Pastor's Ponderings, June 13, 2016

What Is Life All About?

In the 1966 film, Alfie, Dionne Warwick sang the moving lyrics, “What's it all about Alfie? Is it just for the moment we live? …As sure as I believe there's a heaven above, Alfie, I know there's something much more, something even non-believers can believe in.”  On Friday, June 10, 2016, a young singer was killed for no apparent reason and on Sunday, June 12, 2016, forty-nine people were killed in one of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.  They joined joined over 7000 murder victims in 2016. Why? What is it all about? 

We strategize, hope, dream and execute our plans, but in the midst of our work, life happens.  The book of Ecclesiastes tells of King Solomon who comments that apparently life has no meaning (Ecclesiastes 1:1-3). He seems to ask the question, why bother? But at the end of the book, he suggests that we should focus on, think about, and remember the One who created us while we are young (Ecclesiastes 12:1). 

God gives us our life’s purpose and makes sense of it all. It is sad to think about this young singer, the fifty people killed while having fun, and the murderers who wasted their potential. Why did this happen? But no matter what we have done in life, good or evil, we have to conclude that we must reverentially fear and be in awe of our Creator and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14).  We have the privilege of knowing that when we need to know something, we can ask Him and one day He will settle all of our questions (1 Corinthians 13:12).

When the unexplainable things happen, when plans go awry, when it just did not work out the way we planned, we can rest in Him.  We can know that all knowledge, wisdom, and understanding is in Him and He will share with us what we need to know.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-3
New International Version (NIV)

1 The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem:

2 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”

3 What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun?

Ecclesiastes 12:1
New International Version (NIV)

12 Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”—

Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14
New International Version (NIV)

13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

1 Corinthians 13:12
Amplified Bible (AMP)

12 For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God].