Sermon for April 13, 2008

       "What are you going to be when you grow up?  How many times are we asked that question when we are growing up?  Often times we are thinking about the jobs that we want to do.  I  want  to  be  a  professional  baseball  player  or a professional football player or  a  doctor  or  a nurse or an airplane pilot or a mommy or a daddy!  As the movie “THE ROOKIE” about a man in his 30’s who tried out and made a Major League Baseball team which had always been his dream stated, “In life we need to ask ourselves the question, “WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT IN LIFE- WHAT WE NEED TO DO OR WHAT WE ARE MEANT TO DO! 
       As adults we often ask ourselves the question "WHAT IS MY PURPOSE IN LIFE AND FOR BEING HERE ON EARTH?"  Then when we get older and reflect back on our life we ask ourselves, “WHAT HAVE I DONE WITH MY LIFE?”
       How often do we feel like we are in a rut in our life and are basically "MERELY EXISTING" and going through the motions of living?  We get up each  day and go to a job which really doesn't excite  us  or  challenge  us  or give us much satisfaction  or  is   filled   with   lots  of  hassles  and frustration.  We come home at night and basically collapse at the end of the day, trying to get ready for the next day.
     Or else we are retired and try to figure out how to fill the time on our hands  even  though our physical health isn't as good as it used to be.   Now when I have the time, I don't have the health or energy to enjoy it.  When I had my health, then I didn't have the time to enjoy it.  We may feel like we are on a TREADMILL in life using a lot of energy and effort, but not making much progress in my life!
     PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE A FULFILLING AND ABUNDANT LIFE!  People desire to have purpose and meaning in our life‑ to be "FULLY LIVING AND NOT MERELY EXISTING!"  but they don't know where to find it or where to look for it!
       A middle aged housewife  summarized  these feelings once when she said, "I always thought  that by the time my husband owned his own business; when we  had paid off the mortgage in the house and the children  were basically old enough to take care of themselves‑ THAT  I'D  BE  HOME FREE!  I thought that there would not be any more problems in my life.  But it hasn't worked out that way.  I've worked hard and I have most of the things I wanted, but they don't seem to mean as much to me as I thought they would.
       I'm getting bored with my life.   I have a nice house which is paid for and I have spent 15 years in it raising 2 children but I'm tired of it now.  It doesn't give me any joy or happiness.  I'd almost like  to move back to the apartment like the one my husband and I had when we were first married, but I don't know what we  would  do  with all of the stuff we have accumulated over the years.  It  would be fun to go back to that old apartment because  then  we had something to work for together and  there  seemed  like  there  was  a lot more purpose and meaning in our lives.   To tell you the truth, I don't think either one of us knows what we want now‑ EXCEPT THAT IT IS SOMETHING ELSE THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW!
       Does any of this story sound familiar in your life?  Can you relate to any of  the  various struggles that this couple is experiencing especially  with  their  sense  of  a lack of purpose and meaning in  their  life  as they continue to live their lives?  Or to ask the question of our sermon, “AM I FULLY LIVING OR AM I MERELY EXISTING?"
       Our text for today from our Gospel lesson‑ John 10 gives us guidance and direction  and  purpose  in our life as Jesus shares with us His word  for  us  as Christians, "I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE  AND  HAVE  IT  TO THE FULL!"  I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.  Right here in God's Word we are given the answer to our struggles and questions regarding our purpose and meaning in life.  Jesus Christ alone and faith in Him gives us Life that is worthwhile and meaningful so that we can be "FULLY LIVING AND NOT MERELY EXISTING!"
       Many people have not received this meaning and purpose in their life.  Some depend upon their family and friendships to give purpose and meaning in life.  These are important, but in order for these relationships to be truly fulfilling, they must be based on faith and living a life filled with the love of Jesus and sharing it and expressing it in those relationships.  Receiving and Sharing and Expressing the love of Jesus Christ alone gives TRUE PURPOSE AND MEANING IN LIFE!
       We may say, "That sounds good for you Pastor‑ that being a Christian will give meaning and purpose in life.  But when things go  wrong  and  I  don't  feel  like  I  am  living in Abundance or fully living in my  life, I wonder whether it is worth it to be a Christian.   It seems like being a Christian is just  one  more  thing  that  takes  up  my precious time, especially my Free time.  It seems like being a Christian is another hassle for my schedule and never seems convenient for all the things I WANT TO DO, which are much more fulfilling!
