Infusion Church: Escondido, CA

    The search for meaning in life is as old as mankind.  We have all asked, “Where did we come from?, Why are we here?, What are we to do?.”  These same questions were asked by King Solomon in 940 BCE, and he wrote about his quest in the Book of Ecclesiastes. 

    At Infusion Church, we are pursuing a study of Ecclesiastes and the search for the meaning of life in both our 9:30 am new service (think “rock band”) and our 11:00 am traditional service (think choir and organ).  Regardless of the age of the audience or the contemporary culture, the questions remain the same.  The answers, as found in the Word of God in the Holy Scriptures, remain the same as well.  The Scriptures may have been written thousands of years ago, but because they contain the eternal truths of God, they can inspire and guide us to a more abundant life filled with joy.

    What is it that gives meaning to our lives?  Is it wealth—do we seek riches because wealth holds the secret to what life is about?  I don’t think so.  I know some very poor people who have more joy than any of my wealthy friends.  True, wealth gives you more options for how you “occupy” your time, where you live, what, if any, work you must do.  Wealth may even give you the opportunity to ponder the meaning of life.  However, wealth does not give you the answer.  The answer is not found in cash, bank accounts, or possessions.  More often than not, the wealth is used to avoid the questions regarding life’s meaning.  When the “jet-set” pause from their whirlwind life style, they have the same gnawing feelings that the rest of us have—what is this really about?

    Fame is what some seem to think is the most important aspect of life.  There are those who don’t care what you say about them—just as long as you talk about them.  To be a “Rock Star” or professional athlete with a large “shoe contract” and several tv ads seems to motivate many of us.  If only we could be famous—how the world would open up to us.  Yet, those who achieve “real” fame—longer than the proverbial 15 minutes, most often seek anonymity and privacy.  Also, fame is fleeting—really fleeting.  A new Rock Band becomes the rage, a new athlete is proclaimed the “best there ever was,” and the “shoe contract” goes to someone new.  If fame gives meaning to life, it is a very superficial and brief meaning indeed.

    Power is another area in which meaning is sought for life.  Many of us love to be in charge.  We want to run things, be the boss, the man-in-charge.  Political office provides power and fame.  We think, “If I were in charge, things would be different, and a lot better!”  Then, we become in charge, and we realize that the challenges are much greater than anticipated.  We can’t get others to do what we want.  We have the final responsibility when things go wrong or turn out badly.  We have to make tough choices, and sometimes we make the wrong choice.  Then, we begin wishing, if only I wasn’t in charge, if only this wasn’t my responsibility.  Power might be a “turn-on” for some, but it really doesn’t take us any closer to finding meaning in our lives.

    Well, no could argue that we all want to be happy.  We want a good husband or wife, or lots of freedom, or the ability to travel, or a sports car, or courtside seats to the Lakers games.  The problem is: What happens when you get it?  Invariably, we enjoy it for a while, and then want something else.  So our happiness is only temporary.  It is difficult to imagine that the “real” meaning to life lies in a Mercedes 500 SL or a sports team that might have a losing season. 

    Each one of us has something inside us that tells us that there is more to life than bar-hopping and watching tv.  Most of us try to ignore those feelings and seek to occupy our time through activities of any sort.  But, when the day is done, and on those occasions that we do not fall instantly to sleep, the gnawing feeling returns.  The question pops into our head, is this really all that there is?  Maybe we should start looking where we have never seriously looked before—maybe we should start really looking for answers from God.

    Answers from God!!  That sounds pretty remote.  Although much of the 20th Century was spent in trying to prove there is no God, the results proved the opposite.  The discoveries in microbiology and astrophysics have demonstrated God’s existence at the highest intellectual level.  No longer can the mantles of “chance” and “randomness” be worshipped for the origin of life.  It turns out that life is far too complicated to have arisen by “chance.”  In fact, the scientific evidence is overwhelming that our universe and the life within it had to be “designed.”  If there is a design, then there is a designer—which is God.  Whether we “believe” in God or not does not affect His existence.  He exists whether we want to admit it or not.

    If God designed our universe and the life that we experience, then perhaps we should look to God to find the real meaning in life.  In fact, by looking at the Bible, which is the Word of God, we find, not only meaning, but “keys” to making our lives happier and more fulfilling.

    How would you like to “know” (and I mean to really “know”) that all of your physical needs will be taken care of?  Sure, you say, that’s what 401k plans and savings accounts are all about.  Unfortunately, we don’t “know” what will be enough—what banks will fail, what inflation will do, or even what will be valuable in the future—as well as not knowing what our own needs will be.  Will we be healthy or in an Alzheimer ward?  Yet, some of us “know” that we will be cared for—all of our needs met.  We don’t need to be anxious for anything.  Do you think that those who “know” they will be cared for are happier than those who don’t?

    How would you like to “know” that you will always be loved and respected—valued as a person?  Rather than feeling “dissed” and always “put down” or ignored, you can understand and know your worth as a person is recognized and coveted.  Do you think that having dignity, respect, and being loved would make you happier?

    Perhaps, you have heard of “Heaven.”  Many people think that heaven is a boring place where you sit around on clouds all day playing a harp, or stand in a group and eternally shout the same praises to the Lord.  This is NOT Heaven.  The Scriptures teach us that Heaven is an exciting, vibrant place full of adventure, as well as peace and joy.  Heaven provides us with a new Garden of Eden, where men and women can live the way they were supposed to live before they fell out of grace with God.  Heaven is a “happening place” that all will enjoy.  It is a place where the only tears are tears of joy and laughter.  It really is a place where there is “never heard a discouraging word.”

    You might be saying to yourself, that’s great, but I have to die to get there, and right now I’m concerned about life—and how I’m going to make my car payment next month.  A good point, but did you know that peace, joy, happiness, comfort, security, and love are available to you now?  Yes, right now—on earth, today!  It is called the Kingdom of God.  You have to admit that the name, “Kingdom of God,” has a nice secure “ring” to it.  After all, if God is protecting you, and providing for you, and loving you, who could “top” that?

    So, you may be telling yourself, “Ok, Kingdom of God sounds like a good place to be, but that must be Heaven and I have to die to get in.”  Not true.  The Kingdom of God has been established on earth and is available to you today, right now!  We can enter the Kingdom of God and experience God’s love, peace, joy, security, and happiness this very minute!  We can put our fears and concerns behind us.  We can live each day to its fullest.  We can experience life in the manner in which we were created to experience it.

    How can this be?  It’s called belief in Jesus Christ, studying the Holy Scripture, learning how to live a joyful and abundant life, and by doing so, entering the Kingdom of God right now, today.  Want to know more?  Try the 9:30 am Sunday new service or the 11:00 am Sunday traditional service for the “rest of the story.”

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