Missing Puzzle in my Life (Psalm 27:1-6)

Story

To set the preface for today’s message, I want you to venture back with me to 2017. In 2017, I begin my service in the military and arrived at Charleston, SC. At 23 years old, I was filled with excitement of the adventure ahead of me but at the same time, scared of the adventure ahead of me. I did not know what I was getting myself into but I was grateful for a church and pastor who prayed for me and helped me prepare for this moment.

I had one thing in mind: God placed me in this position for a reason and my job was to be sincere and diligent in the tasks that I was given to glorify God in my life. I did not enter with any expectations but to simply do my job. As I was being diligent and faith, my small act of faith was responded with accolades from my bosses and they were submitting my name for quarterly and annual employee awards. Additionally, they were nominating my name for higher positions to be an Aide for Colonels, small CEOs, and my annual reports were filled with top rankings. I did not understand what was happening and why God was blessing me in my life. I simply followed the advice I received from our church and I was faithful in my workplace, nothing too special or anything that stood out about me.

Although I was grateful, without realizing it, it actually became a burden in my life. I felt like if I did not receive an award or if I did not receive compliments then I am lacking in my faith. These results became the standard of my faith that if I cannot win an award, then I am not being faithful to God. I placed these pressures on my life by my self. I do not know why, but these standards became a norm. From this point, I lost confidence whenever something did no go right but better after receiving an accomplishment. Spiritually, it was unhealthy and I realize that now. I know this was temptation that was trying to turn my eyes toward the standards of the world rather than my faith in God.

Then, I was praying one night, I was reading the second verse of the opening scripture. I read Isaiah 43:2

Isaiah 43:2 CSB

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and the rivers will not overwhelm you, When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched and the flame will not burn you.

Amen. And it dawned on me that I was wrong. These awards, trophies and accomplishments were amazing but they were for the glory of God. These material things do not define who I am, and I saw my eyes were on my self. The most important thing in my life and our life should be.. faith. From that point, I refocused these accomplishments to my faith in God and my faith grew daily. My faith put me in a place where I could no longer deny the existence of God in my life. The reason why I exist today and the reason why I am the man I am is through the teachings of this church and most importantly, God. So, throughout this adventure, I acknowledged and recognized this one thing: I am a man of faith.

True Value

Have you ever felt like you were placing standards in your life based on the standards of the world? This is impossible. We will never meet the standards of the world. The standards of the world continue to change and continue to grow every single day. Then if we do not meet this standard, we become disheartened. How meaningless this is… like the author mentions in the book of Ecclesiastes.

The true value in life does not come from what we have in front of us but the true value in life is what is inside of us. At the end of the day, we are successful if we have faith and if I guarded my faith til the moment I go to sleep for the night. When you lie on your bed about to go to sleep and you can say that Jesus is the Son of God and the Lord of my life, you lived a successful day.

And David affirms the value of faith through our main scripture today. Lets look at Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— whom should I dread?”

If you know the story of David, King Saul, the first official king of Israel, chased after David all over Israel for years trying to kill him. Before replacing Saul as the next king of Israel, David lived in fear not knowing when his enemies will kill him. In the midst of this challenge, David sought after God time after time as prevalent in numerous chapters of the book of Psalm. He found hope nowhere else other than God and he proclaims that God is my light and salvation - whom should I fear?

We heard a sermon on God is light a few weeks back. God is the one who brightens our lives. Even though David was threatened, he found light in the midst of darkness through God. Do you feel like your life is in darkness and you cannot find the answer in your life? Seek God first like David and allow God to bring light into your life.

In Psalm 27:2–3 David says: “When evildoers came against me to devour my flesh, my foes and my enemies stumbled and fell. Though an army deploys against me, my heart will not be afraid; though a war breaks out against me, I will still be confident.” If you remember when you heard the message “Christ who strengthens me” It is not that I can do all things in this life. It is not that we are the ones overcoming the world. Rather, we are able to do all things In Christ. In Christ, we overcome because there is overwhelming peace in our hearts.

This is what David is highlighting through Psalm 27:2-3. Though a war breaks out against, I will still be confident, he says. Not because he is brave or strong but because he has hope and faith in God. Have you ever felt light the whole world was against you? Find hope and place your faith in God and you will be able to be confident in the midst of the storm.

In the midst of the storm of war, David set his eyes on God, the Saviour. It is the same for our lives. In the midst of the storm of the world, our eyes must be set on Jesus and nothing else. He stands in the middle of faith and doubt and if we only focus on Jesus then he will ensure that we walk across the water and not drown.

