BIBLE ANSWERS

Terry R. Baughman

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.”

Does life have meaning? Why then are we here? While many ask these questions and they seek answers from many different sources, my definitions and explanations center on a God consciousness, and I look to a relationship with Him for meaning. I find my answers in the Bible as multitudes of others have through the centuries.

Conclusions are varied depending on where a person looks for answers. Even on the Psychology Today website the following question is posed and entertained: “Why am I here on Earth? It can be a passing thought or a question that launches a full-on existential exploration.” I’m convinced that many pursue a degree in psychology with no intention of becoming a psychologist, a teacher, or a counselor. It is often their own search for answers in lives that are void of purpose.

What is my Purpose? Even the wise man, Solomon, grappled with the meaning of life and searched for purpose. One of the most quoted passages come from Ecclesiastes 3: “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; …” (vss. 1-2). He continues on for eight verses then concludes with, “What profit has the worker from that in which he labors?” (3:9).

Solomon’s conclusion was that all was vanity. He felt that all of the experiences of life were empty and meaningless. Yet Solomon recognized that there was something bigger than life bound in the heart of humanity. “He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

The “eternity in their hearts” is something born in the heart of every individual that does not age, does not decay and will never die. This is that part of every life that cannot be explained outside of God.This is what will live on beyond the veil of this life. This is what gives us drive and a purpose to do something with our lives!

Blaise Pascal (1623–1662), a French Physicist and Philosopher said, “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing, but only by God the Creator made known through Jesus Christ.”

A relationship with Christ is what gives a life purpose and meaning. Our God given purpose is to walk in relationship with Him and to glorify God in our lives Eternity challenges us to give of ourselves to others, to a cause, to do something that will outlast our lives.

This is our purpose! 

BIBLE ANSWERS

Terry R. Baughman

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).

The existence of God is a foundational question that is often posed to the Christian as an obstacle of faith. How can you prove there is a God? This question is often accompanied by a triumphant “gotcha” expression. No matter how thoroughly you answer the questions, usually it is insufficient to persuade the ardent sceptic.

The argument usually comes down to a matter of faith and choice. One of two observations are most often witnessed: (1) There will never be enough evidence to convince one who refuses to believe. (2) There will always be abundant evidence for those who choose to believe.

For the believer the Scripture stands as inerrant and undeniable evidence in support of the existence of God. Jesus own words declare that He is the One, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).

God is said to be “self-existent.” He needs nothing to support His existence. He needs no evidence, vindication, or validation; He just “IS.” In the book of Exodus God revealed himself to Moses as the “I AM THAT I AM!” (Exodus 3:14). From that time forward the “I AM” had special significance to the believer in God. He is eternally present and always existent.

Because we are creatures of time and events that have occurred exist only in our past, we think of God as active in history. He is the One who “was.” While God has no past or future, He relates to us in the framework of time and is expressed to be in our past as the One who “was.” This acknowledgement does not diminish God in any way, “For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, …” (Isaiah  46:9-10).

God also claimed to be the One who “is to come.” This phrase might indicate a progressive state of God, growing in strength or ability. John declares Him to be “the Almighty!” He is not lacking anything or deficit in any resource of power. He is omnipotent, all powerful! That is why He can at once be in the past, in our present, and in our future. He is already aware of things to come. He is there in the future aware of our path and preparing us to meet every challenge.

There are no surprises with God; He knows the future and He knows our weaknesses. There is nothing He does not know. He is already there in our future and He is working all things for our good. You can trust in Him.

VICTORIOUS LIVING

Terry R. Baughman

“Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57).

Some are appalled at the idea of an Easter celebration. To them it is a somber memorial of the crucifixion, the pain and loss of life. It is a grim reminder of the agony of suffering and the wounds of affliction Jesus endured prior to His barbaric execution. If that were all the story it would indeed be an anniversary of mourning.

However, the end of the story brings a change of perspective and a cause for celebration. The cross was not the central focus of the passion of Christ. His suffering and death is not the sum of the story. The tomb was not the final chapter and the place for making a memorial. The tomb is an empty reminder, a cause for celebration. Easter is about resurrection, the defeat of death and the exaltation of new life!

How awesome it is for one man, any man to have defeated death! Many have attempted to escape its clutches and outwit the grim reaper. Millions of dollars are spent on remedies and cures to extend life and escape the inevitable. Only Jesus can testify that He tasted death, sampled its gloom, and rose up to live forevermore.

In miraculous events some were brought to life in a moment of rejoicing through the hands of Jesus. One was even buried for four days before being called back to life again. All of these lived but faced death a second time, and again deceased from the land of the living. Only Jesus was victorious over death!

Because Jesus lives, we rejoice. Because He experienced death, defeated the devil, and vacated the tomb, “Death has no more dominion over Him” (Romans 6:9). He did not do it just for Himself, but for all who will put their trust in Him and be born again in Christ.

Paul stated, “That as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death” and “just as Christ was raised from the dead …, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4).

Our hope is in the promise, “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Romans 6:5).

Jesus did not come for Himself; He needed no Savior. He had no sin and was the only one who could stand righteous on His own merits. Jesus came to suffer and die in our place. He paid the penalty of sin and satisfied the sentence of the law. He now stands in our place and extends an offer of life … everlasting life, on Easter and every other day of the year!

Celebration is in order! It is time to party! Because He lives we shall live also! He’s alive, alive, alive forevermore!

VICTORIOUS LIVING

Terry R. Baughman

“Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

A gift may not appreciated as much if we are unaware of the cost. A simple pen received as a gift from a friend may be kept because of sentimental reasons, however, if the pen is discovered to be a numbered, limited edition with an appraised value exceeding our expectation we may have a greater appreciation for the gift. If the cost of the item is sufficient we may lock it away in a safe deposit box for secure storage. Our whole outlook of the item and the person who gave it to us is changed by the knowledge of the sacrifice.

Jesus came to this world with a purpose; a cause shaped His character and His focus. “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth,” Jesus said in answer to Pilate’s question (John 18:37). His passion was to provide redemption for the souls of humanity. A tremendous cost was incurred and selfless sacrifice was required, yet Jesus came with the full intention to pay the cost and provide payment.

We may sometimes invest slowly in a relationship, giving increments of time or finance to someone we are getting to know. As the relationship deepens and we become more emotionally attached we are more willing to invest at great sacrifice to maintain the relationship. The more we love the more we are willing to give!

God’s love is from everlasting. It was His plan to invest in us before the worlds began. In the plan of God we were purchased from the beginning. “God so loved … that He gave…” (John 3:16).

Jesus did not invest slowly or incrementally. He gave completely and intentionally, fully vested in His mission to pay for our salvation. He was the “lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (script). The cost was extreme, the sacrifice was intense, but Jesus was committed to the payment and surrendered to the sacrifice.

“Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. 

Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow!”

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“Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28).