Download Worldview (Part 3) – Meaning

Worldview (Part 3) – Meaning
Pastor Jerry Gillis – June 5, 2016
YoumaybesurprisedtolearnasIwaswhatthelongestrunningtelevision
showthat'sstillairingontelevisionis.It'stheSimpsons.Yeah.Youknow
whoI'mtalkingabout?Theyshouldhaveaslideupthere.Yeah,that's
them.Goodlookingfamily.Whatisupwithherhair?So,thisshow'sbeen
runningforliketwenty-eightyears,thelongestrunningshowon
television.Now,I'llletyoudrawyourownconclusionsonwhatthatsays
aboutourculture-thattheSimpsonsisthelongestrunningtelevision
showstillrunning.NowImaybethelastUScitizennevertohaveseena
fullepisodeoftheSimpsons.Iknowthere'sacoupleofyousayingthatyou
haven'teither,butIactuallymayhavewatchedthemall.No,I'mkidding,I
haven't.I'veneverseenanepisode.ButIamfamiliarwithsomeofthe
culturalmemesthatcomeoutoftheshow.Andbecauseit'sbeenarounda
longtime-Iwasstillactuallyalateteenagerwhenthisshowstarted.I
meanthat'showlongthisshowhasbeengoingon,youknow?
Andtherewasanepisodeinthelate1990'scalled"HomertheHeretic".
Homer'sthedad,andHomerishavingadreamorwhateverandhavinga
conversationwithgod.Thiscartoongod.Andhe'swalkingwiththis
cartoongodandHomersaysIwanttoknowwhatthemeaningoflifeis.
AndthiscartoongodintheSimpsonshowsayswell,you'llhavetofindout
whenyoudie.HomersaidIcan'twaitforthat.Ineedtoknowwhatthe
meaningoflifeisrightnow.Andsothiscartoongodsaidyoumeanyou
can'twaitsixmonths?Homerdidn'tevengetit.ItflewrightoverHomer's
headandHomersaidno,Ican'twaitsixmonths,Ineedtoknowwhatthe
meaningoflifeisrightnow.Andsothisgod-charactersaidokay,Homer,
themeaningoflifeis...andthentheshowended.Creditsrolled.Thatwasit.
Lefteverybodyhanging.
Here'sthething.Everybodyisaskingaboutthemeaningoflife,apparently
evenHomerSimpson.AndIdon'tknowwhenithappensinyourlife,or
maybewhenithappenedbutifyou'velivedanylifeatall,you'veprobably
cometoplacesinyourlifewhereyouhaveactuallyaskedquestionsabout
themeaningoflife.What'sthisallabout?
Someofyouaregettingreadytograduatehighschoolorgraduatecollege
andthisisatimesometimeswhereyouhavethosekindsofthoughtsand
thosekindsofconversationswhenyou'resittingaroundwithyourfriends
reallylateatnightandyou'rehavingoneofthoseIwonderwhatwe'llbe
intenyearsorIwonderwhatwe'llbeintwentyyearsconversations,
right?Maybethat'swhenyoustartthinkingaboutit.Ormaybeforyou,
whenyougotmarriedandyourealizedthatyouhadresponsibilityoutside
ofyourself.Youstartedgoingwhoa,whoaandhadtostartaskingsome
questionsaboutwhatdoeslifemean,whatisthisallabout?Ormaybeit
waswhenachildenteredyourlifeandallofasuddenyou'retakingthis
childhome,whetherfromthehospitalorthroughadoptionorwhatever
andyou'restartingtogowhatamIgoingtoteachthischildaboutwe
believe?WhatamIgoingtosaytothischild?HowamIgoingtoraisethis
child?Andyoustartaskingthequestionsaboutthemeaningoflifeand
whatit'sallabout.Ormaybeyoujustgotintotheworkforceandyou
startedworkingabunchandyoustartedmakingalotofmoneyandthen
yourealizeyou'remakingalotofmoneyandspendingyourmoneyand
yourtimeonalotoftrivialthingsthataren'tbringingyoureallyany
happiness.Andyoustartaskingthequestioninyourownmindandyour
ownheart,likewhatamIdoing?Whatisthemeaningofallthis?WhyamI
doingthesethings?
Ormaybeyouhadafriendoraspouseoraco-workerthatdied.Andyou
realizedjusthowfiniteourlivesareandyoustartedaskingquestions
aboutyourownlife.LikewhatamIdoing?What'sgoingon?What'sthe
meaningofallthis?Ormaybeonabusinesstriporonavacationyougotto
beinareallybeautifulplace.Maybeitwasbeachormountainsorcanyons
orwhereverandyougotachancetobealoneforalittlebitandyoujust
tookitallinandthemajestyandthebeautyandtheawe-inspiringnature
ofitallmadeyoufeelreallysmall,reallytiny.Maybeevenreally
insignificantandyoustartedaskingyourselfwhat'smyplaceinallofthis?
WhatamIdoinghere?
Idon'tknowwhereitmightbeforyou,butIknoweverybodyasksthose
questionsatsomepoint.Forme,IflirtedwiththosequestionswhenIwas
graduatinghighschool,becauseIhadaclosegroupoffriendsandwehad
someofthoselatenightwhatareweallgoingtobeintenyears,fifteen
years,twentyyears?Willweallstillbefriends?Willwestayintouch?Will
wedoallthosekindsofthings?What'sthemeaningofallofthis?And
rememberthiswasbeforetextingandbeforeFacebookandsocialmedia.
