Thursday, April 5, 2012

LIFE: A JOKE OR A JOY

            This past Sunday was April 1, April Fools’ Day. My birthday is April 2. I have always been glad that I don’t have to live under the burden of being an April fool. As a child I tried to come up with pranks to play on others on April Fools’ Day. Most of them were pretty lame. Today I barely pay attention to the day, choosing to focus on the next day, which is, of course, much more significant.

            This morning I was talking with a friend about a particular TV show that we both watched faithfully back in college. At the time it seemed funny and tantalizingly provocative. We agreed that today we see the show differently. It seems immature and absurd.  The humor is crass and at times over-the-top.

            That conversation got me thinking about the way we approach life. We can live life as an absurd joke or as an amazing joy. The difference is in our perspective; and that perspective is shaped by whether or not God is in the picture.

            If we live without God in the picture, life can become an absurd, even cruel joke. If we are just an accident of nature, then our lives are meaningless. Everything we do become pointless. We might “improve” life in some way for a time, but in the end does it really matter? If God is not in the picture then we had better pursue as much carnal pleasure as we possibly can, because there isn’t anything else. The old adage holds true then; eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.

            The book of Ecclesiastes gives us a clear picture of life without God. At the very beginning of the book, in chapter 1, verse 2 Solomon sums up the message of the whole book. "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." Systematically he examines all of the things we spend our lives chasing after. In each case his conclusion is the same; this too is meaningless.

            Many people unknowingly live out Solomon’s philosophy. They live as if life is one big joke and the goal is to get as much immediate pleasure as possible. Why take anything seriously? There is no purpose to life. There is nothing after death. There is no higher authority to which we are accountable. So go ahead and live out the joke.

            On the other side of the equation is living life with God at the center. When God is in the picture life becomes a joy. Acknowledging God’s presence doesn’t rob life of its fun or pleasure. In reality it enhances every experience of life. When we understand that our life has purpose and meaning then it becomes a joy. Absurdity drains us, but purpose fulfills us. We can engage fully in the activities of life knowing that what we do matters. Our efforts are not wasted. There is someone who is taking notice and will reward us.

            Jesus tells us that part of his desire for us is that our lives would be filled with joy. In John 15 Jesus uses the illustration of the vine and the branches. In verse 5 he says this. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Then a couples of verses later, in verse 11 he informs us of his purpose. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” When Jesus is in the picture, he turns what can be an absurd joke into an amazing joy.

            The Apostle Paul picked up on this theme in 1 Corinthians. He wanted to encourage the Corinthian believers to continue to invest in their faith and in living for Christ. They were getting discouraged because those who lived without God seemed to be doing better than those who lived for God. Paul reminded them that this physical world is not the whole story. There is meaning and purpose that transcends our material existence. So he challenges them to embrace the joy of serving Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)

            At best the world offers us life as an absurd joke. Someone summarized it with these words; life is hard and then you die. Jesus offers us life as an amazing joy. He summarizes it with very different words. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 (NIV) Which life would you rather live; a joke or a joy?

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