Making sense of life

October 8, 2007

By Jerry Scott

Hundreds of messages come at me each day from all kinds of sources. Pundits tell me what to think about on a range of topics from politics to economics to religion. Then, too, many demand change as they warn about the dire effects my choices have on the whole world.

I recently heard the national director of PETA declare that those who eat meat are the worst contributors to global warming! What? Yes, she said (with a straight face) that the “factory farms” raise millions of cattle which produce methane gas that destroys the atmosphere even more than emissions from cars and trucks! Must I become a vegetarian to be a good steward of the earth?

In between such pronouncements, little packets of information implore me to drive a Ford, shop at Target, buy insurance from Geico, and take Bayer aspirin. Books and magazines bring ideas about every conceivable subject. Conversations with dozens of people each week require more thought and evaluation.

How do we evaluate all this information? How do we make the best choices with such an array of options before us? That is the big question, isn’t it? If left to human wisdom — my own or that borrowed from others — I’m lost. The wisdom of man has failed so often. The “wise” have turned out to be fools; the “righteous” revealed as frauds; last year’s “truth” replaced by this year’s discoveries.

Dr. David Wells writes that when we turn from a God-centered life to a man-centered one, “everything drifts apart. It begins to resemble confetti — a myriad of experiences, none of which is related to the others … and which can mean anything. The human being becomes ‘homeless’ adrift in a world that is beyond comprehension” (Above All Earthly Pow’rs, Eerdmans, 2005).

Solomon tried making sense of life with various philosophies. In Ecclesiastes he writes of his many poor choices.

“I said to myself, ‘Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the “good things” in life.’ But I found that this, too, was meaningless. … I decided to cheer myself with wine. … In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world. I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. … I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. … I had everything a man could desire! So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. ... But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless — like chasing the wind. … This is all so meaningless!” (Ecclesiastes 2:1-15, NLT).

Such is the conclusion of those who try to make sense of life without a reference to the One who gave life! Solomon, after all his efforts, comes to this conclusion: “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14, NIV).

Is the True Center of your life the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you attempting to make sense of your life with pleasure, money, technology, self-control and/or organization, education, or something else of this present world? Those things, while offering some help and presenting us with some benefits, will never connect us with life’s deepest meaning!

Some of you are thinking, I don’t ask the questions! I just retreat into my little world and forget the rest. Even that choice, while offering some comfort short term, displeases God who has commissioned us to “go into all the world” and build His kingdom (Mark 16:15). Jesus promises each of us, “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). He promised the Spirit of God would live in us, making the truth of God known to us. He says, “I’m A to Z. I’m The God Who Is, The God Who Was, and The God About to Arrive. I’m the Sovereign-Strong” (Revelation 1:8, The Message).

This is not a simplistic answer to life’s complexities. It is the answer that gives you and me an anchor, a point of reference, and access to wisdom that stands above all the things of this temporal world. As He guides us, our lives become meaningful; even the pain we suffer can be transformed in the hand of God for His eternal purposes.

Do not let yourself be taken captive by the arrogance of human “wisdom.” Instead, submit to the Lord Jesus Christ — every action, every thought, every choice — and allow Him to sort it all out. He will give you life to the fullest.

Jerry D. Scott is senior pastor of Washington (N.J.) Assembly of God.