Give Me Life
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What is the goal of life? To accumulate the most money. This is what one can learn from reading the obituary of Reuben Klamer, the creator of the board game, The Game of Life, who died September 14, 2021, at 99.
When The Game of Life was introduced, in 1960, the purpose was to earn the most wealth. The way you got there was simple enough—by going to college, getting a job, buying insurance, saving for retirement. That was “indicative of what sold in that era,” a former Hasbro VP said.
Over time, designers realized that the game didn’t reflect consumers’ changing views of life-goals. So they gave it a big update in 2007, allowing players to score points for virtuous deeds like saving an endangered species, opening a health-food chain, and recycling. And instead of starting the game at point A and finishing at point Z, there is no fixed path: You decide how you want to spend your time.
One question that popped up is: If the popular view of what matters in life changed so much in less than 50 years, who’s to say it won’t shift again in the next 50? How will you win life in 2057?
But as Jill Lepore wrote in The New Yorker, the redesign teams always had a hard time addressing the fundamental criticism of the game — that the only way to reward a player for virtuous acts was with money: “Save an Endangered Species: Collect $200,000. Solution to Pollution: $250,000. Open Health-Food Chain: $100,000.”
And so, the company’s 2007 overhaul, the Game of Life: Twists & Turns, was almost existential. Instead of putting players on a fixed path, it provided multiple ways to start out in life — but nowhere to finish. “This is actually the game’s selling point; it has no goal,” Ms. Lepore wrote. “Life is … aimless.”
But for Christians today… We know that Christ is the way the truth and the life. In Christ we have all that we need for life and godliness. So we got all we need for the life that Christ gives and that Christ provides for. But not all that we need for a life that we decide or the life the world entices us with. So what life are we leading today… the life we found with Christ, the life we designed for ourselves or the life the world promises? This is why there is confusion and why we find ourselves in difficult positions, difficult circumstances, depressed, in despair, in the dust. We got problems and there is nothing we can do about it. We got issues and there is nothing we can even say about it. We are at a loss for words.
Even when everything is going pretty good in life there is always a deep inner struggle always a wrestling match with powers and principalities and rulers. But sometimes we can find ourselves in deep darkness. Deep suffering. Deep sorrow. Lots happening and nothing we can do about it… we unrest in despair. Many times what we feel is that we don’t know where we are going and even if we did we don’t know how to get there. We don’t know why we are here and if we did what are we supposed to be doing? So then what? What is the purpose of life? And how do we get it? The question of the day. Lets take a look.
I lie in the dust;
revive me by your word.
I told you my plans, and you answered.
Now teach me your decrees.
Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,
and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.
I weep with sorrow;
encourage me by your word.
Keep me from lying to myself;
give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.
I have chosen to be faithful;
I have determined to live by your regulations.
I cling to your laws.
Lord, don’t let me be put to shame!
I will pursue your commands,
for you expand my understanding.
The grass withers the flower fades but the word of our God stands forever.
1. In the Dust
2. Revival
3. The Way The Truth and The Life
The first thing we will look at today is what it means to be in the dust and how it applies for us today. Second we will see what and how it is that we are revived by Christ. And finally we will see that the purpose in life is found in Christ and in Christ alone.
Thesis: Though sin and the pattern of this world cause us to become confused with the purpose of life, it is the truth of the scriptures and the power of the Holy Spirit that will cause us to see that the purpose of life is found in Christ and in Christ alone.
I. In the Dust
- So full of sorrow.
A. In the very first verse of the Daleth section of this psalm, we see a vivid description of the current state of our Psalmist. Some of your translations may have something closer to “my soul cleaves unto the dust.” Maybe we could say I am in so much sorrow that I feel like I am about to die.
B. In that time period when many were there is major suffering and unspeakable anguish they would cover their head with dust.
When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief.
My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
C. In this context, we find that the psalmist is saying that he has no more hope in his life anymore. Nothing matters. Nothing does anything to make life better. The only thing that I have to hold on to is dust. Things are not good… Another ones in the dust.