That'sbackwhenyouhadtopickupaphoneanddialthingsandcall
peopleandspeaktothem.Orwritethemaletterwithpaperandpens.This
wasbeforeallofthat.Sowe'reaskingourselveswillwestayintouch?
Whatisthisallabout?Whatisthemeaningofallofthis?ButIquickly
enoughletthatgo,becauselifejustmovedquickandsoIjustletthatgo.
ButwhereIreallycamebackaroundtothinkingaboutthiswithsome
depthwasmysophomoreyearattheUniversityofGeorgia.AndIstill
actuallyremembersittinginmyapartmentatSussexClubinmyroomthat
IsharedwithanotherguybutIwasjustinthisroombymyselfsittingon
theedgeofmybedandIwascontemplatingwhatwasthisallabout.AndI
startedrunninglogicallyandlinearlyhowIviewedwhatlifewasallabout.
What'smypurposehereandwhatamIdoinghere?What'sthemeaningof
allofthis?AndIstartedsaying,wellIguessthefirstmeaningformeis
graduatingfromtheUniversityofGeorgia(whichmayhavebeenamiracle
inandofitself).AndIcouldhavestayedthereforquiteawhilethinking
justaboutthat-thatwouldbeincredible.IfIactuallygraduated,that
wouldbesomething.
AndsothenIsaid,okay,thenwhat?Wellthen,maybeI'llgetajob,start
makingmoolah.Okay,thenwhat?Wellthen,hopefullythere'llbeayoung
ladythat'llhavemeandhopefullyhernamewillbeEdie,andhopefullyI'll
beabletogetmarried.Cool.Thenwhat?Thenwe'llbuyahouseandwe'll
havesomekids-maybeadog,probablynotacat.Igrewupwithacat,
Muffin.AndIhadadogatonetimethatwasapsychopath.Mydadgota
dogthatneededassistanceandmydadnicknamedthedogGunny,likefor
gunnerysergeant.Andthat'swhatthedogwas.Hefrightenedme.MyDad-
whenhewouldsaygofeedthedog,gofeedGunny-mybrotherandI
wouldjustcry.Wecan'tdoit,Dad.Gunnyisgoingtokillus.Hehatesus
andhespeaksEnglish.Whenwegoouttherehejustgoesruff,ruff,Ihate
you.Iswearit,itfeltthatway.
Okay,great,soIboughtahouseandwehadsomekidsandthenwhat.
ThenI'mgoingtoworkandmakeawholelotofmoneyandbereally
successful.Okay,thenwhat.ThenI'mgoingtoretireearly,I'mgoingto
movetoFlorida.I'mgoingtowearreallyuglyshirts.I'mgoingtodriveso
slowthateveryone'sinfuriatedbyme.I'mgoingtoplayalotof
shuffleboard.I'mgoingtosmokeapipeinmycarwiththewindowsrolled
up.Iknow.Someofyouareflirtingwiththatidearightnow.That'sokay,
cool.Idothat.Thenwhat?ThenIdie.Okay.
Thenwhat?Ididn'treallyknowatthatpoint,andsoIstartedlookingback
overmylifegoingokay,sohere,letmejustsumitupformyself.Thisisme
sittingonmybedinmysophomoreyearattheUniversityofGeorgia.Let
mesumitupformyself.I'mgoingtoworkalltheseyearsandmakeallof
thismoneyandthenI'mgoingtodie.Myfamilyisgoingtogetmymoney
andthenthey'regoingtodieandthensomebodyelseisgoingtogetitand
prettysoonpeopleIdon'tevenknowaregoingtobelivinghighonthehog
-thatI'venevermet.SobasicallyIfiguredoutthatmymeaninginlifewas
thatIamahumansavingsplanforpeopleI'venevermetandwhomaybe
aren'tevenbornyet.Youwanttotalkaboutcastingadark,darkcloudof
depressionovermylifeinthatmoment,that'sexactlywhatIfelt.BecauseI
waslike,isthisreallywhatthislookslike?
Imean,everybody'saskingthequestionaboutwhatthemeaningoflifeis,
andwheneveritisyou'vethoughtaboutit.You'veaskedthequestionsthat
goalongwiththat.DoImatter?AmIactuallymadeforsomething?AmI
significantinthegrandschemeofthings?We'veallaskedthosequestions.
ForthoseofuswhoreallycometoaplacewherewebelievethatGodisat
thecenterofourlivesandGodisatthecenterofhowweviewtheworld,
thatourworldviewisshapedbyplacingGodatthecenterandhowhe's
revealedhimselfinthepersonofJesusandhowweunderstandJesus
basedontherevelationofthescripturethatteachesusabouthim.When
wehaveisthatwerealizethatwe'vegotinherentmeaninginlifejust
baseduponthefactthatGodis.Thatthereisaninherentmeaninginour
livesbecauseofthatfact.
EventheapostlePaulinthebookofActswhenhewasteachingatMars
Hill-inActschapterseventeenhequotedoneoftheirfamouspoetscalled
Epimenides,butinithesaidthis,referringtoGodhesaid,"Inhimwelive
andmoveandhaveourbeing."Yousee,Paulunderstoodthatreallyour
meaning,everythingaboutus,thewaywelive,moveandhaveourbeingis
reallytiedupinGodhimself.Thatthere'saninherentmeaningbecauseof
beingtiedupinrelationshiptoGod.