Therefore, David proudly proclaims in Psalm 27:4 and the most important thing for us to remember: Psalm 27:4 “I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking him in his temple.” We should profess this statement first thing in the morning and wrap up the day by making it the last thing we say before sleep.

Imagine the most valuable possession you have in your life. What can be more valuable than your faith in Jesus? To emphasize the seriousness of faith. God had to take form in flesh, to come down on earth and sacrifice himself on the cross for the atonement of our sins. Our salvation is so important and valuable that God Himself became a man to be a sacrifice for sin. Therefore, salvation is more valuable and more precious than gold or silver. He is the most precious jewel. He is the most valuable gold.

Finally, in Psalm 27:5-6, David says Psalm 27:5–6 “For he will conceal me in his shelter in the day of adversity; he will hide me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock. Then my head will be high above my enemies around me; I will offer sacrifices in his tent with shouts of joy. I will sing and make music to the Lord.”

Amen! Isn’t this what we all desire? To stand tall on a rock and to shout with joy every moment of our lives? Then, look no further. Your answer is in Jesus. Focus on what is actually important and valuable in our lives, then you will find satisfaction.

This is why we need to spend more time in scripture, prayer and worship in our lives to update our faith to be able to live with boldness in our lives. Our faith needs to be constantly updated so that we can apply faith in our lives to be able to live with boldness and security.

Our Longing

In our hearts, truly, we were created for a sense of longing and purpose. One way this manifests itself is in the form of longing or what C.S. Lewis described as Sehnsucht (sen·suhkt). Lewis noted that deep within us, a nostalgia which faced toward the future is present with all of us. Lewis in his book Weight of Glory he said “Apparently, then, our lifelong nostalgia, our longing to be reunited with something in the universe from which we now feel cut off, to be on the inside of some door which we have always seen from the outside, is no mere neurotic fancy, but the truest index of our real situation. And to be at last summoned inside would be both glory and honour beyond all our merits and also the healing of that old ache.”

We know truly deep inside that though we want to be successful and accomplish what we want we always lack in something. We may accomplish one goal after another but constantly we are still striving and never fill fulfilment. The Sehnsucht inside of us continue to strive us towards something beyond ourselves. Why do people start looking to the moon for accomplishment? This greed inside of us is a form of longing but those who do not have faith use greed for the wages of death. However, if we can turn this greed into a selfish desire to know more of God, then how much more will our faith grow?

So, what?

So, I have a challenge for every single one of you starting today or first thing tomorrow morning. I am sure every single one of you find an opportunity to look at the mirror as one of the first tasks in the morning. When you look at yourself in the mirror with sleepy eyes, remind yourself this one thing and establish the intent of your day: Think of Jesus, the perfecter of our faith. He is the 10,000 reason why we live today and He is my all in all. I will live today with assurance that I already won this day even though I just got started because Jesus is with me. Amen?

When you take that moment first thing in the morning to establish your intent for the day, the affects are so powerful to your mindset. Your mind will grasp this idea that you are a winner and your thoughts, words and actions throughout the day will be focused on Jesus. The mindset that we start out with in the morning define us throughout the day. Even Jesus woke up early in the morning when everyone else was sleeping to pray and establish his spiritual mindset to live the day. We need to establish our spiritual mindset based on faith. Reminding ourselves that we are spiritual beings ready to live as the salt and light of this world.

David Green, the CEO of hobby lobby, said Success is not a destination; it's a mindset. If we want something to work, we cannot wait for destiny to take the wheel, if there is destiny. Rather, we have to start with our daily lives and we have to start first with our morning.

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, let me remind you again who you are: Isaiah 43:1 “Now this is what the Lord says— the one who created you, Jacob, and the one who formed you, Israel— “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.” Let us repeat this verse again in unison. This time, replace the names of Jacob and Israel with your own name. “Now this is what the Lord says— the one who created you, John, and the one who formed you, John— “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine.” Yes, God calls us individually by name.

He is your Creator. He is your Savior. He is your Father. He knows and understands exactly what you need in life. Why be foolish and try to solve the problem that you cannot handle? The missing puzzle that would complete your life was not in the world this whole time. Rather, your missing puzzle in your life was Jesus. therefore, Jesus says in John 15:11 ““I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” Our joy is complete only when we abide in Jesus.

So, Brothers and Sisters, I remind you of this one thing: Take Courage! Be Satisfied! If you have faith in your life, then you have won. Do not waste your time chasing after those things that are meaningless. This statement does not mean for you to be lazy. You still have an obligation in your life to be faithful and diligent in every part of your life: your relationships, your work and your school. However, do not let those aspects consume you. What matters most is you and your faith. If it is well with your soul, then your life is well. Will you bow your heads and pray with me.