Why Are You Here?

Appearing in over 100 films in his four-decade career, George Sanders (1906-1972) was a true Hollywood star. In 1951, he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in the movie All About Eve. He seemed to have it all, both fame and fortune. He should have been a happy man, but he wasn’t. On April 23, 1972, Sanders committed suicide in a hotel near Barcelona, Spain. Left behind a note. It read:

Dear world, I am leaving because I am bored. I have lived long enough. I am leaving you and your worries in this sweet cesspool. Good luck!

How can a man with so much have so little? According to the world, Sanders had everything you needed to be happy. He did have everything he needed to be happy, but he was ignorant of his divine purpose. There is more to life than collecting and buying things. There is more to life than partying. Everyone must be able to answer the question: why are you here? God doesn’t call us to be consumers. God calls us to make a difference in this world. That leads us to our reading.

According to the Revised Common Lectionary, this Sunday is the Second Sunday in Lent. The Old Testament reading is Genesis 12:1-4, the calling of Abram. It is not our first introduction to Abram, later Abraham. He was mentioned in the previous chapter. According to chapter eleven, Abram’s father was named Terah. The entire family lived in Haran, until Terah’s death at the age of 205. The death of a loved one is always hard, and many make major changes during a time of loss. That is what happened to Abram.

The twelfth chapter begins with Abram making a major change in his life. However, Abram does not initiate the changes. It is God, who initiated the change. At seventy-five years old, God instructs Abram to move to a new land. The name of the land is not identified, but it will be the home of Abram’s future descendants. Abram’s relocation is a large part of his divine purpose. Names are important in the Bible. Abram means “exalted father.” Abraham means “the father of the multitude.” Abram’s descendants include Jesus. That means, Abram is our spiritual ancestor too. I love this story because Abram started the greatest challenge of his life as a senior citizen.

In 2002, pastor of the Saddleback Church in California Rick Warren (born 1954) released a book called “The Purpose Driven Life.” The book was extremely popular. More than 50 million copies were sold in 85 countries. It was popular for an obvious reason. Everyone wanted to know their divine purpose. In other words, everyone wants to know why God put them in the world. No one just wants to be a consumer. Everyone wants to make a difference. Abram’s divine purpose was to be the father of a new nation.

Today, many are unsure of their divine purpose. Research tells us only 38% of all Christians know their divine purpose. Abram did three things to clarify his purpose. We need to do these three things too to clarify our purpose as well.

First, Abram trusted God. Prior to our reading, the scripture says Abram had a good life. He was prosperous and stable in Haran. There is no sign Abram was interested in leaving and had every reason to stay. It was God who initiated the move. This is the key line – there is no sign Abram questioned God. He trusted God and was open to God’s leading. Moving to a new land made no logical sense, but Abram did it because he trusted God. God has a plan for your life too. How far do you trust God?

Second, Abram trusted the people in his life. Abram didn’t travel alone. The scripture tells us he took with him his wife Sarai and nephew Lot. He took his possessions and the people he had acquired in Haran. That includes both employees and slaves. This is the point. When Abram accepted God’s call, it didn’t just affect his life, it affected many lives, including the people who stayed behind. If Abram was going to maximize his purpose, then he had to trust the people in his life too. How far do you trust the people in your life?

Third, Abraham trusted himself. God calls Abram to move to a new land to start a new race. Abraham goes because he trusts God and Abram goes because he trusts the people in his life. Abram goes because Abraham believes in himself. There is no sign in the scripture Abraham doubted himself. Abram believed in Abram. According to NBC News, 85% of people have low esteem. Are you in that group? Do you believe in yourself?

If you want to discover your divine purpose, then you must trust God, the people in your life and yourself. Never dismiss the value of knowing your divine purpose. It is essential to your well-being, acting as a compass that drives motivation, resilience and mental health while contributing to longer happier lives. Your purpose is not necessarily your vocation. However, your vocation may pay for your purpose. Your divine purpose stands at the intersection where your personal interests meet human need. What is that one thing you enjoy doing that benefits someone else? That is your divine purpose. I am convinced there are as many purposes as there are individuals. People who don’t know their divine purpose live shallow lives.

What is your purpose? Abraham’s purpose was to be the father of new nation. What is your purpose? Helen Keller (1880-1968) was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was also the first blind-deaf person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1904, she received that degree from Radcliffe College. Keller once said, “True happiness is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” Never forget, you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, and he expects you to make a difference. What is he calling you to do?

Living in the Light

Meteorologists tell us the darkest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere is December 21, the winter solstice. In my hometown we experience 14 hours and 56 minutes of darkness on that day. However, I do not consider December 21 the darkest day of the year. I consider January 2 to be the darkest day of the year. We experience 14 more minutes of sunlight on January 2 than on December 21, but darkness reigns on that day. Christmas is over, and Christmas lights have grown dark. I have always found Ohio winters to be hard, not because of the cold, but because of the darkness. I much prefer living in the light. I am not alone. That takes us to our scripture reading, Genesis 1:1-5.

