Sin has left an empty space inside of us

Sin has taken something from us. Ever since the fall, man has been left searching for that sense of completeness and fulfillment.

When you move from a good life to a worse one, you know it; you are aware that something is missing. As humans, we know that something is missing; we know that we are not all that we can be. Therefore, we long to experience it.

“Maybe you’ve heard about the guy whose life goal was to climb a certain mountain. When he finally reached the top, he was terribly disappointed. There was nowhere else for him to go, and something was still missing in his life. It’s like the pro football player who gets depressed after winning the Super Bowl.”[1]

“Because we are created in God’s image, with spiritual, intellectual, creative, moral and relational capacities, we will never be satisfies with a superficial, mindless culture or religion; the result is that religious and irreligious people alike are experiencing deep spiritual hunger.”[2]

We try to fill that emptiness

What do you think people do in order to be fulfilled? Where did we get the notion that such things will really make us complete again?

Depending where you are in life, you may have the notion that fulfillment is acquired by money, relationships, social status, jobs, etc. Some of these are very hard to achieve and therefore it takes a long time to get there. The only sad news is that after years, or a lifetime of pursuing whatever you think brings fulfillment, you may get there and be totally disappointed. How sad, to work hard all your life to achieve something only to realize it was the wrong thing to pursue.

Our attempts don’t produce the desired effect (from below)

Man has tried to fill the emptiness he feels in many ways. Solomon tried it all: wisdom, riches, women, etc. Zacchaeus, felt for a long time that having money was the answer, but when he met Jesus, he knew that money wasn’t the answer.

1. The Prodigal son - (Luke 15:11-32), who was looking for fulfillment. His idea of a fulfilled life meant partying, spending money, having friends, eating out all the time, not working hard, not having a boss, etc. In the end this young man realized he was happier, more fulfilled in a home where was structure, moral expectations and love.

2. The rich young ruler - (Mark 10:17-23) This young man, inherited a great deal of money. In earthly terms, he had it all; he was fulfilled. However, he exhibits some sort of spiritual unfulfillment. This young man tells Jesus that he has kept all the commandments since he was a boy. What do you think, did he really keep all the commandments? I don’t think so! At any rate, Jesus looked at him and loved him. (Mark 18:21)

Did you wonder why it was so hard for this young man to do what Jesus asked him to do? That is sell all of his possessions and give the money to the poor. You would think that someone who keeps all the commandments understands them and understands the heart of God, as well. Why do you think that man’s attempt to bring fulfillment to his life, does not work?

God has/is the solution (from above)

Augustine said of God, “You have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you”. Pascal said only God is able to fill our “God-shaped vacuum.” Only a deep connection with God will bring fulfillment.

In today’s culture, very few college students have ongoing contact with church. Why? Dick Staub in his book, The Culturally Savvy Christian suggests that the number one reason the younger generation leaves the church is because they never experienced God there.[3]

The talk about the spiritual seeking means one thing to the secular people and another to the church. Popular culture believes that the destination is personal fulfillment and the church teaches that the destination is heaven. Staub suggests that our destination should be God himself and not some future bliss.[4]

Most people don’t believe that God is essential to human life and experience. They don’t think something really important is missing. If they did, they would not place God on the periphery of their life. Instinctively we may know that we need to go deeper with God, yet we fail to make space for God to go deeper in us.[5]

ONLY UNION WITH GOD SATISFIES AND RESTORES OUR DEEPER LONGINGS.

[2] Staub Dick, “The Cuulturally Savvy Christian”, p. 69

[3] Staub Dick, “The Cuulturally Savvy Christian”, p. 72

[4] Ibid.

[5] Staub Dick, “The Cuulturally Savvy Christian”, p. 79

Future is one of the most exciting things we humans ever experience. We look forward to growing up, to getting our first car, job, and paycheck. We also look forward to getting married, then to having children, etc.

On the other hand, future is one of the most frightening things we can experience. The unknown, is causing us to worry. Some people even get depressed. Not knowing how thing will turn out. Not knowing if we will ever have our dreams come true, can make us scared of the future.

How do you view future?

Past is that comfortable and cozy place where we have been and are very familiar with. We know what life looks like in the past. Often times we “run” to the past, to the old way of life because we feel safe there. The truth is the past may have not been the best time in our lives, but once again, we will be tempted to run to the old order of things simply because we are familiar with it.

Future means in many ways that we step out of our comfort zone and that we take risks. When it comes to the past, we have our experiences to rely on, but when it comes to the future, we haven’t been there and therefore we do not have experiences to rely on.

Even when things go very well, you still don’t know what tomorrow will bring. If it were possible, some people would pay good money just to have the peace and the assurance that tomorrow everything will be all right.

