“If Jesus is the answer, what was the question?”
It may sound cynical to us, but there is a cry for truth hidden in there.
The world is so overwhelmed by work, information overload, and crises, that in their confusion they no longer know what questions to ask.
Birth, Death and Income Tax
Birth, Death and Income Tax. Three subjects that raise quite a few questions. But before we get to those directly, let’s take one of those quick side paths that can help open up the view of the main track.
Side Question: Why do we come to Church?
Some Answers: To worship God. To experience a time with Him in unity with others. To learn of Him through His Word.
Coming to church is beyond habit, ritual or tradition. Our God is a God who cares, who desires a relationship with His people. Church, with teachings grounded in Biblical truth, is one place where we can learn more of Him. As we discover the multiple facets of His character and His teachings, so our relationship with Him grows richer and deeper.
A simple instruction from Jesus in Matt 11:29 reads:
Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly of heart and you will find rest for your soul.
Learning of Jesus by Learning from Jesus
How do we learn of Jesus? By learning from Him. By learning from the Word.
We are not studying for an exam, to be tested at one fixed point in time, then given a pass or fail. Learning from the Word is a lifetime of discovery and growth.
– As we learn of life in Jesus, we learn of peace and grace.
– As we learn of life’s challenges, we see God’s principles demonstrated in the Word.
– As life puts us to the test, the Word sees us through.
– As we seek out His answers, the Word equips us to reach out to others.
The Bumper Sticker Q
“If Jesus is the answer, what was the question?” It may sound cynical to us, but there is a cry for truth hidden in there. The world is so overwhelmed by work, news, information overload, and crises, that in their confusion they no longer know what questions to ask.
The Universal Questions
At varying times and under varying circumstances, every individual faces different questions. Many of the questions prove to be surprisingly common, which is why so many self-help books find a wide market.
Self-help, when written by man without God, can be no more than a human answer to human problems, with all the limitations attached.
But then again, it is not so surprising that the problems prove to be common. They are human problems, and we are human. To deal with them we need to move outside our human resources, to learn of Jesus, to look to God’s wisdom and not our own for the answers.
In the Word and in that wisdom we can discover everything we need to handle any situation that may face us or those around us. We won’t get it in a neat easy-read 7 steps package, and we may not be too comfortable with what we get. But we can rest in the knowledge that we are resting in His knowledge.
The Universe in 3 Questions
Wrapped up in those universal questions are three key areas that resound:
– The Origin of Life
– The Inevitability of Death
– The Realities in between – including the dynamics of government, self-determination, and wealth distribution.
Or in simpler terms: Birth, Death and Income Tax.
Next Week: The Origin of Life Intelligent Design, Intelligent Designer
This is the Introduction to the Series: Birth, Death and Income Tax.
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