EventheWestminsterConfessioninthemid-1600'sthatsummarizedthe
ChurchofEnglandandthenthePresbyterianChurch,thechurchof
Scotland'sdoctrine.Itbasicallysummarizedwhatthepurposeofhumanity
is.Itsaiditthisway,itsaidman's-andit'sreferringtohumanity's-
humanity'schiefendistoglorifyGodandenjoyhimforever.That'spretty
muchright.Humanity'schiefendistoglorifyGodandtoenjoyhimforever.
AndforthoseofusthathaveGodatthecenterofourworldviewas
revealedinJesusasunderstoodthroughtheScriptureinknowingJesus.
Weunderstandthatthere'ssomeinherentmeaningintermsofourlives.
Butforthosethatdon'tholdGodatthecenter,thatmaybedon'tevencare
aboutthenatureofGodatallorbelieveinGodatall,they'vegotproblems.
AndbythatIdon'tmeanthey'repersonallyvilepeoplewhodobadin
society.Imeanthey'vegotsomeexistentialproblemsandhere'swhy:to
answerthequestionofmeaning-andItoldyouinthisseries,Ihaveto
sometimesgointophilosophermode,sojuststaywithmealittlebit,we'll
landtheplaneinafewminutes,alright?Juststaywithme.
Toanswerthequestionofmeaning,therereallycanonlybetwowaysof
answeringthatquestion.Thefirstwaythatyouanswerthequestionof
meaningisthattherehastobesomeoutsidesomethingthatascribes
meaningtoyousothatyouhavemeaning.Inotherwords,something
objectiveoutsideofyourselfactuallyascribesmeaningtoyourlife.That's
onewaytoviewhowwegetmeaning.Theotherwaytoviewhowweget
meaningisthatwecreatemeaningforourselvesinsideofourselves.This
iswhatIwouldcallsubjectivemeaning.Oneisobjective,inotherwords
it'ssomethingoutsideofourselvesthatactuallygivesmeaningtoourlives,
theotherissubjectivebecauseit'suscreatingwithinourselvesmeaning
forourselves.There'sreallyonlytwowaystoanswerthisproblem.
Andyousee,forthosethatsaythere'snoGodorwhatever,andleaveGod
outofthecenteroftheirworldview,they'vegotareallybigexistential
problem,becauseultimatelytheyagreethattheuniverseandeverything
thatwehavecannotgivemeaningtoalife.That'swhatpeoplewhodon't
believeinGodbelieve.Theybelievethattherandomnessoftheuniverse
thatweliveindoesn'treallyhavemeaningbecauseit'srandom.It'sa
bunchofcollidingatomsandallkindsofstuffthatcreatesbiological
accidentsthathavenowsomehowfoundtheirwayintolife-whateverthat
is,whatevercreature,whateverform,whateverplant,whateveranimal,
whateverhuman.
Andsothere'sthiskindofideathatit'smeaninglessintermsofascribing
meaningtoalife-andbytheway,I'mnotjustsettingupastraw-manhere.
Thisiswhatfamousatheiststhroughthecourseofcenturieshavesaid.
Andevenmodernonessay.Thisisexactlywhattheycommunicate.Infact,
ifyouweretogobackabitandyouweretoreadsomeofthem,youwould
findthemsayingexactlythesamething.
Forinstance,youdon'tevenhavetogobackveryfar.AlexRosenbergwho
wrote"TheAthiestGuidetoReality"-listentowhathesaid:Whatisthe
purposeoftheuniverse?Thereisnone.Whatisthemeaningoflife?Ditto.
Doeshistoryhaveanymeaningorpurpose?It'sfullofsoundandfury,
signifyingnothing.Sothat'swhathethinks.Doestheuniverseitselfhave
anymeaningwhatsoever?
BertrandRussell,whowasaBritishphilosopher,logician,mathematician,
famousatheist/agnostic,Britishguywhodiedinabout1970,well
published,quotedoften.Hesaidthis:Thatmanistheproductofcauses
whichhadnoprevisionoftheendtheywereachieving;thathisorigin,his
growth,hishopesandfears,hislovesandhisbeliefs,arebuttheoutcome
ofaccidentalcollocationsofatoms;thatnofire,noheroism,nointensityof
thoughtandfeeling,canpreserveanindividuallifebeyondthegrave;that
allthelaborsoftheages,allthedevotion,alltheinspiration,allthe
noondaybrightnessofhumangenius,aredestinedtoextinctioninthevast
deathofthesolarsystem,andthatthewholetempleofMan'sachievement
mustinevitablybeburiedbeneaththedebrisofauniverseinruins--all
thesethings,ifnotquitebeyonddispute,areyetsonearlycertainthatno
philosophywhichrejectsthemcanhopetostand.Onlywithinthe
scaffoldingofthesetruths,onlyonthefirmfoundationofunyielding
despair,canthesoul'shabitationhenceforthbesafelybuilt.
Myguessisyouwouldn'tinvitehimtoabarbecue,right?Hewouldn'tbe
theguyyougo,"Hey,forlittleSuzy'ssixthbirthday,let'shavehimdressup
asaclownandentertainthekids."He'dbelike.....thereisnomeaningto
life.Youhavenopurpose,right?