       The fact is, THE LIFE WE HAVE AS A CHRISTIAN IS THE "ONLY LIFE" that gives true peace and joy and fulfillment in our life.  For our  faith  relationship  with Jesus Christ is "NOT JUST A PHASE" that we  have in our life, that we outgrow or throw away because we don't  think  we need it anymore‑ it is life‑ the source of  life  here  on  earth and for eternal life in heaven‑ which gives us true purpose and meaning!"
       Jesus Christ and our faith in Him enables us to live our lives with someone who  is  with  us  each  step  of the way, guiding us, encouraging us, loving  us, forgiving us for what we do wrong.  Jesus gives us Himself each day of our life and we can joyfully serve Him in all that we say and do!  That gives to us the blessing   of meaning and purpose and fulfillment in our life!
       Unfortunately a major reason why  many  people do not have "AN ABUNDANT  LIFE"  and  are  "MERELY  EXISTING  AND  NOT  FULLY LIVING" is because they  are living their life for the wrong things.  They have the idea of “AN ABUNDANT LIFE” confused with having lots of stuff and "STUFF” CAN NEVER BRING US TRUE HAPPINESS AND MEANING!"
       I have  noticed  a  change  however  in  our  society as gradual as it  may  be.   People  are  hungry for values, for purpose and meaning  in  their  life,  for relationships with others, for  taking  time  to  be  with  their  families  and children and not  just  chasing  after  the Almighty Dollar.  They are hungry for things that really matter and that is the gift that Jesus Christ alone gives to us in our lives. In fact one reason God has given us jobs and work to do is in order to “SERVE HIM!  A life of service to God and to others gives true fulfillment, purpose and meaning to our life!
       I read a story about a  rich man named Carl who loved to ride his  horse  around  his  big  ranch  estate  each day to congratulate  himself on  all   his  wealth  and  money  and possessions.  He loved to boast to anyone who would listen to him and tell them all "THAT HE HAD DONE, ALL THAT HE HAD ACCOMPLISHED".
       One day on such a ride, he saw Hans, an old tenant farmer who rented land from Carl was sitting down to eat his lunch in the shade of a great oak tree.  Hans' head was bowed in prayer.  When Hans looked up, he said, "Oh, excuse me sir.  I didn't see you, I was giving thanks to God for my food."
       Carl looked at the coarse, dry dark bread and the cheese which made up the man's lunch and said, "If that was all that I had to eat, I don't think I would feel like giving thanks!" "Oh, really," said Hans, "It is quite sufficient and filling for me."  "It is quite a coincidence that you stopped by to see me today, Sir, because I had a strange dream last night."
       "And what did you dream", asked Carl with a smirk on his face.  The elderly man Hans answered, "There was beauty and peace all around and I heard a voice say, "THE RICHEST MAN IN THE VALLEY WILL DIE TONIGHT!"
       "I don't believe in dreams", said Carl,  “They  are Nonsense!" and turned and galloped  away.  Hans said a prayer as he watched Carl ride away.
       As Carl was riding along he thought to himself, “This is all ridiculous. The best thing to do is to forget about the old man's dream, no use to get into a panic."  But the more he rode and thought about it, the more worried he became.
       When he  got  home  he  called  his  doctor,  who  was a personal friend, "Could you come over tonight, I need to talk to you."  When the doctor arrived, Carl told him Hans's dream‑ about how the richest man in the valley would die that night.  "Sounds like foolishness to me", the doctor said,  “but for your peace of   mind,   let's   give you a complete physical examination. When the examination was finished, the doctor reassured Carl that he was as strong and healthy as his horse.  There's no way you are going to die tonight."  Carl thanked the doctor and told him how foolish he felt for worrying about Hans's dream.
       It was about 9  a.m.  the next morning when a messenger arrived at Carl's door.  "It's old Hans," the messenger said, "HE DIED LAST NIGHT IN HIS SLEEP!" and Carl had his eyes open to what it means to truly be rich and to be “”FULLY LIVING INSTEAD OF MERELY EXISTING!”
       Do we know what it means to be "FULLY LIVING AND NOT MERELY EXISTING?"  Jesus Christ alone is life that is full, free, rich and happy!   Jesus Christ does not promise us an increase in material possessions like some people try to interpret our text.  Instead He  gives to us the certainty of a life lived at a higher level, closer to Him , receiving and reflecting His love  each  day  of  our  life!  It is because Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep (YOU AND ME) that this Abundant life is given to us!
       Are you “FULLY LIVING OR ARE YOU MERELY EXISTING” in your life? As Christians we are "FULLY  LIVING" when we receive and enjoy all  of  God's  benefits  and  blessings,  are  in  His presence each day of our lives  and are members of His family of faith today and  forever!   With Jesus Christ as our Lord and our Savior and the Good Shepherd of our Life we are "FULLY LIVING" in our life today and forever!

Copyright © 2008 by Pastor Mark Cattau.  All rights reserved.

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