Why Not?
We just heard from Dan how Christ can turn your life upside-down (Pretty Ugly) and I guess you could say, after what we just did, it all depends on how we look at things.
It is often so difficult to get by in this life that we take our eyes off what is truly important. As Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we need to remember that, the most important thing in our lives, is God!
If we keep our lives focused on Him, remember the lessons from Jesus and all the Apostles, why would we not then choose to live as God would have us?
It’s a rough world out there, but we have been given instruction on how to handle it all. Let’s go over some of the ways we might better understand God’s way and how we, as Christians, should be able to deal better with all that is put in front of us.
The Puzzle
Life puts us through many challenges today and, as we’ve talked about before, these often cause our hearts to stray.
I found this little piece on the Internet the other day that spoke to this quite clearly. I’d like to try to explain what that little lesson was all about. Unfortunately, I lost the particular page, but I’ll try and do this as I remember it. I truly believe it should make you think.
If you stop and think about it, life is merely a puzzle. It’s a huge puzzle with millions of intricate little pieces. What I think, as I know our God would never do anything to bring us harm, that it’s all about how we put all these pieces together in our lives that will get us through.
Pain
Pain always has a purpose. Pain in the body exists to alert us to some abnormality in our physical person. It exists so that we will recognize there is a problem, allowing us to address and rectify the cause. Emotional, mental, and spiritual pain exist for the exact same purpose.
Without Pain – How we would grow and become stronger?
Our pain ALWAYS has a purpose. Sometimes the purpose is to prepare us for some greater trial we will face down the road. God sees all of the trials that await us in this life. He helps us to build, strength, endurance, and faith now so that when the actual test gets here we will be prepared.
Consider the sufferings…
Romans 8:18 – “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Pain doesn’t make us weaker. It’s not there to beat you down, but to raise you up, not break you, but make you.
Negativity
We all have negativity in our lives. We think about things we’d like to do but, because of our negative thoughts, we simply don’t do them… we’re too afraid we’ll fail.
I don’t consider negativity all that bad as, without it, how would we truly understand positive? It’s all too easy to see the difference and it can make all your decisions easier if you understand and can separate the negative from the positive.
Without Negativity – How would we know what positive is?
Take a look around you. Haven’t we all had negative people in our lives? Can you not see how it brings them down? More importantly, can you not see how it brings you down?
The Bible warns us about such people and how we should deal with them.
Titus 3:10 – “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him.”
Rejection
Nobody likes being rejected. We get rejected in our careers; by our friends; by family; and even by complete strangers! It’s all about how we deal with rejection that will help us grow and help us to learn.
Without Rejection – How would we understand, and appreciate acceptance?
Nobody likes being rejected and, when we are, remember…
John 15:18 – “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”
Yes, I think this is something very important to remember when we are rejected by others. Our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ suffered more rejection and hatred than any of us ever will.
If you stop and remember, He was clearly rejected by His very own people… and crucified because of that rejection!
Sadness and Tears
Do you get sad? Sometimes, for no particular reason at all right? Let’s face it, there’s a lot of things that go on in this world to cause sadness. But, here is something to think about…
Without Sadness – How would we develop compassion?
If we were never faced with sadness, how then, would we truly learn, understand and develop our own compassion for one another?
If you have learned from your sadness, you will truly understand compassion. Have you ever had a friend who has been sad? How did you handle their sadness? I’m guessing… with compassion! So there… you have learned.
When you experience times of sadness, you need to remember Christ’s compassion for you and lay your burdens on Him.
Matthew 11:28-30 – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
How often, when you are sad, do the tears come? I’m guessing it’s rather frequent that the two come together.
Psychology says our tears are therapeutic. Listen to just a few of the benefits of tears from PsychCentral.com.
- Help us see – lubricating the eyes
- Kills bacteria – removing the germs and bacteria
- Elevate mood – remove anxiety/nervousness/stress
- Build community – Displays your compassion
- Releases feelings – Don’t keep it in
So, I think it’s pretty plain to see that tears are very beneficial. Cry when you’re sad; don’t be afraid to show your emotions (show your compassion).
Without Tears – How would we fully understand joy?
When all is said and done though, let’s turn back to the Bible and remember…
Revelation 21:4 – “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Loss
Loss is the most difficult thing for me to talk about this morning. We’ve all lost someone. It may have been a spouse or another member of the family; it may have been a friend; or maybe just someone you knew.
Nonetheless, it’s never easy to lose someone… especially someone we loved or cared deeply about but, as Christians, we should have a better understanding of it and not lose hope or faith when we lose someone we love.
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
And, again, the Apostle John wrote to us…
1 John 5:13 – “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Without Loss – How would we learn to appreciate what we have?
I could never ask you not to feel sorrow when you lose someone, nor would I ever expect you not to cry. It hurts… I know this, and God knows this but, in keeping with the topic of this message… live the way God would have us.
Let God help us with all we struggle through. Don’t forget the compassion He has for us. Depend on Him and give Him your heart to hold.
Better People
If you have chosen God’s way, have you noticed anything about yourself that may be different than it was before. I can surely tell you, I have.
If your behavior is even remotely close to what God had planned for you, you are certainly “different.” You don’t engage in idle-gossip; your language is clean and never harsh towards others; you genuinely listen to people and always try and act in kindness.
If you do these things, don’t you see the difference in the way others treat you. Just the other day, the lunch delivery guy forgot my soda when he brought my sandwich. We have soda at the office, but I didn’t have a dollar. In hearing this, one of my co-workers (our receptionist who makes very little) immediately jumped-up and said, “I got this Woody… this one’s on me!” People want to treat us better because it’s the way we treat them!
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In Conclusion
It isn’t an easy world out there but we, as believers, have much more relief from those that refuse to believe. We have a kind, caring and compassionate God that only asks us to obey some very simple rules… Love One Another.
Remember the purpose behind our struggles and remember to try and put the pieces of the puzzle together with God’s help.
- Without Pain – How we would grow and become stronger?
- Without Negativity – How would we know what positive is?
- Without Rejection – How would we understand acceptance?
- Without Sadness – How would we develop compassion?
- Without Tears – How would we fully understand joy?
- Without Loss – How would we learn to appreciate what we have?
Live a life as Christ taught you. Live as the Bible tells us to do so. If you truly believe and follow the Holy Scriptures, I think you may find things a little easier to cope with and grow from.
Just one more thing… I’ve said this before and I’d like to say it again as it goes right along with what I’m trying to get across today… Why not live as God we have us?
Which is better?
- Believe in God; follow the commandments and simply love one another then die… and find it’s not true and simply return to the earth
… OR … - Don’t believe in God; don’t follow the commandments; be unkind and have no compassion then die… and find out it’s all true and live forever more in eternal pain and suffering?
Easy answer, don’t you think?
Go with God; be good to one another; always stay humble; always be kind… God Bless!