D. Here is an important thing for us to see. Here we have a servant of God who’s heart and devotion is to the Lord and His Word and he finds himself in so much anguish and suffering that all he has to cling too in the world is his suffering. A description so vivid and colorful. Let us not think that we are any different. Are we gonna suffer as Christians? You bet we are.
In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? And also,
“If the righteous are barely saved,
what will happen to godless sinners?”
So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.
E. And if we are to get something today, it is the fact that if you are a Christian know that hardship and suffering is just a part of the normal Christian life. When trials and difficulty hits, we should not be surprised by it. When we suffer we become partners with Christ, we will be blessed, it is a privledge, He will never fail you. But Shane I just want God to bless me… for real?
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
F. Lets not get it twisted. This is a reality for us. It is real. And so many of us experience it. But there is hope in life.
II. Revival
- Life and life more abundant.
A. What is being communicated here as an answer. What is the answer to death while we are still living. We need more life. We need life and life more abundant. And the only way to get this is from Christ and Christ alone. The only one is the one who made us and the one to give us more if we need more. How can the world give us more when they are need the Lord for more life too. When we look to the world and its promises and pleasures you do know we are asking people who are as dependent on God for life as we are? It is all just a mist. Its all just a vapor. It is all meaningless.
B. Our only answer is Christ. Christ promised us that though him we would have life.
And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.
The Word gave life to everything that was created,
and his life brought light to everyone.
The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
C. The life we need is the life that Christ provides. And there is continued confusion because of sin.
Spurgeon writes, “Truly, this is wisdom. Fools hunger for food and yet lose life, but the wise know that life is more than food. It is a common sin of unbelievers to yearn for riches and neglect the soul, while the prudent course of the believer is to seek true riches in an increase of life.”
D. And we get confused because we are continually deceived by the pattern and promises of the world. So we either live life believing that the life that Christ gives and provides is the life that we do not need or that the life Christ gives us is not enough and we need more.
E. Again trying to live a life with meaning is impossible to do without Christ. Without God it is impossible to make sense of anything. Nothing matters and as we have found… purpose without God is aimless.
F. Our culture is constantly deceiving us into thinking that it is ok to have your cake and eat it too. Get as much luxury and pleasure from this world and still go to heaven and live in bliss for eternity. The world teaches us that it is possible to have two masters… you can serve God and money. Christ was wrong. Live life the way you want and when its all done don’t worry about condemnation because there is no condemnation… God is love and there will be no judgement.
G. All throughout biblical history we see the declaration of judgement and there are always those who say its not coming or its coming but it does not include us. And judgement always came and it was always terrible. There is no other way. The scriptures make it clear. And the scriptures declare...
III. The Way The Truth and The Life
- Jesus is the way the truth and the life.
A. So what is the goal in life? To glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Period. And how can we accomplish this? Through Christ by the power of His Spirit. All of this in accordance to the word of God.
B. It is sin that causes us to to become confused and to believe what is intended to deceive. It is the reality of sin that causes us to think that we can find meaning and fulfillment in anything other than Christ. And don’t think that anyone is exempt from this. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. No one is righteous no not one. We are all by nature children of wrath. There is no one on earth who always does good and never sins.
C. Clearly we see by just looking at life… we are all by nature wired to rebel against God and to oppose our neighbor. We are all by nature destined to cling to the dust of the earth. Deceived into believing that dust is all we have and all we need. But it does not have to be this way. We can be free because salvation is here. Jesus came to bring life and life more abundant.
D. Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures and he was buried and he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures. The saying is trust worthy and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. He became sin who knew no sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
E. The promises according to His word declare that If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the death you will be saved. All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God and that by believing you will have life in His name.
F. In Christ there is life and life more abundant. It is only the life He gives that will cause us to rise above the dust of the earth intended for the serpent devil himself. The life He gives is the life much more and now the life we live is worth dying for.