Every Person is A Worshiper

Longing For Answers and Meaning In Life

“They [godless men] exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator…”  Rom. 1:25

In the immediate aftermath of 9-11, it was intriguing to watch our nation, from politicians to school children, suddenly turn our attention to God and “religion”?  Faced with something we could not explain, stripped of our security, and helpless to control our destinies, we were forced to look outside ourselves, if only for a brief moment.

A cursory look at the religions of the world makes it clear that mankind is wired to worship. Even those who claim to be atheists worship, whether themselves, reason or something else. Our objects of worship can range from celebrities, money, pleasure, or technology to angels, trees, Mother Earth or God.  We are all worshipers. It’s part of our spiritual DNA, so it’s not a matter of IF, but WHAT or WHO.

God hard-wired us as worshipers to draw us to Himself.  The “religion” of men is our attempt to find meaning in life and answers for the unexplainable through our own effort.  Men instinctively know that they need “salvation”, so we create “religions” like Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Deism or Eckankar, or belief systems like new ageism, neo-paganism, or atheism in an attempt to find answers and peace for our souls.  While all these depend upon human effort, the Bible alone declares that no human effort or merit can lead to salvation, but only acceptance of God’s love and grace through the sinless sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who did not come to start a religion, but to save us.

FANNING THE FLAME

These first four absolute “realities” or truths summarized below are foundational to an accurate understanding of who God is, who we are, and our desperate condition. They create the framework for the next three Absolute Realities.  Consider creating a journal called Absolute Realities For Successful Living (or whatever you wish to call it).  Use it to record in your own words what the Bible has to say about these absolute truths, and present it as a legacy gift to your grandchildren.  Add family pictures and other mementos of God’s work in your family to illustrate God’s goodness.  They may not appreciate it much till later in life, but you never know the impact it could have.

GRANDPAUSE: (Absolute Realities 1-4)

#1 – God Is and Created ALL That Exists… Including You

#2 – Something Is Seriously Wrong With The World

#3 – We Are All Mortal and Live With Limitations Physically, Emotionally, Relationally and Intellectually

#4 – Every Person is A Worshiper Longing For Answers and Meaning In Life