Butultimately,listen,thisiswhattheyagreeupon,ifyoureadsomeofthe
modernkindofthenewatheists,peoplelikeRichardDawkinsandthe
now-deceasedChristopherHitchens,theyacknowledgethesamething.
Thattheuniversehasnomeaning.Thereisnoobjectivemeaningthatis
giventoourlivesbysomethingoutsideofourselves.
So,ifthereisnoobjectivemeaning,thenwhatdoyoudowiththegnawing
insideforeveryone-atheistsincluded-thatgnawsatthemforasenseof
destinyorpurposeormeaningorsignificance?Whatdoyoudowiththat?
Well,youonlyhaveoneoption.You'vealreadyconcludedinyouratheism
thatthereisnoobjectivemeaningintheuniverse,nothingoutsideof
yourselfthatascribesmeaningtoyourlife.Sowhatdoyoudo?Youhaveto
makeitupforyourself.It'syouronlyotheroption.Andinfact,that'swhat
weseewithphilosophersandessayistsandthinkersandastrophysicistsin
ourhistorythathaveponderedthesethingswhenaskedorthinkingabout
themeaningoflife.
Listentoafewofthem.AnaisNin,shewrotethis:Thereisnotonebig
cosmicmeaningforall;thereisonlythemeaningweeachgivetoourlife,
anindividualmeaning,anindividualplot,likeanindividualnovel,abook
foreachperson.JosephCampbellsaidthis:Lifeiswithoutmeaning.You
bringthemeaningtoit.Themeaningoflifeiswhateveryouascribeitto
be.Beingaliveisthemeaning.
Thenyou'vegotStanleyKubrick,youguysrememberhim?Thedirector,
directabunchoffilmslike'ApocalypseNow','ClockworkOrange',andall
ofthosekindoffilms,'EyesWideShut'orwhateveritwas.Multipleawardwinningdirector.Hereiswhathesaid:Theverymeaninglessnessoflife
forcesmantocreatehisownmeaning...Themostterrifyingfactaboutthe
universeisnotthatitishostilebutthatitisindifferent;butifwecancome
totermswiththisindifferenceandacceptthechallengesoflifewithinthe
boundariesofdeath--howevermutablemanmaybeabletomakethem--
ourexistenceasaspeciescanhavegenuinemeaningandfulfillment.
Howevervastthedarkness,wemustsupplyourownlight.
CharismaCarpenter,whoyoumayknow-she'samodernactresswho
starredinBuffytheVampireSlayer.Ifyouwatchthat,don'tacknowledge
it.Here'swhatshesaid:Ithinkessentiallythemeaningoflifeisprobably
thejourneyandnotreallyanyonethingoranoutcomeoraresult.Ithink
it'skindoftheprocessandIthinkthatifyoucanfindhappinessinthe
processthanmaybethat'sit.I'msorry-what?Sticktoacting,stopbeinga
philosopher.
SomeofyoumightknowtheastrophysicistNeilDegrasseTyson-very
famousinourday.Hewasaskedbyasix-year-oldatonehislectures
what'sthemeaningoflife.Anastrophysicistwhoisalsoanatheistbythe
way.Andinsteadofgoingtosomeobjectivemeaningaboutit,here'swhat
hesaid:"...maybemeaninginlifeissomethingthatyoucreate,thatyou
manufactureforyourselfandothers.WhenIthinkof'meaning'inlife,I
ask,"haveIlearnedsomethingtodaythatIdidn'tknowyesterday?"Thisis
abrilliantastrophysicist'sanswertomeaninginlife.
Nowhere'sthething.There'ssomereallybigproblemsjust
philosophicallywiththeseideas.Reallybigproblems.Whenyoudon'thave
Godatthecenter,andinfacteliminatehim,youhaveestablishedthereis
noobjectivemeaningwhatsoeverforlife.Solifeisnotascribedmeaningby
anyoutsideforce.Youarehavingtocreatethatmeaningforyourself.
Therearetworeallyhugeproblemswiththat.Here'sthefirstone:It'sso
subjectivethateverythingisthesame.
So,forinstance,ifonepersonheredecidesthattheirmeaninginlifeisthat
theywanttodestroylivesbecausetheyareahomicidalmaniacandthat's
theirmeaninginlife-thatthenhastobephilosophicallybasedonthis
thinking,onparwiththepersonwhosaidtheirmeaninginlifeismaking
surethatimpoverishedAfricanvillageshavecleanwatersothatpeople
canlive.Thosearemorallythesamethinginthislineofthinkingbecauseit
iscompletelyandtotallysubjecttoone'sowndefinitionofmeaning.It's
completelyandtotallysubjective.That'saproblem.
Say,well,youknow,wellsocietyactuallysays-becauseyoucan'tsaythat
that'sbadandthat'sgood.Youcan'tsaythat.Wellsociety,though,says
thatthisisbadandthisisgoodso...Oh,sosocietyisgoingtoborrowfrom
objectivemeaningthen,becausetheyhavetoreachintotheobjective
meaningbagtoevencallitrightorwrong.Youcan'thaveyourcakeand
eatittoo,there.
Butthere'sasecondhugeproblemwiththisidea,andthatisthatifyou've
establishedthatyourlifeactuallyhasnoobjectivemeaning,howthencan
lifewithnoobjectivemeaningascribemeaningtoitself?Does
meaninglessnesshavethepowertocreatemeaningwherenomeaning
exists?Sorrytobelogical,butthat'sjusthowitis.
