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Here is a thought I had this week - Not one that I had expected to think this week to be honest. It is something I heard Ravi Zacharias quote in a seminar on his book "Why Suffering?". I have come to appreciate his very compassionate, intelligent and incredibly gripping way of making arguments and asking and answering questions. And so today in this speech he quoted Mr. Gilbert Chesterton. "Meaninglessness does not come from being weary of pain. Meaninglessness comes from being weary of pleasure."
Ecclesiastes
1
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. 2 “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” 3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.
4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem[a] as well—the delights of a man’s heart. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
and this was the reward for all my toil.
11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.
This is so profound - because did not the writer of Ecclesiastes make the exact same discovery? And with this I want to ask a question, propose a thought for you today.... Is this the reason for the state humanity is in here in the U.S.A.? Is the reason for all the Anti-Depressants and Anxiety Medication that we chase pleasure to no Avail and therefore feel that all life is "Meaningless?"
I had a very sad encounter with a person of similar background in a Christian forum this week. From a Pagan/Druidic and Wiccan background, he was filled with depression and suicidal thoughts. He bust into the chatroom and stated "I am not a Christian - I just wonder why you all believe this stuff." I shared a bit of my testimony, after which he opened up about his background and we continued our chat and exchanged information in order to remain in touch. He kept repeating he was so alone and tired of pain. Tired of life and it's emptiness.
I did what I knew best to do: I interceded and pleaded for his soul, for hope to somehow blossom in his heart - for darkness to turn to light. At first I thought he had come here to look for meaning, that he was here to find help, support or a friend - you name it But the more I spoke with him, the more I realized something. He was not seeking a way to want to live - He was only vomiting out his anger at God, his displeasure with his statues (even though he also stated not to believe or accept Him) and that a loving God simply wouldn't send him to hell if he were to end his life.
Now this whole experience has shaken me to the core this week, as I felt that kind of hopelessness during my youth before. However I always tried to find the light somehow. To cling to some ray of light - some twig of goodness. Unwilling to believe that my bestest day had already passed.
I was always seeking something better and truthful and good.
Not he - Sadly he did not want to know God - He did not want His salvation and the purpose that comes when you enter into a relationship with Him. The freedom of knowing there is no condemnation for you when you accept His Kingship. We were not meant to wear the crown of Lord over our lives. It is far too heavy.
I tried to reason with him that we simply are not able to create a God with a capitol G in our finite minds! God WAS AND IS AND IS TO COME. Never has He been created. Never has He not existed. Never has He ever been in need of anything. He is in Himself perfection and outside of Himself He is in need of nothing and no one. Yet He created us - a mysterious wonderful plan of love.
You say a loving God will not send people to hell and I say to you: A loving God will not rape your will into loving Him. Forced "love" is rape. And if you want to remain separated from the Creator - then you may do that. God will let "YOUR" will be done. His will is for you to accept His loving plan. To enter into the purpose for which we all long for - which is to love Him. To be loved by Him and to enter into eternal life. But if you feel that is not what you want - then you are free to live your life however you wish. But you must also bear the consequences for this choice. God will not force you to go to heaven and spend eternity praising Him. I doubt you would enjoy this - if in your life you never enjoyed a single hour of worship. So you choose separation from God - a.k.a. Hell to His perfect love.
Sadly I am suspecting that this person to whom I spoke this week might have ended his life. It absolutely breaks my heart. I am shocked and felt agonizing heartache as I realized this. No - he wasn't looking for help - He wasn't looking for a way to live - he was looking for permission to end his existence. He had determined that it was all meaningless. That there was no more hope for some reason. I strongly suspect that he hurt himself for many reasons.
Jesus is the deliverer of imprisoned minds. The restorer of lost Hopes and Dreams. The Mender of Broken hearts. The Redeemer and lover of Souls.
He is as far and as near as you wish Him to be. A whispered prayer or a shout away. You take just one step towards him - and watch him run the leftover 999 steps.
