Chasing Life: A Reminder from Jesus

Review: Genesis 1-2.

We saw the foundations for life…a full life.

We saw the creation of a husband and wife…who they were to God and who they were for each other.

We saw their purpose both on the earth and also in fulfilling God’s goal of filling the earth with imagers of Him…filling the earth with His glory while having ruler over parts of Creation…purpose given by God. Significance.

And in these things, we saw the foundation for marriage, family, the significance of male and female … uniqueness from the creator…2 from one…then one again to create another, pregnancy, parenting…and more. All of this…God’s design.

Side Note: Remember Eve’s exclamation after having a child...”With God’s help, I have brought forth a man!”

The foundations of civilization and the purpose of civilization…God’s glory filling the planet. And....peaceful life, joy filled life.

And within this humanity had a dominion so to speak. They were in charge of tending to creatures and the garden. Dominion over…but dominion under as well. They were under God’s sovereignty.

God’s Kingdom. The Kingdom of God. Purpose, Meaning, Significance. God’s Love. Nothing to worry about …no reason to worry at all. Everything is given for a full life.

And God said. Trust me with this.

We know what happened next…Satan asks…do you really trust God?

Why not do life like you want to?

Even to our day and age, we see people striving after life. Satan still tempting us with different views of life, marriage, family, pregnancy, children, gender, work, relaxation, what’s…tempting us to not trust God’s original intent.

And we’re tempted that there are other ways of achieving success, significance, security, and meaning.

People ruling over others, misusing others, chasing life in ways that end up ruining life instead of making it better.

And what do we see when we live chasing like this? Relationships suffer, We see injustice…towards God and others. We just see a broken world…all of creation…humanity as well.

Remember the temptation. You do life like you want. Be the King or Queen of your life.

God had his order…but we reordered.

We look and chase and search for peace and joy…find something like it occasionally…but then…its gone.

We’re going to listen to...or read…if you’d like to read along…a passage recorded by Matthew. Matthew recorded Jesus’ words. Words from the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus is talking about the Kingdom. Hmmm…that reminds us of something doesn’t it. The Kingdom God created…that we read about in the first 2 chapters of Genesis.

Remember the question was…Do you trust me? God’s question to us after He set up all of creation and then placed us in it....He said here is a full and abundant life....now…trust me with it.

Do you trust Him?

I think sometimes, we’re just like the people Jesus was talking to at that sermon on the mount.

Anyone here need some helpful, reassuring, strength giving words?

Matthew 6:19–34 NIV

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Big verses for the day:

Matthew 6:25a and Matthew 6:33.

The world (Satan) offers false ideas of:

security

happiness

joy

peace

significance

love

True life will always and only be found in Jesus…true life from the creator.

And where we place our value…Jesus says…if you value those false ideas of full life…then your heart will be with those things.

If you value the Kingdom of God…Genesis 1-2…if you value that…then your heart will be with Christ…the one who will give you all you need in life.

Here’s a way to say it.

Choose your provider.

Remember the show…let’s make a deal. I’ll choose door number# and the contestants basically made deals to win big prizes.

Sometimes we live life that way don’t we?

....remember Jesus said…Oh you of little faith. Just trust me. Pick my door.

Jesus is saying this because He knows this is tough…but possible.

Jesus told all of those people....don’t worry.

Satan’s pretty slick. He tempts us…gives us something flashy…we feel accomplished....and then takes it from us. Or we do something…try something....and then we find out it was all wrong....then he makes us feel shame…regret…unforgivable.

Jesus says…trust me. I can provide…give you all you need. It’s all through me though. I died…for and because of the world’s sin....

But…then I rose. And you will too.

Can you trust God?

Do you value the one who invites you back to His Kingdom?

Warren Wiesbe said this once, “It’s like we’re constantly being crucified between two thieves. The regrets of yesterday, and the worries of tomorrow.”

Jesus says one day at a time. I can give you all you need. You were created with glory. Yes on this side of sin…we’re in need of saving…but thank God that He sent a savior.

Psalm 23 CSB

A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

Amen