January 25 Significance
Adam and Eve had a defined purpose for being here. They were to rule over the birds of the sky, the beasts of the field, and the fish of the sea. In addition, they were to be fruitful and multiply. They didn’t search for significance. It wasn’t a need, it was an attribute. Ever since the fall, humanity has lacked purpose and meaning in life. “If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Cor. 15:19). Peggy Noonan, the speech-writer for President Reagan and George H. W. Bush, said it well:
I think we’ve lost the knowledge that happiness is overrated, that in a way, life (this present physical life) is overrated. We’ve lost somehow, a sense of mystery about us, about our purpose, our meaning and our role. Our ancestors believed in two worlds and understood this world to be the solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short one. We are the first generation of man that actually expected to find happiness here on Earth, and our search for it has caused such unhappiness. The reason? If you do not believe in another, higher world, if you believe in only the flat, material world around you, if you believe that this is your only chance for happiness, if that is what you believe, then you are not (just) disappointed when the world does not give you a good measure of its riches, you are despairing.
Significance is an eternal issue. What is forgotten in time is of little significance. What is remembered for eternity is most significant. Humanly we try to immortalize earthy events by keeping diaries and records. Who won the World Series of baseball, or the World Cup of soccer twenty years ago? Who cares? But what happens when one sinner repents? All the angels rejoice. There are no insignificant children of God, because:
Matt. 5:13 You are the salt and light of the world.
Jn. 15:1,5 You are a part of the true vine, joined to Christ and able to produce
much fruit.
Jn. 15:16 You have been hand-picked by Jesus to bear fruit.
Acts 1:8 You are a personal witness of Christ's.
1Cor. 3:16 You are God's temple where the Holy Spirit lives.
2Cor. 5:17f You are at peace with God and He has given you the work of making peace
between Himself and other people. You are a minister of reconciliation.
2Cor. 6:1 You are God's co-worker.
Eph. 2:6 You are seated with Christ in the heavenlies (spiritual realm).
Eph. 2:10 You are God's workmanship.
Eph. 3:12 You may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Phil. 4:13 You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
Dr. Neil
For Spanish, see http://ficmm.org/blog
