As we wrap up the second week of our “foundation repair project”, I want to take some time today to refocus on the goal before we continue. I know I posted this a few months ago, but I felt it was appropriate to re-post as a reminder of why we need to strengthen our foundation.
It is easy to find myself focusing on the wrong things. As we walk through our lives we are constantly being told what to believe, what we should be listening to, what we should be watching, what we should be wearing, and what we should be doing. With all the input, it is sometimes difficult to focus on what is important. We don’t want to be that weird kid that is different from everyone else, right? I was sometimes that weird kid growing up, but that’s a different story.
I have read a lot of statistics and heard a lot of teachings over the last few years that confirm what most of us have been observing in the world around us. Our world, particularly our American culture, is moving away from Christ and our nation is moving away from being the Godly nation we once were. I have heard this referred to as “these dark times.” It seems to have become a trend of today’s teachings to focus on how bad things are today. Here is a quote from a book I was reading recently.
In this hour of all-but-universal darkness, one cheering gleam appears: within the fold of conservative Christianity there are to be found increasing numbers of persons whose religious lives are marked by a growing hunger after God Himself. They are eager for spiritual realities and will not be put off with words, nor will they be content with correct “interpretations” of truth. They are athirst for God, and they will not be satisfied till they have drunk deep at the Fountain of Living Water.
There is today no lack of Bible teachers to set forth correctly the principles of the doctrines of Christ, but too many of these seem satisfied to teach the fundamentals of the faith year after year.
It is a solemn thing, and no small scandal in the Kingdom, to see God’s children starving while actually seated at the Father’s table.
There are today many millions of people who hold “right opinions,” probably more than ever before in the history of the Church. Yet I wonder if there was ever a time when true spiritual worship was at a lower ebb. The art of worship has been lost entirely, and in its place has come that strange and foreign thing called the “program.” This word has been borrowed from the stage and applied with sad wisdom to the type of public service which now passes for worship among us.
Here are some numbers from a recent poll in October 2022 of over 24,000 teens by the Barna group.
Teens that believe the Christian Bible teaches about
Living wisely in today’s society – 34%
Understanding my purpose in life – 36%
Teens that believe The Bible Is Inspired by God
41% all teens
61% Christian teens
48% of Christian teens believe the Bible is relevant.
But here is the question. Is this a new problem? Is the problem new or have we just become more focused on the problem than the solution? Perhaps there are more people struggling with their faith today because we focus on how bad things have gotten instead of how good God is.
By the way, this is not a new problem. The book I quoted from earlier is “The Pursuit of God” by A.W. Tozer, written in 1948.
The solution is not new, either. The solution is to not be concerned about what the world wants. The solution is to focus on what we all need, and that is the truth of the Gospel of Christ. The words in the one book that brings life. We all need a little foundation repair and to get back to the basics. We cannot build a stable house without a solid foundation.
John 10:10, Jesus says, “I have come so that you may have life and have it abundantly.” Jesus came so that we could live, not for us to mope around and be depressed because things are so bad. These are the days we should be rejoicing because there is much work to be done and the harvest is plentiful. These are times to celebrate.
It is easy to become focused on the wrong thing. It is easy to become focused on what we want rather than what we have. People spend their whole lives “in search of happiness”, in search of something more. “If I only had this one more thing, then I can be happy.” It is easy to become focused on having all the right things and knowing all the right people, and we forget that there is only one thing we need to “have life and have it abundantly”, and that is Jesus.
The cross of Christ, the sacrifice given for all, is real. It is not new. It is not the latest program or gimmick to bring people to church. It is not some newfound teaching. It is the original solution. It is the only solution to everything you are dealing with today. It is the only solution to your pursuit of happiness. “Jesus is the only solution to life. If people in the church would live Christ-centered lives, it will draw people to Jesus.
Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:33
