Men & Women of Nothing: Our Lack of Purpose in Life?!
Updated: Jul 4
Men & Women of Nothing: Our Lack of Purpose in Life?!
As human beings, sinful human beings we are under constant assault first by The World, the Flesh and the Devil. We fool ourselves if we do not recognize this reality. Yet we are all capable of denying reality and in our post-modern mindset we often do.
It has been said we are in a crisis of comfort meaning we as Americans and perhaps westerners believe we are entitled to comfort above all else, due to our smart and clever technology etc. We indeed have been coddled and taught we are entitled to whatever we desire. This is reflected in many things. Poor people in America for example are by and large angry and unhappy, why? Entitlement! By contrast if you go to India or many other so-called poor nations poor people are generally thankful and grateful for what they have, not angry.
Anger leads to arrogance and pride.
We in America really have no excuses for our anger, and pride.
America today can I believe be summed up in one word: “Godless”.
As we have embraced the post-modern, expressive individualist mindset we seek our own truth. And as we now see “our” truth is a lie in politics, in health care, in life in general. We are not capable of defining our own truth. Our truth does not relate to the world as it really is. We find ourselves back in the Garden talking to a snake.
We all know our nation and the people in it are unravelling.
And like nations before us, Rome, Israel etc. for most of their existence as examples, we also think we can do this apart from God. We are intelligent, look at what we have accomplished!
So, we find purpose in being able to eat the most hot dogs, or being a top player of video games, or porn stars, or gamblers or con artists or politicians or social media stars. We as a culture have elevated the shallow, superficial and trivial to an artform. Sin is fun and sensational sin makes you famous!
This is nothing new. Yet it has eternal consequences in that we all must answer to God for what we have done and what we have thought in our lives when they are over. As Christians we are even more responsible because we know or should know the difference. Of course, we have a Christian culture that has been dumbed down like everything else. We see shallow, lukewarm, poorly committed Christians leaving the faith daily. The prosperity Gospel and the Fake prophets have lured many into eternal peril.
We know this.
What then can we do? You see this reflects our shallow faith. What we do now is what Christ asked us to do all along. He is the truth we must seek him. We must have an actual relationship with our Lord, we must be aware of the person of the Holy Spirit, we must read scripture because that is Christ speaking to us. Are we humble? Are we grateful?
Or are we entitled, do we choose the folly and sin of alternate realities like conspiracies or fake saviors like politicians? Do we want our way so badly that we push aside our Lord in favor of people who claim they can save us and our nation? Yes, indeed many people are happy in their folly. “He God did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” (Acts 14:17) The doctrine of common grace to all men makes this possible. Jesus also taught that God “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).
Currently non-Christians view Christianity as a kill-joy religion. They believe most Christians are miserable, so they don’t want to be like them. Evangelical Christians have shown they are often known more for what they’re against than what they’re for. It therefore is wise that we talk to non-believers in ways that reveal the joys we share in common with them.
Have you neglected the habits of faith? Do you go days, even weeks, perhaps months without praying? Do you connect the smallest things, acts and circumstances of our lives, our eating and drinking, and everything we do, to the glory of God? Lip service to God will get you to Hell! So, will a weekend faith that is strictly for show or just a social activity.
Jesus dedicated his short, incarnated life to glorifying his Father, through making him known to his disciples. He so lived, and spoke, that his Father would be revealed and received.
His disciples then received the mantle as He departs: make him known to the world. Jesus modeled our highest calling as he draws his people into this pursuit and purpose with him. He seeks his Father’s glory as he calls his disciples to do the same in life and in the world.
“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:8)
Today in your life in Christ, you as an individual and we his church fulfill our created intent in the image of God by displaying his value in the world. We can do that in many ways.
Christ lived utterly dedicated to the glory of his Father, and now we live dedicated to God’s glory and do so in the name of Jesus (Colossians 3:17). Our earthly happiness and pleasure are great but fleeting. As Christians we are wise and realistic enough to acknowledge the promise and the disappointment. We then can articulate that there is more to life, yet we won’t find it without God, his sacrifice, and the reality of the cross.