Tradition tells us Moses wrote the Book of Genesis, along with Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Together, they are called the Pentateuch. They were written approximately 1,400 years before the birth of Christ. Genesis means “birth,” “genealogy,” or “history of origin.” It is the perfect title for the book because it summarizes the theme of the entire book. Our reading tells us how it all began. They are the opening words to the creation story.

According to the Bible, God created the world in six days, resting on the seventh. God is the main character in the Bible. In the Bible, God’s existence is never questioned, he always existed. In our reading, the original language, Hebrew, exposes Jesus was part of the creation because Jesus is divine. The first verse says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In verse two we learn darkness reigned until God acted. In other words, only chaos, disorder, danger and the unknown existed. In verse three, God introduces light. It is the opposite of darkness. Light brings order, safety and knowledge. In verses four and five, we are told God was pleased with the light, so he separated the dark and the light. The darkness was called “night” and the light “day.” I find it interesting everything began when light was brought into the story. This is certainly not the last time light is mentioned in the Bible.

The word light is used 272 times in the Bible. Sometimes, light means something that glows, like a campfire, firefly or a flashlight. Sometimes, it means more. In the Bible, light symbolizes God’s presence, purity, truth and spiritual illumination. In 1 John 1:5, God is described as light. In John 8:12, Jesus described himself as the “light of the world.” That verse says, “Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” I have been walking in that light for over fifty years. I feel sorry for people who are groping in the dark because life is hard for everyone.

When you live in the light of Christ, you are forgiven. Ephesians 1:7 says, “in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” Forgiveness in the Christian faith runs contrary to our world. According to the Bible, we are forgiven by God when we forgive others. That is the point of the parable of the unmerciful servant, Matthew 18:21-35. True peace with God is only possible when we forgive others. Who do you need to forgive?

When you live in the light, you have hope. Roman 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. According to a recent Harvard Youth Poll, 51% of young Americans feel hopeless. That is a sad figure because they live in a wonderful country. America is still the land of opportunity. However, with that opportunity comes responsibility. It was a wonderful day when I discovered it all didn’t depend on me. God has been taking care of me from the very beginning. Living in the light means I am not alone. God is with me, and God is with everyone who is living in the light. Those who chose to live in the darkness only see loneliness. Matthew 19:26 says, “With God all things are possible.”

When you live in the light of Christ, you have a purpose for living. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Discovering your divine purpose is vital. I am fortunate that my vocation and my purpose were one. For many they are not. God created you for a purpose. You were not born to be a consumer. You were not born to amass wealth. You were born to glorify God and work in his kingdom. What are you doing to glorify God?

When you live in the light, you have salvation. John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” This is the unpleasant reality – no one gets out of the world alive. We are all terminal from birth. However, that is not the end. For those who live in the light there is more. One of the great promises in the Christian faith is salvation. When I leave this world, I will go home. In other words, I will be in heaven with fellow believers. Are you still questioning your salvation?

Years ago, I was visiting someone in the hospital. They were in the intensive care unit. On my way out of the ICU, I stuck my head into the family waiting room. You never know who you will find. On that day, I found a woman I knew. She was surrounded by her family. She gave me a hug and introduced me to her family. Everyone greeted me warmly, except one brother. He was having a hard time. They told me their other brother was a patient, and things weren’t going well. I asked them if I could pray with them. They all said, “Yes!” except for the struggling brother. He looked at me and said, “No! What the hell has your God done for me?” The family apologized for his harsh words, but I wasn’t upset. I felt sorry for the hurting man. He was struggling because he was living in the dark. He only saw chaos, disorder, danger and the unknown.

How many people do you know are living in spiritual darkness? I prefer living in the light because life is more tolerable. C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) once said, “I believe in Christ like I believe in the sun – not because I can see it, but because by it I can see everything else.”

Because You Believe

We find ourselves in the twenty-eighth chapter of Matthew. Much has already happened. It is impossible to summarize everything in a few words. It will have to suffice to say, Jesus was dead, executed Roman style on the previous Friday. He was crucified between two common criminals. The picture was not pretty. It is difficult to hear the details all these years later. However, Jesus was lucky in two ways: first, Jesus died quickly. Some lingered much longer on the cross; second, it was not uncommon for the crucified to be taken down and thrown into a pile of lifeless corpses; their bodies would be eaten by buzzards or wild dogs. Not so with Jesus. Arrangements were made by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus that Jesus’ body would be taken down and placed in a new tomb. A large stone was rolled in front of the entrance to contain the smell and to protect it from thieves. The Roman government was persuaded by Jesus’ enemies to place guards in front of the tomb to eliminate any future problems. This was all done by dark on Friday because the law prohibited any burials on the Sabbath. Once this was completed, Jesus’ loved ones grieved because Jesus was dead! That takes us to our reading.

