While driving on my way to a recent, early morning breakfast appointment, my mind began to wander. The sky was still pitch dark, and the air was a bone-chilling 20 degrees, as I wound my way down a rural country road in anticipation of my time with an old friend. As I surveyed the beautiful, silhouetted landscape on the horizon I started to think how insignificant I was. In the grand stage of life, our lives are really just a blip on the screen of history. Yes, I know life is infinitely valuable because God sent His Son to die for us, but life is still relatively inconsequential. God's glory and His subsequent (always evolving and unfolding) plan and purposes always take precedence and center stage. It is always squarely and uniquely about Him. Again, I know we have a part in the play via His Son, but we are, at best, background performers and supporting cast.
Have you ever thought for a moment how tiny and miniscule you really are? In a world of over 6 billion humans, you are but one. As I drove, my insignificance reminded me of His significance. My limitations reminded me of the incredible infiniteness of our Creator and the vastness of His incredible creation. My frailty reminded me of His strength. The challenge to understand my lack of resources reminds me He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.
It also reminded me of both my well-placed lack of confidence in myself and my equally well-placed resolute confidence in Him. Jesus said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). My only real hope is found in Him daily and apart from Him I can do nothing.
As we each go through the journey of life, we find ourselves asking the question, what is the point of life? What is this life for and about and what is the point of my being here? Do you ever go there? I am confident that God is always open to this questioning. There is not a question I could formulate that someone has not already previously thought of and asked, nor is there a question that God has not previously and satisfactorily answered. He is, in fact, the ultimate answer to all questions regarding life, meaning and purpose. If you take HIM out of the equation, you are left with not much to say regarding any meaningful answer to the previous questions. Jesus is life, love, justice and forgiveness, among other things. He simply is the answer to life's questions.
A few nights ago, as Paula and I drove down our long winding driveway, we paused to acknowledge and admire the incredible expanse of the heavens above. It was both breathtaking and unsettling to think that God--who created all this stuff around us--also created, knows us and cares for us. The truths stated above often don't sink in. Yet when they do connect, an increased sensitivity to listen to His voice is produced, followed by a responsiveness and willingness to obey and follow. In John 6:68, Jesus asks his disciples, "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Simon Peter responds, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
And isn't that the point where we all need to start and finish? Start by recognizing and acknowledging the reality of who God is in our lives. And then continually finish and follow through by resolving to yield to Him and the wise and gracious plan He has for our lives. Each of us needs to choose to be present through the triumphs and trials of life, all the while meaningfully connecting with the Lord of life.
Continue to walk by faith and trust God for those things, that when they happen, can only be attributed to HIM!
Bill |