|
 Home | Site Menu | CARE | Ministry | World Light | InSight | Contact |
|
| |
We come into this world --
Live a few years (Perhaps to the Biblical age 70 or 80)
The days of our years are
threescore years and ten;
and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years,
yet is their strength labour and sorrow;
for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Psalms 90: 10
Accomplish some things ...
and then... die.
Why were we born ?
Why are we here ?
What are we to do while we're here ?
Where are we going?
Is death the end, or is there
a brighter future
to look forward to ?
People everywhere are seeking the reason
for life, a purpose for which they live,
goals to reach... and a direction to travel that leads to true happiness.
As ambassadors for God, Christians are
given a special opportunity to assist
people in understanding and resolving some of these questions and mysteries
of life.
But before we can help others, we too
must understand these things. We need
tools to work with -- to cultivate the truth in our lives as well as in
the lives of
those we desire to assist.
Within the heart of every human being beats a longing (a desire) for 3 things..
Acceptance : We want people (relatives, friends, associates, etc.)
to understand us... like us... love us... respect us... desire ...
and appreciate us ... (these free us from rejection )
Achievement : We want to accomplish something in life...
to live with a good purpose in mind ... one that has some direction
and meaning (these bring us success... the opposite of failure)
Security : We want to feel safe and protected (these shelter us from
fear and insecurity)
These desires are not new, however ...
Throughout the pages of the Bible
are found life records of many people who were seeking the same things.
Let's look at some examples
On this page you will find a table which
contains the names of people who
lived in earlier times, along with Bible references to help you discover
some
of the desires each of these persons had in their life.
As you study these verses, print out
the table and write in its blank spaces the
one main desire (acceptance, achievement, or security) you think best illustrates
each of the examples given.
For whatsoever things were
written aforetime
were written for our learning, that we
through patience and comfort of the scriptures
might have hope.
Romans 15: 4
Name |
Reference |
Desire |
1. Peter (Jesus' Disciple) |
Matthew 19:27 |
|
2. Job (Rich man of the East) |
Job 19:6, 13-19 |
|
3.The Israelites & mixed multitude |
Numbers 11:4, 5 |
|
4. James & John (Jesus' Disciples) |
Matthew 20:20-24 |
|
5. Aaron (Brother of Moses) |
Exodus 32:21-23 |
|
| 6. Orpah & Naomi (Women of Faith) | Ruth 1:8, 14-15 |
|
| 7. Nebuchadnezzar (King of Babylon) | Daniel 4:28-30 |
|
8. Paul (Apostle of Jesus) |
2 Timothy 4:7, 8 |
|
9. Mary (Jesus' Mother) |
John 2:1-3 |
|
10. Abigail (Wife of Nabal) |
1 Samuel |
|
11. David (King of Israel & Judah) |
1 Samuel 21:10 |
|
Click here to check your answers
Can you think of some other examples?
Now that we've discovered the 3 main
things everyone wants, let's go on and
see if we can discover why, many times, in spite of reaching their intended
goals, people still fail to feel satisfied, or experience complete fulfillment
in
their life.
Can you think of a reason why people
who seem to have what they want in
this world, often show that they still aren't happy, and continue looking
for
new things in order to feel contented and complete?
Here may be a clue to the mystery
Many people are often without
satisfaction because they are ever trying
to find away from God that which is only found by staying near to Him.
To understand this better, look at the following illustration:
The
Black outer circle represents the material things
people need, and often
surround themselves with.
The
Orange middle circle represents our need of closer
relationships with
people... loved ones, friends, and associates that we interact with in life.
The
Yellow center circle represents our need for God.
God has put within
each of us a desire for these things in addition to acceptance, achievement,
and security.
When these things are kept balanced within us we can experience a sense
of fulfillment and true happiness which brings peace, and rest to the soul.
With material things, you can work for
God and help people (your family,
others, and yourself) as well as make a contribution that benefits the world
in many ways.
With close, personal, human relationships
(people) you also can be a help, and
a blessing, as well as receive one. It isn't wise to try to live without
people in
your life.
God also is absolutely essential for our health and spiritual well-being.
When
we were created the Lord placed within us the desire to worship and glorify
Him. He is to be the center around which everything in our life revolves
in a
delicate balance. Without Him people fail to accomplish much that has any
truly lasting value.