Sowhatdowedowithallofthat?Well,weremindourselvesthatthatisa
futileandfrustratingwaytotryandseekoutmeaninginlife,andthatthe
Scripturehashadrightallalong.ThatwhenGodisatthecenter,wethen
understandmeaninginthelifethatwelead.
I'mgoingtoillustratethatwithDavid.DavidwroteaPsalm,Psalmsixteen
andIcan'ttellyouexactlywhenthePsalmwaswritten.Scholarsarealittle
bitalloverthemap.Youcouldsayitwaspossiblethathewrotethatjust
priortobecomingking-that'sapossibility.Ithinkthelikelihoodisthathe
wrotePsalmsixteenwhilehewaskinginaparticularcircumstance,
probablywhenhewastalkingwithNathanbutnonetheless,itwas
probablyinthattimeframewhenhewaskingthathewrotethis.Andwhat
DavidwrotewhenhewaswritinginPsalmsixteen,ishewrotebasically
understandingofmeaning.Thatheunderstoodeverythinginhislifefinds
meaningbecauseofhisrelationshiptoGod.Andthatmeaninginhislife
actuallygoesbeyond-eventhoughhewasstillalittlemurkyinhisfull
understandingofthis-goesbeyondevenjustthelifethatheleads.Itgoes
beyondevenhisownliving.
SoIwantustotakejustaquicklookatthis,andthenI'llsummarizewitha
coupleofthingsthatwe'llleavewiththatIthinkwillbehelpfulforus.ButI
wantyoutobeginlookingatPsalmsixteenbeginninginverseone.David
writes,Keepmesafe,myGod,forinyouItakerefuge.IsaytotheLord,
"youaremyLord;apartfromyouIhavenogoodthing."Isayoftheholy
peoplewhoareintheland,"theyarethenobleonesinwhomisallmy
delight."Thosewhorunafterothergodswillsuffermoreandmore.Iwill
notpouroutlibationsofbloodtosuchgodsortakeuptheirnamesonmy
lips.Lord,youalonearemyportionandmycup;youmakemylotsecure.
Theboundarylineshavefallenformeinpleasantplaces;sureIhavea
delightfulinheritance.IwillpraisetheLord,whocounselsme;evenat
nightmyheartinstructsme.IkeepmyeyesalwaysontheLord.Withhim
atmyrighthand,Iwillnotbeshaken.
Seehere'swhatDavidbeginsthisPsalm,helpingustounderstand.Hesays
apartfromGodIhavenogoodthing.NowIwantyoutothinkaboutthat
forjustasecondbecausesometimesthewaythatpeopledefinemeaning
forthemselvesisbaseduponwhattheydoortherelationshipsthatthey
have.That'showtheydefinemeaning.Davidsays,o.k.Ihavean
occupation.King.WhichmeansI'vegotaccesstoalotofstuff.Right?I've
gotriches.I'vegotwealth.I'vegotpower.I'vegoteverything.Here'swhat
Davidsays-I'mtheking,man!AndapartfromGodIhavenogoodthing.So
DavidisfunctionallysayingthatifIamthekingapartfromGod,thenit
doesn'tmeananything.BecausemylifeisdefinedintheGodwhomade
me.
Davidevensayshowherejoicesintherelationshipswhenhetalksabout
theholypeoplewhoareintheland.Hehasawonderfulrelationshipwith
peoplebuthesays,apartfromGodIhavenogoodthing.Myrelationships
inandofthemselvesfindtheirmeaningbecauseofmyrelationshiptoGod.
DavidsaidHehimselfismyportion.Heismycup.Heismyinheritance.
DavidsayswhenGodisatthecenter,thenmylifebeginstofindits
meaningandeverythingthattouchesmylife,whetherit'soccupationor
relationshipfindsitsmeaninginthisonegreattruething:thatGodismy
everything.ThisiswhatDavidistryingtohelpusunderstandandsee.
ButyouknowDavidactuallyseesevenbeyondhislifehavingmeaningin
God.Herealizesthis-thathislifeinthenowhasmeaninginGod,buthis
lifetocomealsodoes.It'sdebatablehowmuchDavidunderstoodabout
this,becausetheideaoflifeafterdeathwasnotsomethingthatwasreally
pronouncedinancientIsraelinthetimethathewaswriting.Itwas
understood,butitwasn'ttalkedaboutawholelot.
ButlistentowhatDavidwritesbeginninginversenumbernine.Hesays,
Thereforemyheartisgladandmytonguerejoices;mybodyalsowillrest
secure(orrestinhope),becauseyouwillnotabandonmetotherealmof
thedead,norwillyouletyourfaithfuloneseedecay.
Davidissayinghere,whateverelsehappenstomeinthislifeIknowthat
mymeaningcomesfromGod,becauseapartfromhimIdon'thaveany
goodthing.Nomatterwhatitis.Havingagreatoccupationorgreat
relationship,Ireallydon'thavealotifIdon'thavehim.ButDavidsays,you
knowwhat?Icanevenresteasyknowingthatattheconclusionofmy
days,whenmydaysarenumberedandthey'redone,thatIstillhave
confidencethatmylifemeanssomethingbecausetheGodwhoI'veputmy
confidenceinwillnotletmeseedecay,andhewillhelpmewhenIgoto
therealmofthedead.