According to our story, early Sunday morning, Jesus received his first visitors – two women with the same first name. There is Mary Magdalene and another Mary. They were the supporting characters in a scene that would change the world. Three miraculous things happened. First, there was an earthquake. Only Matthew mentions this earthquake, but this earthquake is worth mentioning because it reveals to us that God had done something truly special. Second, the giant stone had been rolled away from the entrance of the tomb. Third, it was announced Jesus had been resurrected. According to verse three, it is made by an angel, whose clothes were white as snow, symbolizing purity. The angel tells the women about the resurrection, but the women experience the resurrected Jesus for themselves in verse nine. In time, Jesus would appear to others, including the disciples. It is important that at some time in your life, you have experienced the resurrected Jesus too.

Jesus was not the only one to be resurrected in the Bible. There are stories in both the Old and the New Testaments about others being resurrected. There are no fewer than eight, Lazarus being the most noteworthy. However, Jesus’ resurrection is different. The others had human fathers. Jesus was the son of God. That means the baby in the manger at Christmas and the man on the cross on Good Friday are the same. Jesus was the incarnation of God, who not just became one of us, but died for us. He was the sacrificial lamb for our sins. God’s love is deep. How can you question God’s love for us? Never forget it! You cannot earn your salvation. You are saved by grace, through faith in Jesus.

Your belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not optional, it is indispensable. Many believe Romans 10:9 was the first creed in the history of the church. It says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” If that is true, then the opposite is also true. If you don’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, then the fires of hell are waiting for you. The early church understood the significance of Jesus’ resurrection. They worshipped on Sunday morning because every Sunday morning was seen as a little Easter, or resurrection day. That is why most Christian churches still worship on Sunday mornings. Your belief in the resurrection is not trivial. It changed everything about your life. Consider these three things.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus there is forgiveness! Ephesians 1:7 says it clearly, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the richness of God’s grace.” On the moment Jesus walked out of the tomb, mankind had the opportunity to experience forgiveness. One of the great hymns found in the church today is Amazing Grace. It was written by John Newton (1725-1807.) He was a former captain of a slave ship, who was saved by grace. The hymn reminds us we are all sinners, who are saved by grace. Because you believe in the resurrection of Jesus you are forgiven!

Because of the resurrection Jesus your life has purpose! Philippians 3:13-14 says, “But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind me and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” It has been reported only 10% of Americans feel like they know their life’s purpose. I do not find that figure surprising. In my time in the ministry, I talked to people regularly who were clueless about their life’s purpose. Many confuse their purpose with their vocation. Your purpose is to glorify God. The Westminster Confession of faith says the purpose of life is to glorify God. What are you doing today to glorify God? Because you believe in the resurrection of Jesus your life has purpose!

Because of the resurrection of Jesus your eternity is bright! John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.” On the day I die, don’t cry for me. I am going to heaven, not because I am a good person. I am going to heaven because I worship and serve a perfect and resurrected Jesus. Because you believe in the resurrection of Jesus your eternity is bright too!

Located on an island in the Seine River in Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral is a piece of history. It is a “must see” in Paris. Construction began in 1163 and took two hundred years to complete. It has been the backdrop of French history for generations. They say on an average week 12,000 tourists visit Notre Dame daily. During Holy Week, that number swells to 30,000. I am fortunate. I have been there three times. The first time I was with my parents as a teenager. The second time I was with wife Kathryn fifteen years ago. It happened to be our wedding anniversary. The third time was recently. I insisted we visit Notre Dame.

We went to lunch in a nearby café. As we ate, we studied the ancient structure, and we remembered April 15, 2019. That was the day Notre Dame burned. Many grieved for Notre Dame that day. I remember being moved by the emotions of the crowd who gathered to watch the blaze, some praying, some singing, some crying. They feared the building would be lost forever. That did not happen. At first, they said it would be reopened by the Olympics in July, but that is not the case. Notre Dame is scheduled to reopen on December 8, 2024. It will be a wonderful day for the Parisiens. I will be honest with you, on the day Notre Dame burned, I mourned for the building and the history, but not the faith. The Christian faith cannot be captured in a building.

The Christian faith is found in the hearts of men and women who believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Your belief in the resurrection is not optional, it is indispensable. The resurrection of Jesus Christ changed everything. It changed the way you viewed your past – you can experience forgiveness. It changed the way you live today – your life has purpose. It changes your eternity – someday we are going to heaven. John Ortberg (born 1957) is a Christian author, speaker and pastor of Menlo Church in Menlo, California. He once said, “At the very heart of the Christian faith is the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.” Never forget, we serve a risen savior!