There are at least eight different conditions
people can be found in, as related
to the quest of mankind for completeness in life. Let's look at these examples
and see what can be discovered regarding them: Consider first the following
illustration:
The Eight Circles of Life
| The first circle of the eight illustrates
what complete fulfillment is and how it can be reached... It comes when God is the center of your life, when you have healthy, social relationships with people around you, and when you use material things to benefit mankind, be a blessing for God, yourself, and your family. This could be considered perfection, but it is a rare thing to find in the world we presently live in. It's the goal to strive for, however. If you keep going in that direction God will bless you with true success. |
 |
| In the second circle we can discover what
happens when people don't have God as the center of their life, and don't have (or want) close, personal, relationships with others around them. These folks often surround themselves with material things, but are never fully satisfied, or feel fulfilled. They are always in search of new and better "things" to keep them happy; but they rarely find what they are looking for. |
 |
| In the third circle we find an illustration
of those who seem to have things and people, but still don't reach a state of complete satisfaction because God is still not in the center of their life. These folks sooner or later discover that material things wear out and human relationships are never perfect... and without God their life is not complete. |
 |
| In the fourth circle we find the group
that tries to distance themselves from both material things and God, seeking
only close social relations with people, but these too fail in bringing satisfaction because mankind needs everything to be in balance in order to be complete. No one can really live without some material things, and without God's interaction in life there would be no life. Those who try to live this way fail in reaching perfection and true happiness. |
 |
| In the fifth circle we meet those who want
only God. An example of this group might be found in those who seek a monastic existence, such as monks who live in very isolated places in order to shut out the world and "serve" God better.. These people strive to put distance between themselves and material things, but they too are left incomplete because as soon as they really begin developing a close relationship with God, He directs them to reach out and help people, and shows them how to use material things also to be a blessing. Abandoning people and material things in life isn't the way the Lord wants us to be closer to Him. |
 |
| The sixth circle shows us again an imbalance.
This time we find people who seemingly have made God the center of their life, and have chosen to keep alive close relationships with others, but want to distance themselves from material things. In reality, material things have been given to us to use as tools to work with. As things are now, we still need them and they are not to be rejected just because we want to know, love, and serve God more perfectly. |
 |
| The seventh circle represents those who
have material things and choose God to be the center of their life, but don't have (or want, in some cases) people to associate with. An example of this situation was found at the beginning of the world when, until then, only one human being, Adam, had been created. |
 |
God's response to this situation:
And the LORD God said,
It is not good that the man should be alone;
I will make him an help meet for him.
And out of the ground the LORD God formed every
beast of the field, and every fowl of the air;
and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them:
and whatsoever Adam called every living creature,
that was the name thereof.
And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air,
and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found
an help meet for him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep
to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs,
and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man,
made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
And Adam said,
This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh:
she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.
Genesis 2:18-23
God saw that man would not be complete
without others around him. Even
with God as his companion and many perfect things to see and enjoy... man
was designed for companionship. It was what was needed and God provided
it right in the beginning. It is also an essential thing in our day.
| The eighth circle presents the saddest
condition of all... people who seemingly don't have (or possess a desire for) material things, people, or God. These are the people most in need because they are the most unfulfilled. The poor, homeless and the lonely are good examples of people in this group. |
 |
In this study it is important to focus
attention upon two main things: our
need for the Lord to be allowed to fill the center position in our life,
and
the need to understand and remain balanced in the social and material areas.
If you take time to think about each
of these examples, you will, more than
likely, be able to identify some people you have met or heard about who
fit
the examples given. In each example there is offered hope for change that
can lead to a new, more fulfilled, life. This can only be accomplished
however, when we meet and build within God's plan. Any attempts to feel
completely fulfilled outside of the design of God ultimately fails.
God intended us to love
people
and use things;
but many can be found who would rather
love things ...and use people.
Is there a difference between
these two ideas ?
Which of the two do you think is more important ?
Why ?
Some closing thoughts
One day, in the near future, if you
are a true Christian, severe
circumstances in the world will dictate that you surrender the
material possessions, and human associations, of this life.
Things will be taken away and most friends and family will probably
be separated from you... the only thing that will remain to hold onto
will be the close relationship you have formed with God through Jesus
Christ, the Savior of the world.
It is essential therefore that you come
to know Jesus personally, and
bring balance into your life, now, while you still have time, so that in
the stressful days that are coming, you will have established a sure anchor
for your soul and an everlasting future.
An interesting addition to this critical
end-time scenerio is that, although
we will lose contact with people, and have our material things taken away...
when Jesus comes in the clouds of heaven one of the first things He will
do
is raise the dead to life and bring all His people again to be together
and to
be with Him (Restoration of People).
After that the redeemed will be taken
to heaven where God will replace the
material things that we had to give up here on the earth with new and better
things that will remain forever (Restoration of Things).
And we will be with God and He will
be with us... re-established again as the
center of our life (Restoration to
God).
It is then that we will find completeness
and understand the reality of God's
love, and perfection. May God bless us to understand these things, and
pattern our life according to His better plan.
If you would like more details regarding
end-time events as they are outlined
in the Bible, write
to us and we'll be happy to make
the information available.
Please let us know how these studies
have contributed to your Christian
experience and efforts in missionary service. Your commentary will assist
in
developing our website further. Thanks for visiting.
 |
More Visda Point Connections
|
Visda Point Design by C. Teske
E-Mail: visdapoint@sbcglobal.net
