotiated. Some see life as a business. Some see life as a circle. Some see life as a timeline. Each of us would say something different, I think, to how we view life. How we each view life affects what we value in life and how we tackle life. I know that my view of life demands of me, unless I really keep it in check, a lot of doing and activity, and a fair amount of quickness about all that. You likely view it all a bit differently.
What we’ve been doing, over these past few weeks, is beginning to understand life as God sees it. We’ve been considering how God sees each one of us, as well as the incredible importance that we have to God. God has been involved in your life from long before you were aware of him and he may have been there before you were even conceived. At least, he was there from your beginning. This gives a colour and shape to life that is enriching. I’ve found that many of you have experienced that over the past month, already, and am gratified for your comments about that.
Ro. 12.2- tells us that we have to be willing to challenge conventional wisdom about what life is all about and replace that conventional wisdom with God’s ideas. We can simply look at life like those around us might; but they might not know God. However, it is vital for us, as Christ’s disciples, to look at life, as God does, and as we can view it, sitting with Jesus in the heavenly places, where we are with him. Our perspectives will be different, in many areas of life, and, as Christians, we MUST be willing to challenge the lower ideas of the world and allow Jesus to take us to the heavenly realm.
When we do this, we find that God, in His Word, gives us three metaphors for life, which we need to understand and live with, so that we do live the transformed life that He has called us to, and which He has offered us. These give a framework for the understanding of purpose that we’ll come to understand that God offers our lives. God tells us that life is a test, life is a trust, and life is a temporary assignment. We have to understand these so that we can put our lives in order so we can live with God’s purpose in our lives.
First of all, life is a test. In the Bible, we see that God tested many people and He did it continually. As he did that testing, he was looking to understand something about individuals’ character, faith, obedience, love, integrity, and loyalty. These are all words and values that aren’t rated highly enough in our world, today. Politicians tout their poor character as they express lack of understanding, for instance, of just what is sexual intercourse (words of an American President). Or, they declare that they are not filled with integrity and character, as they are not bound, as politicians, by their religious values (words of a Canadian Prime Minister). However, as Christians, we are called to a higher standard, and we do live under God, so have to understand what God is looking for and how He works toward that.
Abraham is an exciting example of this. He was called and tested on many occasions. There is no question that he received the calling of God when he, and his family, including his father, moved, first from Ur to Haran. Then, after the death of his father, he followed God and moved farther. Abraham showed that he was willing to follow God. However, he ended up in Egypt and Abraham lied about his wife, Sarah, declaring her to be his sister, in order to protect himself. What do you think God learned about him from this? Sadly, Abraham didn’t learn, and did this a second time, with Abimilech, and, sadly, his nephew followed his example and offered daughters instead of strangers to the men of Sodom, and Isaac, Abraham’s son, lied about his wife in the same way on a future occasion. Through all this, God was watching. The ultimate test, of course, was for Abraham to believe that God would give him and Sarah a son and then, once given, that God could take care of him, when He asked Abraham to sacrifice his son.
God tested Jacob when he had to work years for the wife he wanted- even had to work extra years over what had been agreed with his uncle.
Adam and Eve failed a test in the garden. They could obey God, but they chose to disobey, and the consequences of that are still being seen.
In Gen. 39, we see where Joseph was tested and he passed with flying colours. He showed his character- he would not compromise with God’s standard. Here he was away from his home and his family, isolated, having been hurt and abandoned by his closest family, and he had every reason to give in and do what he wanted to do. Who would ever see? But he did not. In verse 9, he recognized that this would be a great sin against God! Here is a man of integrity and character- a good example for us all to follow. You, who are younger, want heroes- here is an outstanding hero to follow and to imitate. Here is a young person of incredible character, who put many adults, then and now, to shame, and puts to shame leaders of today.
Character is both developed and revealed by tests and all of life is a test. That’s simply the way it is. You are always being tested. God constantly watches your response to people, problems, success, conflict, illness, disappointment, and even the weather- the little and inconsequential things in your life. He watches your actions and sees what comes through and how you are handling what happens in your life. So, the big things and the little things are important in your life. Don’t undervalue the small things (I was on the bus on Thursday and two older ladies came on- I rose to give my seat to one of them and the person beside me did the same- then a younger person rose to offer his seat to me. First time that has happened, but I declined- I don’t mind standing on a bus. But that’s a small thing that I hope God blesses him in his life for.)
I can’t predict where you’ll be tested, but based on the Bible, we can think about what and where some of them will be, anyway. Knowing human nature, we can predict where some of these tests will come. We’ll be tested by major changes- how will we handle them? We’ve had major change in our church. This is one big area of testing- that of doctrinal change- because it strikes at our personal and denominational pride. Some people have not been able to accept that they could be and were wrong. But we all were. So what? That’s, in the end, where I have come. I see God leading the whole process of my life, so why get upset. God is in charge. But some have missed this and haven’t been able to reconcile this reality with human error that He permitted. But, when you look at it, a Christian must always be changing. It pains me when I hear this not to be the case. Recently, I heard about one area where people were saying, ‘if a woman ever gives a sermon, then I’ll walk out’. Or another where a youth is going away to a Christian school, but where someone told her that she wasn’t supposed to expect to go away and learn and then come back and expect her church to change how they worship. Wow! Aren’t those both Christian attitudes expressed? I am speaking with a very big tongue planted firmly in my cheek! Christians must be prepared to change, and the WCG has followed God and has changed. You’ll have major changes, possibly in work, houses, income, health, and the like.