I don't know why I shared this - perhaps just to get it off my chest. Perhaps in hopes that someone else can tell me they have felt this terrible feeling in their stomach before that somehow what I said wasn't enough. That I could not convince that God is Savior. I know it isn't my fault but the gnawing on the inside of my gut... It is there. No matter how many times I repeat that it wasn't my fault.
Ecclesiastes
1
I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. 2 “Laughter,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” 3 I tried cheering myself with wine, and embracing folly—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.
4 I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem[a] as well—the delights of a man’s heart. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
10 I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
and this was the reward for all my toil.
11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.
This is so profound - because did not the writer of Ecclesiastes make the exact same discovery? And with this I want to ask a question, propose a thought for you today.... Is this the reason for the state humanity is in here in the U.S.A.? Is the reason for all the Anti-Depressants and Anxiety Medication that we chase pleasure to no Avail and therefore feel that all life is "Meaningless?"
I had a very sad encounter with a person of similar background in a Christian forum this week. From a Pagan/Druidic and Wiccan background, he was filled with depression and suicidal thoughts. He bust into the chatroom and stated "I am not a Christian - I just wonder why you all believe this stuff." I shared a bit of my testimony, after which he opened up about his background and we continued our chat and exchanged information in order to remain in touch. He kept repeating he was so alone and tired of pain. Tired of life and it's emptiness.
I did what I knew best to do: I interceded and pleaded for his soul, for hope to somehow blossom in his heart - for darkness to turn to light. At first I thought he had come here to look for meaning, that he was here to find help, support or a friend - you name it But the more I spoke with him, the more I realized something. He was not seeking a way to want to live - He was only vomiting out his anger at God, his displeasure with his statues (even though he also stated not to believe or accept Him) and that a loving God simply wouldn't send him to hell if he were to end his life.
Now this whole experience has shaken me to the core this week, as I felt that kind of hopelessness during my youth before. However I always tried to find the light somehow. To cling to some ray of light - some twig of goodness. Unwilling to believe that my bestest day had already passed.
I was always seeking something better and truthful and good.
Not he - Sadly he did not want to know God - He did not want His salvation and the purpose that comes when you enter into a relationship with Him. The freedom of knowing there is no condemnation for you when you accept His Kingship. We were not meant to wear the crown of Lord over our lives. It is far too heavy.
I tried to reason with him that we simply are not able to create a God with a capitol G in our finite minds! God WAS AND IS AND IS TO COME. Never has He been created. Never has He not existed. Never has He ever been in need of anything. He is in Himself perfection and outside of Himself He is in need of nothing and no one. Yet He created us - a mysterious wonderful plan of love.
You say a loving God will not send people to hell and I say to you: A loving God will not rape your will into loving Him. Forced "love" is rape. And if you want to remain separated from the Creator - then you may do that. God will let "YOUR" will be done. His will is for you to accept His loving plan. To enter into the purpose for which we all long for - which is to love Him. To be loved by Him and to enter into eternal life. But if you feel that is not what you want - then you are free to live your life however you wish. But you must also bear the consequences for this choice. God will not force you to go to heaven and spend eternity praising Him. I doubt you would enjoy this - if in your life you never enjoyed a single hour of worship. So you choose separation from God - a.k.a. Hell to His perfect love.
Sadly I am suspecting that this person to whom I spoke this week might have ended his life. It absolutely breaks my heart. I am shocked and felt agonizing heartache as I realized this. No - he wasn't looking for help - He wasn't looking for a way to live - he was looking for permission to end his existence. He had determined that it was all meaningless. That there was no more hope for some reason. I strongly suspect that he hurt himself for many reasons.
Jesus is the deliverer of imprisoned minds. The restorer of lost Hopes and Dreams. The Mender of Broken hearts. The Redeemer and lover of Souls.
He is as far and as near as you wish Him to be. A whispered prayer or a shout away. You take just one step towards him - and watch him run the leftover 999 steps.
I don't know why I shared this - perhaps just to get it off my chest. Perhaps in hopes that someone else can tell me they have felt this terrible feeling in their stomach before that somehow what I said wasn't enough. That I could not convince that God is Savior. I know it isn't my fault but the gnawing on the inside of my gut... It is there. No matter how many times I repeat that it wasn't my fault.
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