NowthebeautyofthisisthattheSpiritofGodwasinspiringDavidto
write.HowmuchDavidunderstoodaboutwhathewaswritingaboutis
debatable,butDavidwasnotonlywritingabouthisownheartandhisown
desiresbuthewaswritingaboutJesus.Davidwasabsolutelywritingin
Psalmsixteenabouttheonetocome,theMessiah.HowdoIknowthat?
Well,IknowthatbecausewhenJesuscameandhediedandherosefrom
thedead,andthenascendedbacktotheFather,hepromisedhisdisciples
thathewouldsendhisSpiritandthattheywouldbeempowered.Itwould
rememberallthethingsthathetoldthemandhewouldguidethemintoall
truths,right?AndwhenhesenthisSpiritatthetimeofPentecost,whenhis
faithfuldisciples,thissmallgroupofonehundredandsomethingthatwere
gatheredinJerusalem,whentheSpiritofGoddescendeduponhim,and
Peterbegantopreachtoeveryonewhowaslisteningaboutthegospelof
theresurrectedJesus,PetertoldallofthoseIsraelitesexactlywhatDavid
hadsaid.
ListentowhathesaidinActschaptertwo.Hesaid,FellowIsraelites,listen
tothis:JesusofNazarethwasamanaccreditedbyGodtoyoubymiracles,
wondersandsigns,whichGoddidamongyouthroughhim,asyou
yourselvesknow.ThismanwashandedovertoyoubyGod'sdeliberate
planandforeknowledge;andyou,withthehelpofwickedmen,puthimto
deathbynailinghimtothecross.ButGodraisedhimfromthedead,
freeinghimfromtheagonyofdeath,becauseitwasimpossiblefordeathto
keepitsholdonhim.Davidsaidabouthim:"IsawtheLordalwaysbefore
me.Becauseheisatmyrighthand,Iwillnotbeshaken.Thereforemy
heartisgladandmytonguerejoices;mybodyalsowillrestinhope,
becauseyouwillnotabandonmetotherealmofthedead,youwillnotlet
yourholyoneseedecay.Youhavemadeknowntomethepathsoflife;you
willfillmewithjoyinyourpresence."FellowIsraelites,Icantellyou
confidentlythatthepatriarchDaviddiedandwasburiedandhistombis
heretothisday.ButhewasaprophetandknewthatGodhadpromised
himanoaththathewouldplaceonofhisdescendantsonhisthrone.
Seeingwhatwastocome,hespokeoftheresurrectionoftheMessiah,that
hewasnotabandonedtotherealmofthedead,nordidhisbodyseedecay.
GodhasraisedthisJesustolife,andweareallwitnessesofit.
Whyisthissohopeful?WhyisitsohopefulforusthatDavidistalking
aboutthisideaofmeaninginlifethatissummedupinthenatureofGod,
butisactually,bytheleadershipoftheSpiritprophesyingaboutwhatis
goingtohappentotheMessiahwhoweknowultimatelydoesrisefromthe
dead.Whyisthatsoimportanttomeaning?
Well,PaulhelpsusfleshoutwhatPetersaid.ListentowhatPaulsaidin1
Corinthiansfifteen:ButChristhasindeedbeenraisedfromthedead,the
firstfruitsofthosewhohavefallenasleep.Forsincedeathcamethrougha
man,theresurrectionofthedeadcomesalsothroughaman.Forasin
Adamalldie,soinChristallwillbemadealive.Buteachinturn:Christ,the
firstfruits;then,whenhecomes,thosewhobelongtohim.
Seehere'sthegreatnews-thegreatnewsisbecauseofwhatGodhasdone
inJesus,isthatnotonlydoesourlifehaveinherentmeaningbecauseof
whatGodhasdoneinJesusinourlivesnow,butJesuswhotheonewho
hasrisenfromthedeadisthefirstfruitsofresurrection.Inotherwords,he
isgettingupfromthegrave,andtheScripturesaysthatwhenhewhois
aliverightnow,whoislivinganindestructiblelife-returns,thatheis
goingtogetupallofthosewhohaveplacedtheirfaithinhim,andtheytoo
willberisenfromthedead.
Here'swhythatissobeautiful!It'ssobeautiful,ladiesandgentlemen,
becausethereasonthatwehaveanenduringlifeisbecausewehave
enduringmeaning.Youcouldevenflipthat:wehaveenduringmeaning
becauseinJesuswehaveenduringlife.Ithinkitworksbothways.Yousee
forus,whenwegettotheplaceofunderstandingthatthelifethatwelead
rightnowhasinherentmeaningbecauseofGodhimselfbecausewewere
ultimatelymadetodemonstratehisglory,thatbecauseourlifehaslasting
durationithaslastingmeaning.Or,becauseourlifehaslastingmeaning,it
haslastingduration.
Yousee,ifyouwanttowritethisdown,thiswillbeagreatwayto
summarize.LifehasmeaningbecauseweweremadeforGod'sglory.
That'swhylifehasmeaning.BecauseweweremadeforGod'sglory.Now,
it'sonethingtosaythattheologicallyandtheoreticallyand
philosophically,becausesometimesyouhearthatphraseandyou'relike,I
don'tknowwhatyou'retalkingabout.I'mnotsurewhatthatmeans.O.k.
