Why are we here?

When I was a young boy in Iowa I remember going to visit my Grandma Allen in Iowa City. Most of my memories of visiting her were when she lived in an apartment building basically in downtown Iowa City. She loved the Lord, and was usually pretty nice to her grandkids. I only remember getting on her bad side once. She would often dig in her coin purse for money to give my cousin Nick and I to go to Baskin Robbins which was within walking distance. That was the best!! Anyway back to the crux of the story. There was one time that I went to visit my Grandma at her apartment. You had to take an elevator to get up to her floor, which, as a young boy I thought was fascinating. (This was the early to mid 80’s and we weren’t a family that went on vacation and stayed at hotels) Many older people lived in this apartment building, although it was independent living. I also have always been very curious. On the particular visit that I have in mind, I remember seeing something truly unbelievable in her bathroom. In her restroom was what looked like a switch plate cover, with a cord dangling from it. I tell you what that cord, coming out of the switch plate in the wall was THE MOST INTERESTING THING I HAD EVER SEEN. I was totally fascinated by it. Why would there be a cord coming out of the wall? Why is this in the bathroom? Why is there not a switch on that plate like all of the other switches? What does this cord do? What does that writing say? I believe I even asked my Grandma why that cord was there, and she gave me some non-chalant answer like, don’t worry about it, it’s something to help old people, just don’t touch it. HOWEVER, my mind was now RACING!! I’m probably 5 years old. There is something irresistible about that cord. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. It has to be magicial! So of course I have to get in there again to inspect this cord further. I mean, the curiosity is at it’s maximum capacity, and it must find satisfaction. So I am in there “using the restroom” again. I look at that switchplate again, I study how the cord comes out of it. I see the words, which I cannot yet ready above it, I put my hand on the cord, and I think, let’s just pull it to see what magic happens. ..… Some magic DID IN FACT happen alright!! IMMEDIATELY an alarm started blaring, not just in my Grandmother’s apartment, but throughout the WHOLE BUILDING. I rushed out of the bathroom, now SCARED OUT OF MY MIND!!!!!! GRandma, Grandma, what is that?? My Grandma asked me, Wesley, did you pull that cord?.… My face was ASHEN! My mind was once again racing, but now, not in unbridled, curious anticipation, but in pure terror. What is happening, what will happen to my Grandma? Will they put her in jail? Will they take her away? Will I go to jail? What did I break? What will happen when I see my parents again? ....uh, uh.… Y—yes. I did pull it. Wesley I told you not to touch that cord. It is for emergencies only. (Well you didn’t tell me what would happen, I remember thinking.) She said come with me. I will NEVER forget as we opened her apartment door. I am pretty sure I am glued to her leg/waist and just peering around her, but as we looked down her hallway, EVERY SINGLE APARTMENT IN EITHER DIRECTION, had it’s occupant standing at the door way with the door open, looking down at my Grandma, and me, attached to her leg. I remember her telling them all. “It’s ok. My grandson here pulled the emergency cord in my bathroom as he was just too curious.” something along that line. I don’t remember what happened after that. Somehow the alarm got turned off, and the excitement died down. I do remember her telling my Mom when she picked me up that “We had a little excitement today.” Boy did we. What an understatement in my little mind at the time.

There is healthy curiosity, and there is unhealthy curiosity.

Three basic questions all humans ask and assign an answer or meaning.

How and Why are we here? (purpose)

What should we do while we’re here? (significance, legacy)

How are we leaving here? (Hope, destination)

Review.. basics...malarkey—It’s all intertwined, We have to back up to remind ourselves. The why is very important. Map, GPS, zoom out.

Deepen our understaning,

Strengthen our reason and ability to explain that reason for the Hope in us.

Greater worship- in words, and more importantly in life as Isaac shared.

-Today we will focus on the Why and the how.

That’s settled for me. Yeah me too, but we seem to forget, and it’s the first thing and most prevalent aspect of truth that is attacked all around our world today.

Genesis 1:1 ESV

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

-God- forever existent- CREATED... As we read we see He creates by his Words, by speaking. He creates, earth, water, light, darkness, dry land, plants and vegetation, the sun, the moon, all the creatures of the sea, the birds of the air, and then livestock, creeping things, beasts of the earth, and then on the SIXTH day, pick it up in Genesis-

Genesis 1:26–31 “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

”

Genesis 2:7 “then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”

SO FAR WE’VE LEARNED

We (human beings) were made in His image. Imago Dei. Not like any of the rest of His creation. moral likeness, spiritual capactiy, relational design, functional role during creation (naming animals), Self conscious life, highest intelligence.

image NOT made as God or little gods, or that we are part of Him. HE is God and we are NOT!! He is the CREATOR we are the created. As we read in Job, where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Humans were to have dominion, subdue, steward His creation.

