Four Big Questions

"Four Big Questions" A Devotional Presented to the Little River High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes Pastor Ted Weis Little River Congregational Church December 11, 2020 Good morning! My name is Ted Weis, I'm pastor of the Congregational Church, here in Little River. Long, long ago, I was a high school student. Out of my many years of education experience-from high school, college, and graduate school-let me share with you the top three techniques to avoid your teacher from asking you a question. Number one. Keep your head up. Look at the front of the classroom. But don't make eye contact with the teacher. Instead, move your eyes slightly to the side. For added affect, you might act like you're really thinking about the question. Number two. Lower your head down. Hold a pen or pencil in your hand. Act like your taking notes. Again, this makes it look like you're really engaged. And number three. Put your head down-all the way down. Forehead on arm. Totally disengage. Act like you're asleep. So, three top tips. Each work wonders. Use wisely. Above all, don't let your teachers know that we had this little conversation. All kidding aside, if you're like me, you don't mind learning. In fact, you like learning. Research shows that one of the best ways we learn is by asking questions. Yes, taking the initiative, raising your hand, risking embarrassment, and saying something like, "Could you explain that again?" or "Well, if what you say is true, then what about this?" We learn when we ask. We also learn when we get asked. Today I want to ask you four questions. These four questions-no one can avoid. Because these four questions help define what it means to be human. The first question is about origin. How did the universe start? How did we all get here? Many reply, "Well, it wasn't God; it was evolution. A tiny something became a little something, which became a large something, until we got all this." But I ask, "OK, then, where did that tiny something come from? And what put that tiny something into motion?" I know this much: Nothing cannot create something. The second question is about destiny. Does the world come to an end? Is there a judgment-heaven and hell? What happens after we die? An atheist once told me, "After we die, the worms feast on our flesh. That's it. It's over. We cease to exist." And I asked the atheist, "Really? Do ever hope that you're wrong?" The third question is about morality. What is right? What is wrong? And how do I tell the difference? This is a critical question when it comes to sexual ethics. I've heard people say, "If you consent, then it's OK." And I ask, "Hmm, would your parents or their parents agree with that statement?" The fourth and final question is about purpose. You're here. But why are you here? What is the meaning of life? People say, "Well, you gotta be true to yourself. Do what makes you happy." Hmm, OK. But notice, that really isn't an answer. So, why were you put here on earth to pursue happiness? Incidentally, right now, in the life of our school and town, this is a very happy time. Little River is the eight-man state football champion! Woo-hoo! Please know, your accomplishment has brought joy to our entire community. And wow, especially this year, haven't we all needed a little bit of joy? But as you know, not every chapter of life is happiness and success. Life also has chapters filled with sadness and suffering. Especially in those times, how do you make sense of life's purpose and meaning? So, these four questions-origin, destiny, morality, and purpose-are directed at each of us. We might sometimes succeed in avoiding a teacher's question, but these four questions we can't escape. These questions poke our conscience. Our conscience demands an answer. The answer has to make sense. The answer has to match up with reality. So, what is a good answer? Let me share with you what someone named the Apostle Paul discovered. This is in the Bible, in the New Testament, in Colossians 1:15-17. Here's what Paul says: "Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things were created by him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." What Paul is saying is this: There is a God. That God is Jesus. And this Jesus is the answer to life's biggest questions. Jesus is #1. All things were made by him-that answers the question of origin. Jesus is #1. All things were made for him-that answers the question of destiny, morality, and purpose. When you add up what Paul says about Jesus and what Jesus says about himself-for example, in John 14:6, Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me"-there's only three possible conclusions about Jesus. First, he's a liar. If so, we can ignore him. Second, he's a lunatic. Again, if so, we can ignore him. Or, number three, he's Lord. If Jesus really is the Lord, then we cannot ignore him. So, here's the big idea I want to leave you today-and it comes in the form of a question-what if Jesus really is the answer? In the biggest question you face, what if the answer is found through faith and obedience to Jesus Christ? What if Jesus really is the answer? What that question did for me was change my life. When I was in high school, at a McDonald's restaurant, a friend of mine shared with me something called the Four Spiritual Laws. It goes like this. Law one-God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. Law two-Everyone makes mistakes. We do what is wrong. We're sinners. Law three-Jesus died on the cross to forgive your sins. Law four-By putting your faith in Jesus, you can know God's forgiveness and saved. My friend asked me, "Have you ever put your faith in Jesus?" You know what? Never before had anyone asked me that question. That question changed my life! It was in ninth grade, at McDonald's, on Beechmont Avenue, in Cincinnati, Ohio, over French fries and a Coke, I prayed and asked Jesus to be my Savior. I said something like, "Lord, I admit, I've done what's wrong. But I'm glad you love me. Thank you that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead. By faith, I ask you Jesus to come into my life and be my Lord and Savior. From this day forward, help me learn what it means to follow you. Amen." God answered my prayer. And if you should tell God something similar, I'm sure he'll answer your prayer too. In this Christians season, one important truth that Christians celebrate is that Jesus is Immanuel-which means, "God with us." That's the greatest answer to have with you always.