Youknow,asapastorIhaveconversationsplenty.TherearetimeswhereI
justwanttostophearingmyselftalk-alotoftimesactually.Soinmany
occasionsinmylife,I'mquietbecauseIhavetotalksomuchinmylife,
right?Andthere'sapointwhereifyoubreatheenoughofyourown
exhaustyou'lleventuallydie.Ijustgetsickoflisteningtomyself,right?But
Ihavetheseconversationswithpeopleallthetime-peoplewho
sometimesarewanderingaimlesslyinlifeandthey'retryingtolandon
thismeaningoflifething,right?Itmightbeinourcommunityorwherever
andit'sjustlike,you'reapastor,canyouhelpmewiththis?Andthisis
what'sgoingon,right?
Usuallyit'saroundthreethings.Here'sthefirstone:IjustwishIknew
whatpathtochoose.IwishIknewwhatroadtotake.Don'traiseyour
hand,buthaveyoueverbeeninthatballpark?That'sone.Thesecondone
is,IjustwishIcouldfindwhatreallymakesmehappy.Andthethirdoneis
ifIfoundwhatroadtotakeandIfoundwhatreallymakesmehappyIwish
Icouldjustmakeitlastbecauseitneverdoes.Dothosesoundfamiliarto
anybody?IwishIcouldfigureoutwhatroadtotake.IwishIcouldfindout
whatmakesmehappy.AndIwishitwouldlast.
Whatdoyoudowiththatinthatkindofsearch?Well,youlooknofurther
thanthelastverseofthePsalm,becausewhatDavidhelpsusto
understandisthreethingsthatanswerthosethreequestions.
Thefirstthingheshowsusisthisisthatourlifepathcanbeknown.Itcan
bemadeknown.Listentowhathesaysintheveryfirstpartofverse
eleven:Youmakeknowntomethepathoflife.Right?SoI'mjust
borrowingfromtheScriptureatthispoint.Yourlifepathcanbemade
known.Youdon'thavetowanderaroundaimlesslyforyourwholelife.You
canknow.Anddoyouknowhowyou'llknow?Whenyoulifeistiedupin
relationshiptoGod.
Yousee,IgotsomereallygoodadvicewhenIfirstcametoknowChrist.I
don'trememberwhoitwas.ItwasjustaguywhoIwastalkingtointhe
churchthatIwasapartofinAtlanta.AndhesaidtomeJerry,here'swhat
youneedtodo.You'regettingspacedoutandtiedupinabunchof
differentthingsbecauseI'mlike,whatamIsupposedtodonow?Where
amIsupposedtogo?ShouldIjustpunchoutatUniversityofGeorgiaand
justgotoaBiblecollegerightnowandjust...shouldImovetoAfricaright
thissecond?WhatdoIneedtodo?He'sjustlike,hey,man.Howaboutwe
trythis?TheScripturesayssomethingthatIthinkyouneedtoknow.I
wantyoutolookwithme.AndheshowsmeandheopenshisBibleto
Proverbsthree,andhesayshere'swhattheScripturesays.Trustinthe
Lordwithallyourheartanddon'tleanonyourownunderstandingbutin
allyourwaysacknowledgehimandsubmittohim.Andthenhesaidnow
stopreading.AndIwentthere'salittlemoreleft.Andhesaidstop.Isaid
o.k.Hesaidbuildawallrightthere.I'mlikesaywhat?Hesaidbuildawall
rightthere,andIsaidwhatareyoutalkingabout?Hesaidbuildawallright
therebetweenyourhalfoftheverseandGod's.Whatdoyoumean?He
saidyourjobistostayonyoursideofthewallanddowhatitsays.Trust
Godwitheverythingthatyouare.Submittohim,acknowledgehim,
surrendertohiminallyourways.Don'tjustleanoneverythingyoucan
figureoutbutyouabandonyourselftoGod.Andhere'swhatGodsaid:I
willmakeyourpathsstraight.I'lldothat.Thatwillnolongerbeyourjob.
YourjobistoknowmeandIwillseetoitthatyouarewhereIwantyou.
Why?Becauseyouweremadeformyglory.
Now,someofusneedtohearthattoday,becausewhatweareinthe
businessofiswearewallclimbers.Wewanttoscaleover,trustGodalittle
bitbutgetontheothersideandtryanddirectourownpaths.Hesaidno,
no,no!Youtrustmewithallofyourheart.Don'tleanonyourown
understanding.Inallyourwaysacknowledgeme,surrendertome,submit
tome.AndIwillmakesurethatIhaveyouwhereIwantyoubecauseyour
lifeistiedupinmeandyouweremadeformygloryandIcaremoreabout
whereyou'regoingtobethanyoudoaboutgettingtheresotrustme.This
iswhatGoddoesforus.
So,insteadofwanderingaroundaimlessly,wheredoIgo,whatdoIdo?
KnowGodinthepersonofHissonJesusbythepowerofhisSpiritandGod
saysIwillgetyouwhereyou'resupposedtogoformyglory.Yourlifepath
canbemadeknown.
Andguesswhatelse?Joycanbefound.Insteadofsaying,IjustwishIcould
findhappiness,welllistentowhatDavidtellusbyinspirationoftheSpirit
inpartbofthelastverse."Youwillfillmewithjoyinyourpresence."
