August 9, 2010

THREE BIG QUESTIONS

Scripture Reading--Revelation 4:1-3, 9-11

Three questions often  haunt the minds of human beings.

1.  Where did I come from?

2.  Why am I here?

3.  Where am I going?

To Bible-believing Christians, the first and third questions aren't problems.  We know where we came from.  "In the beginning God created" ( Gen. 1:1a ).  That verse settles it in spite of what past evolutionists and modern educators would tell us.  We also know where we're going.  Second Corinthians 5:8 tells us that "to be absent from the body" is "to be present with the Lord."  The moment this life ends, a new life begins--"and so shall we ever be with the Lord" ( 1 Thes. 4:17b ).

The second question, however, is more difficult to answer, even for some Bible-believing Christians.  The answer is found in today's Scripture reading, which paints a beautiful picture of the 24 elders worshiping God.  In their worship, they state, "For thy pleasure they are and were created" ( Rev. 4:11b ).  We were created to bring pleasure to our God.  This is His purpose for our existence.  To miss His purpose is to miss our purpose for living.  God's approval must be the highest priority in life.

Several other places in Scripture bring this truth out.  In Proverbs 16:4a we read, "The Lord hath made all things for himself."  Again, in Romans 11:36, the Bible says, "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."  In other words, life is all about God.  To leave god out means to ignore the most important part.  Those who have no place for God will struggle to find a reason for living for something other than themselves. 

PRAYER TIME:  Pause as a family to thank God that He's your God.  Also read Psalm 86:8-10 as a good reminder.

--Tom Palmer--