How about delayed promises? People are so impatient and to have to wait for God is incredibly hard. But God provides on his time and he’s never late. He defines what is appropriate and when. But people are always trying to jump ahead. Let’s not.
We’ll be tested when we witness, or experience, huge problems, ‘unanswered prayers’- there are really no such things- God is simply saying either ‘no’ or ‘not yet’, which are both legitimate answers. You’ll receive undeserved criticism. How will you handle it? How about handling what seems to be a senseless tragedy?
Of late, many Christians have placed a focus on ‘feeling God’s presence’. Sometimes we do have a strong sense of God’s presence in our lives. But at other times, we don’t. How will we handle ourselves when we don’t? There is no guarantee that you always will.
2 Chron. 32. 31- God left Hezekiah to test him. He had enjoyed close fellowship with God but at this crucial point God left him alone to test his character, to reveal a weakness, and to prepare him for more responsibility. I am impressed by an engraving on a gravestone in the cemetery where my mother is buried in Souris, Manitoba; it said, “I believe in God, even when he is silent.” God wants to know that we do.
When you realize that life is a test, you’ll understand that nothing is insignificant in your life. Some things seem small but they are not. Some things seem overwhelming, but they are not. Nothing comes to your life that you are unable to handle and to handle in a way that brings glory to God and to Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. 10.13- powerful verse. Contrary to what some of the game programs are showing, life is such that everyone is meant to get an A+. There is no Bell curve in life. God has more than enough to offer everyone. Just hold onto God and seek to bring glory to Him. Every time you pass a test, God notices and prepares to bless you for all eternity, as he declares to us:
James 1.12.
Secondly, life is a trust. A trust is something given or loaned for a time by someone who is the real owner or possessor. This is the way life is. You and I brought nothing into this world and you and I will not take anything out, except our relationships and our character. Everything about your life on earth is something given by God. Your time, health, energy, intelligence, opportunities, resources, everything belongs to God, and you and I are to be stewards of it.
Gen. 2.15ff
Psa. 24.1- everything belongs to God. We never really own anything during our brief time here on earth, but God loans it for a time. God gave us the job of taking care of His stuff on this earth and sometimes we don’t do a particularly good job.
1 Cor. 4.7- too many believe that others should clean up after them. We teach this at camp that youth ought not to have that expectation. I have a ‘mean’ secret desire for one power. I’d like to be able to return garbage to the one who deposits it- mostly cigarette butts as they’re thrown out of cars. I do a certain amount of ‘if only I could’ when I’m sitting in traffic, about that idea. Verse 2 tells us that we have to show ourselves worthy of the trust we’ve been given.
It’s this idea that leads us to teach that we’re to leave something as good as or better than we found it, and that has been our church’s practice over the years. We’re not here to simply use and abuse something, but re to be caring for what we have access to use.
Look at the story in Matthew 25- 14- 21. At the end of your life, God will evaluate you according to how well you handled what God entrusted to you. So, again, remember that everything you do has eternal consequences. If you treat everything as a trust, it will have an immense impact on your life, now and into eternity. I want to be invited to the celebration at the end. I know you do, too.
Let’s think about one of the items of our lives. Money is both a test and a trust and we sometimes don’t appreciate how important it is in our lives.
Lk. 16.11- tells us that how we use our money will have eternal impact. As we’ve gone through our church transition, money has been the centre of a lot of people’s concern. Some have withheld money because they were upset at the church or God. Some have stopped giving or have been giving little, with the feeling that ‘we gave so much in the past’, without understanding that what we did in the past doesn’t have a lot to do with the present. Too, people might fail to appreciate how character is being shown, or lack of, loyalty, long term vision, and the like. So, the test is there in our use of our money, and there is no question that the money we have is a trust from God.
God tells us that there is a direct relationship between how I use my money and the quality of my spiritual life. How I manage my money, which is worldly wealth, determines how much God can trust me with spiritual blessing, which is true riches. What kind of connection do you have? Are you preventing God’s adding real blessings to your life?
Lk. 12.48- the more God gives you, the more responsible he expects you to be. I know that some worry about tithing, and that it is not required anymore. However, giving from the heart is. Physical resources enable spiritual work, too, as in the church. So, this is one area we all need to examine in order to be certain we are doing what God wants. Don’t stop at ‘the church wants’, but go to the high court of heaven and consider what ‘God’ wants. You’re here to please Him and to sacrifice to Him. The church is only an intermediary, in a way- a physical representation- of God.
A final thought on this is that our church is a tremendous test and trust, too. It’s something special that God has given us and that we are to be faithful with. It’s a place for a lot of growth, and a lot of tests, too, as we care for one another, interact, and have interpersonal difficulties, even. However, it’s a great blessing that I hope we’ll always see that way.
Let us all be faithful in the small things. Let us all pass the tests, in our lives, with flying colours, and handle the trusts God gives us in ways that bring greatest glory to Him.