Thisissomuchbetterthanjusthappinesswhichiscircumstantial.Bythe
wayI'mafanofhappiness.I'dratherbehappythansadanyday.I'drather
itbesunnythanrainyanyday.Happiness,however,iscircumstantial.Joy
isanenduringqualitythatcomesonlywhenwefindourselvesinthe
presenceoftheGodwhomadeusbecausesomethinginsideofus,when
weareconnectingwiththeGodwhomadeus,thereisajoyunspeakable
anduntouchablethatiswithinus.AndinsteadofwonderinghowdoIjust
makemyselfhappy,startaskingthequestionofwheredoIfindjoyand
youwillfinditinthepresenceofGod.Why?Becauseyou'remadeforhis
glory.That'swhy.
Andthirdly:Pleasureiseternal.Soinsteadofsaying,youknowwhat-even
ifIfindsomethingsthatmakemehappy,Ijustwantthemtolast.Godsays
tousthismorning,man,yourlifepathcanbefound.Joycanbe
experienced.Andyourpleasure'sgoingtobeforever.Why?Becauseinthis
enduringlifethatI'mgivingtoyou,thereisenduringmeaning,and
becauseyouarefoundinJesus,andJesusisattherighthandoftheFather,
yourpleasuresareeternalathisrighthand.
Doesthatanswerthequestionofmeaningorwhat?Isthisnotwhatyou
arelongingforwhenyouwalkaroundsayingIwishIknewwhichroadto
take,IwishIcouldfigureoutwhatmakesmehappyandIwishthatit
wouldlast.AndGodsaystousyourlifepathcanbeknown,joycanbe
found,andyourpleasurecanbeeternal.Buthowdoyougetit?Whenyou
understandthatlifehasmeaningbecauseweweremadeforGod'sglory!
Youseealife,ultimately,thatislivedforGod'sglorywillneverbeabsent
ofmeaning.That'swhyPastorDaryl'slifeanditsmeaningisnotdone.I
wasfrustratedthatheonlygottoliveforty-nineyears.He'smyfriend.He's
Carla'shusband.He'sOliviaandAbby'sdad.ButIalsorealizethatfortynineoreighty-nineislikethisinthebigschemeofGod.AndwhatIcameto
dwellonmorewasthefactthatDaryllivedhislifeforthegloryofGod.And
alifelivedforthegloryofGodisneverabsentofmeaning.Andthathislife
willcontinuetohavemeaningbecauseit'sgoingtocontinuetohave
durationinthepresenceofJesusandultimatelywhenJesuscomesatthe
resurrection.Ithasmeaninganditwillforyou.Alifelivedforthegloryof
Godwillneverbeabsentofmeaning.
Sostopyoursearchbecauseoftentimesyou'relookinginallthewrong
places.Godisthesourceofmeaningandthenwhenheisthecenter,that's
whatchangesyouridentity.So,ifthen,foreverJesusisgoingtobeour
path,ifforeverJesusisgoingtobeourlife,ifforeverJesusisgoingtobe
ourjoy,ifforeverJesusiswherewewillfindourpleasure,thenwhydon't
westartnow?Thisisourdestinyforever.Thisshouldbeourrealitynow.
YouweremadeforGod'sglory.That'swhereyou'llfindmeaning.Let's
bowourheadstogether.
Beforewewalkoutanddismissed,ifyou'venevercometoaplaceof
actuallybeginningarelationshipwithGodthroughhissonJesus,
confessingthatyouhavesinnedandcomeshortofthegloryofGodandcan
neversaveyourselfandit'sonlywhatGodhasinitiatedonyourbehalfin
thegiftofhisSonwholivedsinlessly,diedonacrosstopayforyoursin,
rosefromthedeadasasufficientsacrificeonyourbehalfandwho's
comingagain.I'mheretotellyouthatyourlifewillfindmeaninginhim.In
him.Andifyou'venevercometothatplaceIwanttoinviteyouto,when
wedismissinjustamoment,tocomebytheFiresideRoom-clearly
markedoutintheAtrium.Somepastorsandotherprayerpartnerswillbe
inthere.We'dlovetotalktoyouaboutwhatitmeanstobeginagenuine
relationshipwithGodthroughhissonJesusChrist.
Father,forthoseofuswhoknowyouitcanbeveryeasyforusattimesto
getsidetrackedinoursearchformeaning.Sometimeswelookformeaning
inhumanrelationshipsastheultimate.Sometimeswelookformeaningin
ouraccomplishmentsastheultimatewhenyouhavemadeustolookto
youtounderstandthemeaningthatwehaveinlifeandthroughyougives
everythingelsewedo,everyrelationship,everyachievementor
occupation,everyactivityissustainedwithmeaningbecauseofyou.So
Father,Iprayyouwouldreorientourmindssinceforeverwearedestined,
LordJesus,toknowyouasourlifeandtoknowyouasourjoyandtoknow
youasourpleasure.Helpustolivethatwaynowbecauseaworldthatis
cryingouttofindmeaninginsomanydifferentplacesneedstoseepeople
whofindtheirmeaningintheonetrueGodandinhisSontheLordJesus.
WouldyouhelpusbythepowerofyourSpirittoliveourlivesfortheglory
ofGodbecausealifelivedforthegloryofGodwillneverbeabsentof
meaning.WetrustyoutodothisinJesus'name.Amen.
Iloveyoufolks.Godblessyou.