An important question we all must face. Whatever our answer is to this question it will shape our life.
In our present culture where relativity is given reign, truth becomes what each person claims it to be. That cannot work in community. I see this attitude finding expression in much of the violence and crime reported on our news each night.
Jesus not only claimed to teach truth, but is the Truth.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (Jn. 14:6).
We assume truth can be determined either by God or by human opinion. Whatever we choose to believe, it will shape how we live our life.
If we accept Jesus as truth, we will seek the meaning of life in His promises, which includes eternal life; if we think He is not real then life’s meaning is confined to the things of this life alone, which will include our personal achievements.
Celebrity status has become an important goal for many people today. Twenge and Campbell, for example, in their research for their book, The Narcissism Epidemic, found many of the school shootings in the United States were motivated by a desire to be seen for five minutes on the evening news.
I detect an attitude in our present culture that belief in God is something we can take or leave, it is a personal preference that is of little consequence. That attitude assumes God is not true. But if He is true our choices will have life-long and even eternal consequences. If God is true then life is not only about the few short years we spend in this world, but also about eternal life beyond the grave.
The Bible teaches God created us with free will, and it understands wisdom as not only about the knowledge we accumulate, but also about how we exercise our free will (the choices we make).
Both Paul and Jesus compare wisdom and foolishness. Jesus tells a story about wise and foolish builders (Matt. 7:24-27). He likens the wise builder to the one who builds his house on a firm, rock foundation of His teachings. The foolish person builds his house on sand, disregarding Jesus’ teachings as important.
Paul on the other hand compares the wisdom of this world, with the wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1 and 2). He says the ‘wisdom of God’ appears foolish to the ‘wise of this world’, to them it makes no sense. As for himself, Paul boldly declares he is not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. To unbelievers it appears to be foolishness, but to those who are being saved it is the wisdom of God.
Neither of these views can be proven, they are both faith choices. Faith means accepting something is true even though we cannot see it. Paul writes in (Rom.1:20), “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — His eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
Whether we choose to believe God is true or not, either choice is a faith choice; a choice we cannot avoid, and no one else can make it for us.
I choose to believe I have come to know God in a personal way through the Holy Spirit. I can offer no empirical proof, but numerous experiences over many years convince me that I can claim with integrity that Jesus is present in my life in a very real way. I also trust the testimony of many others who share very similar experiences. For me, Jesus’ resurrection offers hope which gives meaning to life now.
Rev Stewart McDonald
Kyabram Uniting Church
5°C