Recently I was watching a re-run of "Everybody Loves Raymond". This particular episode was about a life long question we all ask. Ray's young daughter Ally wanted to know the real meaning of life. This has been a perplexing question throughout the ages and has even been a stumbling block for some, and in this case it was for Raymond.
Ready to explain the facts of life to his young daughter, he was caught off guard when she was looker for a deeper meaning which was, "Why are we here? Why did God make us?" This question no doubt deserves an answer, but Raymond couldn't supply his daughter with one. He had to run out of the room feeling inadequate. How many times have we been made to feel that way too?
Here's where the situation got my full attention. Ray's reaction got alot of laughs from the audience. I thought, do people laugh because it's a funny situation or is it from lack of knowledge that they don't know either? If this is meant to be funny, I thought how sad it is then that the majority of people really don't know!
Not only was Raymond stumped by the question, but his whole family as well. For the first time, they were all at a loss of words. Ray's dad response was, "It's simple, you're born, you go to school, you get a job and then you die." A little shallow don't you think? It doesn't leave much to look forward to. His mother on the other hand knew the answer was in the Bible...somewhere, only she didn't know exactly where. All her religious upbringing had not prepared her for this most important question! I would like to know why not? What are we being taught in our churches on this subject anyway?
But Deborah, his wife responded with what I considered to be the most intelligable answer of all. She said, "You can't find the answer flipping through the Bible." Actually that's true. The Bible cannot be used as a reference book taken out of context. God's Word is not meant to be sampled like a plate of desserts, picking and choosing only the parts that appeal to your taste buds.
On the contrary, His Word is a double edged sword. One side will cut to the marrow, while the other side heals. Everyone knows that in order to heal, something must first be broken.
If we find the question of our very existence as being the brunt of a comedy, then we should probably stop and examine our relationship with God on a serious level. It's time to reevaluate what is broken in our lives so that we can start to heal. A true relationship with the Creator is not all about asking questions...it's about finding the answers!
Having a strong, secure relationship with God will then answer this life long question.
Romans 8:28 "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and who have been called according to His purpose."
This verse tells us immediately that we all have a purpose, what is it?
Romans 12:2 "Let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God, what is good and is pleasing to Him and is perfect."
Now we know that we have a purpose and a will, but what is that will? Remember, it's about getting the answers, and here it is...
2 Corinthians 3:18 "As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more."
Therefore in reading and understanding these 3 passages, we find out that God put us here for a reason. And that is to be in fellowship with Him. God loves all His children, no matter how good or bad they are. He doesn't condemn us, but by the power of the Holy Spirit, He will convict us.
Ephesians 1:5 "His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ."
God's plan has never changed, He is the same yesterday, today and forever more. That's wonderful news to know that He is always waiting with open arms to take us in. It's up to us as individuals to make that choice, that's how much He loves us. We can understand this better if we have ever had to let go of our own child, knowing that they may be making the wrong choice. If you love something set it free, if it's truly yours it will come back. That's the concept of God's love for us.
So, to sum this all up, the answer that Raymond should've given to his daugher was this, "We are here to fellowhip with our Father in heaven." It's all about Him, but we tend to put the main focus on ourselves and that's why we are confused.
Romans 11:36 "For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by His power and everything is for His glory."
Once you know what your purpose and destination is, life spent with the Lord is a fulfilling one, and an exciting one and most importantly, one with a real direction. To learn more about your purpose, get into the Word.
The best thing you can spend on your children...is your time. The best time you can spend on yourself...is the Word.
Isaiah 44:2 "I am your Creator. You were in My care even before you were born" says the Lord.
Vivan Gordon
An inspired writer through the power of the Holy Spirit. He has been called by the Lord to be used in the ministry of teaching. Also a prayer warrior to interceed for others in health and healing through the power of Jesus Christ and an ordained minister to perform weddings and baptisms.
You will become as great as your dominant aspiration...If you... Read More
We are the beneficiaries of the promise God made to... Read More
What is Enlightenment?What do we really mean when we talk... Read More
The junk I'm talking about is the stuff that we... Read More
I thought for sometime that I was hard done bye... Read More
As we walk these halls of Life viewing the world... Read More
All Shamans have several power songs because the vibration of... Read More
Inspirational author Vernon Howard wrote, "Would you be worried over... Read More
The human body is surely a miracle of God's creation.... Read More
Matthew 1:1-17The Genealogy of Jesus Christ1 The book of the... Read More
Over the past years, I have undergone a life-altering transition... Read More
Some of my greatest teachers have taught me that faith... Read More
There's nothing new about "the new age" except the attitude... Read More
Observations from the Town Car... "Home James!"The bulk of driving... Read More
There is nothing more valuable to a sentient being then... Read More
If you've been on a conscious spiritual journey for any... Read More
In a recent article entitled "Some Evidence of How We... Read More
It will all be clear in a minute, but first... Read More
Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as... Read More
Though closely akin and sometimes used synonymously, John Rawls distinguish... Read More
As the artist and designer for Ashbach Designs, I want... Read More
Ever wonder what happened to the family dinner hour? Or... Read More
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.... Read More
The Orisha are the Messengers of Oludumare, the God/dess of... Read More
John Eldredge writes in his book Waking the Dead, "God... Read More
Most of us think of what a wonderful world this... Read More
No, I have never seen a fairy, an angel, nor... Read More
The junk I'm talking about is the stuff that we... Read More
Were you lied to as newborn Christian? I was...let me... Read More
Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God;I... Read More
One of the first things you will find that God... Read More
Humanity is entering a very critical time in its path... Read More
I have discovered as I grow older in Christ Jesus... Read More
In the game of billiards there are two things you... Read More
I once read a story about a Catholic priest who... Read More
It's late. But it's usually those words that you cannot... Read More
When we feel that something has gone wrong and are... Read More
When the Bible makes reference to a "yoke" it is... Read More
I am deeply drawn to the above Irish Blessing.This blessing... Read More
The human body is surely a miracle of God's creation.... Read More
With another year full of family events coming upon us,... Read More
For some of us, EVERY DAY IS HALLOWEEN!!! If you... Read More
Who Are you?Have you ever asked yourself the question 'Who... Read More
Even Pandora and her box come in two versions. In... Read More
During my childhood days, I disliked Lenten season because radio... Read More
An exam is a test that is given at the... Read More
"A common jar of clay can never become a noble... Read More
I seemed to have lost my heart. Now this is... Read More
One of the biggest myths to evolve in the growing... Read More
I have studied many of the great Religions, Quantum Physics,... Read More
Spirituality |