1. Have you ever tried to escape future? (A pastor of a small congregation from California left the state because he has a vision of an earthquake. They went to Tennessee. What is funny is that when they arrived in Tennessee there was an earthquake.)

2. How should a Christian relate to the future?

Certainly, we must be wise and prepare as much as we can. The ant prepares for the future when it gathers provisions. It doesn’t expect some miraculous thing to happen that will fill it’s storehouse. Just like that, we must do our best and trust God with the rest.

3. What do you think, is it easier for Christians to deal with the future than it is for the non-Christians?

The people of Israel are a great example of someone who had a very hard life in Egypt. But God had promised them a bright future. The promise of a better life was so exciting that captured the hearts of the people. When the future did not develop as they have imagined or wanted, the people wanted to go back to the life they were familiar with, although it was hard and sad. Instead of having patience and faith in their God, the people got scared of the future and the unknown.

If Jeremiah 29:11 is true, and I believe it is, then God is not going to take us to a harmful place. The Lord has prepared good things for us. All we need to do is walk in them… and that will only happen when we are obedient.

“The gospel talks about the future. It reaches back and brings us  Jeremiah’s vision of a new heart and a new law. It speaks of the new heaven and the new earth. It hears a voice saying, ‘Behold I make all things new.’ The Christian walks through time out of the past into the present with a dream of the future. We call it eternity and it means the presence of Jesus Christ who was before all tings [and who] walks with us day by day and leads us into tomorrow with great expectation.”[1]

Jesus is Lord of the past - He redeemed us; saved us from our sins.

Jesus is Lord of the present.

Jesus is Lord of the future. None of us knows what the future holds, but we know the One who holds the future.Read out loud Revelation 21: 1-6; 22: 1-6

On our first wedding anniversary, my wife and I had the joy of spending 3 days in Estes Park, Colorado. On our way there we discovered a church built of stone. Following is a picture of the church. …

A friend (Angela Abeyta) suggested that I check out her blog for a video - “All Ye” by Coffey. Well, I did and I must say that he is awesome. So, I decided to post his video on my blog, as well. If you have some time, you must play (listen) this amazing song. Thanks Angela! …

Just discovered a very cool blog/website (www.pdymblog.com). It is a comunity of like-minded youth workers. The last article posted there is entitled “I Don’t Feel God“. Like Kevin Mahaffy, Jr, I have talked to students that ask the question, “I DON’T FEEL GOD”. Certainly we all at one time or another ask the ‘don’t feel God’ question.
Kevin thinks that people/students live for the feelings and thereofre they are in pursuit of ‘feeling’. But Jesus is didn’t say, “I am… the good, long lasting, exciting feeling…” What He said about Himself is that he is the “Way, the Truth and the Life”. What a difference! So, maybe we should start living, searching and pursuing the truth rather than the feelings.

Here is Kevin Mahaffy’s challenge for all of us:

I constantly challenge our students, and today I challenge you, to live your life for a greater purpose than feelings. If you have built your relationship with the Lord on feelings, you have built your spiritual home on shifting sands. Feelings come and go, but faith must remain consistent. My grandfather used to tell me that it’s not how high you jump; it’s how straight you walk when you land. He wasn’t negating the jumping. Rather, he was emphasizing the more important thing – the walking. The steps we take when we don’t feel God are the true test of the moments when we do feel Him.

Yesterday I posted a satirical creed of our times written by Steve Turner. So, today I decided to post the Nicene Creed in modern wording.

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son].
With the Father and the Son
he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. AMEN.

This modern wording of the Bicene Creed was borrowed form www.spurgeon.org

Following is a satirical creed of our times. It was written by Steve Turner and borrowed by Ravi Zacharias in his book “Can Man Live Without God”. It was found on a Romanina blog “Crezul Vremurilor Noastre“.

PS. If you compare it with one of the early church creeds you will be utterly shocked.

There times when a good picture can communicate better than words can. This is one of those times. Hope you will see what you need to understand!

Many of us did not have the opportunity to be at Maria Chapman’s Memorial Service. Those who were there were deeply moved and what they shared is very touching.
Following is an email my wife Tracy received from her friend Kris. After I read it I immediately knew that it will bless all those who would read it.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Yesterday, May 21, 2008 tragedy hit the Chapman family. The 5 year old, Maria Sus Chapman was struck by an SUV. Shortly after Maria Chapman died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville.

Anyone who experienced a similar loss understands how difficult this time is for the Chapman family. May the Lord Jesus Christ comfort Steven Curtis Chapman’s family.
Those interested in more information can visit http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/
Also there is a website In Memory Of Maria