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Last issue, which I have a feeling was somewhat hard to understand and confusing, my discussion was on the fact that we cannot
deny the existence of something greater. My thought continued on from there, but I was incapable of finishing it because
my schedule is dictated by only two television programs, one of which is I, Claudius, which had begun ten minutes before I
stopped typing. So here is my "afterthought" which is more of a continuation in the same direction of last time,
which, if we remember the topic, was on how we cannot deny the existence of something greater. One of my favourite worship
songs sums up that theme:
Creation Calls
I have felt the wind blow, whispering your name
I have seen your
tears fall when I watch the rain
How could I say there is no God
When all around creation calls
A singing
bird, a mighty tree
The vast expanse of open sea
Gazing at a bird in flight, soaring through the air
Lying
down beneath the stars, I feel your presence there
I love to stand at oceans shore
And feel the thundering breakers
roar
To walk through open fields of grain
Neath endless blue horizons frame
Listening to a river run, watering
the earth
Fragrance of a rose in bloom, a newborns cry at birth
How could I say there is no God
When all
around creation calls
A singing bird, a mighty tree
The vast expanse of open sea
I love to stand at oceans
shore
And feel the thundering breakers roar
To walk through open fields of grain
Neath endless blue horizons frame
--Brian Doerksen
"We stand on the brink of Eternity."
The statement I opened with last
time is true, yet vague. Who cares if we stand on the brink of Eternity? What does it all mean? Essentially, it means that
there are forces at work which are greater than man. It means that something better is out there, It also means that I'm
really good at writing poetic-sounding stuff that initially means nothing. And all there is left is to wonder at that something
better. Who or what is that god to whom we say, "I have seen your tears fall when I watch the rain"?
Leaving the statement merely that there is a God, or something better is dangerous. We could form a cult around the sun with
that knowledge. Or we could all become agnostics, admitting the Greater, yet venturing no further. Perhaps, upon seeing
the world, we decide on an electrifying deity, who displays his power in lightning. We could think and do all these things,
but we would be wrong. Obviously more exists than that. To merely say there is a Creator is dangerous. Remember the words
of James, "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder." (James 2:19, [as
usual, all scriptural quotes are taken from the New International Version of the Holy Bible]) We should obviously not run
off and discover natural religion and become pagans simply because we believe in God. The belief in the existence of God
is not enough. When we consider all of the spirituality and religion out there, we must admit that something has to be true.
We must seek out and find the Truth of God.
I touched on this Truth a little bit in my last random rambling, but
let me elaborate. First, this question of life, the universe, and everything is the most important question out there. This
question is worth investigating, it is so important. I have investigated it. I evaluated my life as a Christian and my belief
in Christ. I subjected my god to the weak, feeble brain I possess. I found in Christ no contradiction, no reason for disbelief,
but only holiness, love, and truth. In Issue 25, I mentioned the undying fire, which is a faulty concept. I do not believe
in such a fire, per se. I believe we are made in the image of God, that much is certain. From our creation in that image
and God's love for man springs all else of importance in this life. Everyone has what many people call a God-shaped hole.
People are not fulfilled without God. Brennan Manning describes the place where we are fulfilled in God as home. He says
people "seek a safe place through alcohol or drugs, or security in success, competence, friends, pleasure, notoriety,
knowledge, or even a little religion. They have become strangers to themselves, people who have an address but are never
at home, who never hear the voice of love or experience the freedom of Gods children." They are never at home, and none
of what they try works. Audio Adrenaline says, "substitutes don't work, bandages only hurt." So if substitutes
don't work, what's the real thing?
Nicky Gumbel says, "One of the saddest things in life is to go through the
whole of it and miss the point." Let us consider for a moment where my rambling has taken us. We believe in God, the
Creator of all things. We also believe that it is essential to discover the truth about this God of Whom we have a belief.
This truth will fulfil us and satisfy our hunger. Everyone hungers for the Truth. John 8:32b says, "The truth will
set you free." As we are on the subject of truth and its liberation, let me tell you a story. I'm sure we all know
Leo Tolstoy, the famous author who wrote War and Peace. He felt the longing of which I speak. He felt ambition could fulfil
his longing. He was ambitious for life, friends, money, power. He wrote books, seeking fulfilment there. Still, with all
his ambitions, fame, money, and books, he was not satisfied. He filled his life with meaning, raising a very large family,
yet still he was plagued by unsatisfaction. One question brought him to the verge of suicide: What meaning did his life
have that death could not end? He looked for the answer in science, which told him he would a minuscule speck on the eye
of the universe. Philosophers did not satisfy him. In the end, he found fulfilment in the simple faith of the Russsian peasants.
He put his faith in Jesus Christ, ending his lifelong search for truth and fulfilment. His hole was filled by Jesus.
I guess we have one question left to answer, but I think we've answered it. The answer is simple: Jesus. Jesus is the
answer to all our problems. Jesus is better than any substitute. Jesus fills the whole and makes us whole. He have found
the simple truth. The complex truth is what Christ is like. The complex truth is the Eternity which we stand on the brink
of, the Infinity we stare into the face of, the Perfection we live in the midst of. Such is the enormity of the simplicity
of God.
But I'm not finished yet. Whether you've gone to church "all your life" or have attended church
only at weddings and funerals, you still need Jesus. There is a difference between a "churchgoer" and a "Christian".
Christian means "Christ-like" or "of Christ's family". In order to begin the road to Christ-likeness
or enter that family of Christ, You must accept Jesus into your life, heart, soul, mind. I'd like to give any of you the
opportunity to recommit yourselves to Jesus or accept Him as your Saviour right now. Here is a suggested prayer of commitment
to Jesus any of us could pray:
Lord Jesus Christ,
I am sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life.
[Take a few moments to ask His forgiveness for anything particular that is on your conscience.] Please forgive me. I now
turn from everything which I know is wrong.
Thank You that You died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven
and set free.
Thank You that You offer me forgiveness and the gift of Your Spirit. I now receive that gift.
Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me forever.
Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Peace
of Christ,
Matthew Hoskin
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