OTHER VERSES THAT DISCUSS THE WHY:

Isa 43:7

everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”

Col 1:16

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Rev 4:11

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Ps 8:5–6

Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,

1 Cor 10:31

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Rom 11:36

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Acts 17:26–27

And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for in Him we live and move and have our being.

Eccles 12:13

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

We belong to HIM!

God created mankind in His own image, that we might bring Him glory, steward the rest of his creation, and be in perfect relationship with Him.

continuing in chapter 2 garden of Eden...trees...pleasant to the sight...good for food...tree of life, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil..rivers, gold...man in the garden to keep it… makes a helper fit/suitable for Him..bone of my bones flesh of my flesh!

Back-

English Standard Version Chapter 2

16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

So great… glorious purpose!!, tremendous place, creator God and his image bearers are communicating, He’s giving, they’re enjoying, and stewarding. Given them everything!!! An embarassment of riches. Lavish garden, He is their God, they are His people. Peace, calm, satisfaction.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

3 Now the serpent was

more crafty..… The cord is interesting.

Did God actually say… (question the words God had spoken) Really?… Are you sure?… come on.…re-analyze, think it through, does it seem like thats true? Is that convenient for you? Are God’s motives right here?

English Standard Version Chapter 3

5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will

Once the wheels are turning , doubt is sown, lies, untruths can be told and sound true. (Same way for us now, now our minds are corrupt). even in the not so obvious ways. culture,.. abortion, sex, prosperity, church, my Pride vs. serving others, . Has God said, here’s the way it really is.. then we believe the lie. When you believe a lie, you live wrong, and there are consequences.

The lure of being like God, having all knowledge that He has, The serpent’s statement is partial truth, (which makes it not true) Consider however, “you will know good and evil.” Ask yourself, is it beneficial to “know” evil? We often think we need to try evil on like clothes to see if it fits, if it is what we really want, only to find out at some point, the very trying it on was deeply destructive and leave us only with regret and residual consequences. “know evil” seems appealing, until you know it.

And so it was with Adam and Eve, in all of the abundance offered to them, they chose the scarcity. The forbidden. and it literally ruined everything.

It brought death.

The question isn’t what’s the big deal about one tree?. why even put it there? The better, question is why would they, why would we be so concerned with the one tree, when everything else was given for food, pleasant to the sight.

The answer to that question is autonomy. —The deep desire that lies within each of us, that the world champions, that if we’re honest, we all want. AUTONOMY. Don’t tell me what to do. I am in charge of me. I make my choices. When can I decide for myself?!! Leave me alone!? Give me freedom. Authority grates on us like the roughest sandpaper. WE ask- what can I do? how far can I go? What can I get away with? Is it that bad?Everyone’s doing it. Why not? ADam and EVe wanted to be god for themselves.

WE WANT TO BE GOD FOR OURSELVES. It’s the lie that brought death, that broke the ihtimacy with our creator, and the same lie we alll pursue SO HARD and with SO MUCH INTENT today. Yes you and I. Yes Beleivers and non believers.

Why do I get so annoyed when my wife asks me for help? Why do I balk at my bosses asking me to do something? Why do kids think their parents are dumb, can’t understand, don’t like their rules? Why do people leave church?> Why do people ignore reality, and reason, and find whatever other answer to these questions other than the truth that is found in the Word of God, for which there is good evidence for? WE HAVE TRADED THE TRUTH OF GOD FOR A LIE. WE HAVE COME TO KNOW EVIL AND IT IS DESTROYING US WITH EVERY MINOR COMPROMISE.

WE WANT AUTONOMY—-GOD DEMANDS FIDELITY

The why God created, the how we got here is clear, yes this word is enough, but much good evidence for it.Christian Apologetics is full of people who sought to prove the Bible was false, that when confronted with the evidence, surrendered to their creator and came to know and trust Jesus Christ. Most who reject look for a more convenient explanation, without a thorough search for truth.

God created mankind in His own image, that we might bring Him glory, steward the rest of his creation, and be in perfect relationship with Him.

However even though the Why we’re here, the How is clear, the design is corrupted. Creation is broken.

What are we to do now and be doing?— next week. Redemption.