THERE IS MEANING IN YOUR LIFE

Have you caught the vision?

1/22/1999

C. E. McNair

Within one short year we enter a "new millenium" according to the Roman calendar in common use. Many persons are concerned that cataclysmic events may disrupt the systems and institutions of this world, and are busily preparing for personal survival. Some "bible believers" expect the prophecies of the Apocalypse to be fulfilled, followed by a "rapture of the saved" to heaven before the time of tribulation upon the whole world.

The Bible does point to a millennial reign of Christ on earth -- a time of wonderful peace. Tens of thousands expect to be with Him -- indeed, to reign with him -- as Kings and Priests (or Priest-Kings).

God instituted the ancient Feast of Tabernacles as a teaching type of the future peaceful reign of Christ over the whole earth -- a "Sabbath" rest on the earth. Israel lost sight of the meaning of festivals of God, forsaking the worship of God and observance of His Holy days, and substituting in place of His days the festivals of the nations around them.

To those who understand the meaning and observe God's Holy days, have faith and hope in the Kingdom of God. As fellow servants and co-heirs with Christ, we expect the fulfillment of His promise to reign with Him.

Are there standards of conduct and growth which Christ has set for admission to kingly positions under Him in His millennial reign? While salvation is a gift of God, positions of responsibility in His Kingdom will be given to those who prepare.

This is clearly the teaching of Christ in some of His parables. For example:

                    The parable of "the sower" Matt 13

The parable of "the pounds" Luke 19

                    His expression on "Greatness" Matt 23 Luke 22

Also, in the Revelation of Jesus Christ given us through the Apostle John

Mr. Herbert Armstrong used to say often, "God will not save a soul He does not govern." Further, he believed and taught that those who cannot govern themselves will not govern others in the Kingdom of God.

What area in your life could preclude your entering into a position of rulership under Jesus Christ in His future Kingdom?

For many it is lack of emotional control -- evidenced by outbursts of anger, arguments, fighting, -- uncontrolled temper.  A select few from a score or more of recommended scriptures:

PSALM 37:8

PROVERBS 14:17

PROVERBS 15:1;

PROVERBS 15:18

PROVERBS 16:32

James 1:12 -- 20 Blessed is the man that endures temptation

Some important lessons were learned and written by VIKDOR E. FRANKL ["Man's Search for Meaning"]

In summary:

Frankl spent 3 years as a prisoner in concentration camps (Auschwitz/Dauchau) during WWII.

"… in the final analysis it becomes clear that the sort of person the prisoner became was the result of an inner decision, and not the result of camp influences alone. Fundamentally, therefore, any man can, even under such circumstances, decide what shall become of him--mentally and spiritually. He may retain his human dignity even in a concentration camp. As Dostoevski said once, "There is only one thing that I dread; not to be worthy of my sufferings." (p. 87)

"Suffering is an ineradicable part of life, even as fate and death. Without suffering and death human life cannot be complete." (p. 88)

"The way in which a man accepts his fate and all the suffering it entails, the way in which he takes up his cross, gives him ample opportunity--even under the most difficult circumstances--to add a deeper meaning to his life." P. 88

"We have stated that that which was ultimately responsible for the state of the prisoner's inner self was not so much the enumerated psychophysical causes as it was the result of a free decision." Psychological observations of the prisoners have shown that only the men who allowed their inner hold on their moral and spiritual selves to subside eventually fell victim to the camp's degenerating influences." p. 88

"A man who becomes conscious of the responsibility he bears toward a human being who affectionately waits for him, or to an unfinished work, will never be able to throw away his life. HE KNOWS THE WHY FOR HIS EXISTENCE, AND WILL BE ABLE TO BEAR ALMOST ANY HOW." P. 101

"The right example was more effective than words could ever be."

"The immediate influence of behavior is always more effective than that of words. But at times a word was effective too."' P. 101

"Human kindness can be found in all groups, even those which as a whole it would be easy to condemn. The boundaries between groups overlapped and we must not try to simplify matters by saying that "these men were angels" and "those were devils." P. 106

"From all this we may learn that there are two races of men in this world, but only these two--the "race" of decent man and the "race" of indecent man. Both are found everywhere; they penetrate into all groups of society. No group consists entirely of decent or indecent people. In this sense, no group is of "pure race"-- and therefore one occasionally found a decent fellow among the camp guards." P. 108

After freedom came, there was a period of adjustment. At first there was a sense of incredulity, exemplified by the following statement: "In the evening when we all met again in our hut, one said secretly to the other, 'Tell me, were you pleased today?'

And the other replied, feeling ashamed as he did know that we all felt similarly, 'Truthfully, no!' We had literally lost the ability to feel pleased and had to relearn it slowly.'" P. 110

"During this psychological phase one observed that people with natures of a more primitive kind could not escape the influences of the brutality which had surrounded them in camp life. Now being free, they thought they could use their freedom licentiously and ruthlessly. The only thing that had changed for them was that they were now the oppressors instead of the oppressed." P. 112

"… there were two other fundamental experiences which threatened to damage the character of the liberated prisoner: bitterness and disillusionment when he returned to his former life."

Bitterness was caused by a number of things he came up against in his former home town. " [excuses for what had happened--comments such as "we did not know about it," and "we too have suffered." P. 113

After release from the prison camps, upon arrival "home," there was disillusionment -- because no one awaited them; there was no "reward" for all of their suffering.

A boy once asked, "Dad, how do wars begin?"

"Well, take the First World War," said his father. "That got started when Germany invaded Belgium." Immediately his wife interrupted him: "Tell the boy the truth. It began because somebody was murdered." The husband drew himself up with an air of superiority and snapped back, "Are you answering the question, or am I?" Turning her back upon him in a huff, the wife walked out of the room and slammed the door as hard as she could. When the dishes stopped rattling in the cupboard, an uneasy silence followed, broken at length by the son when he said, "Daddy, you don't have to tell me any more; I know now!" [Reader's Digest]

OUT OF CONTROL TEMPER

ECCLESIASTES 7:9

It has been expressed: "As long as anger lives, she continues to be the fruitful mother of many unhappy children" (John Climacus, Climax).

EPHESIANS 4:26

    REPRESSION

    STOMACH

ECCLESIASTES 7:9

Frederick Buechner, correctly, wrote in his book Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC;

"Of the seven deadly sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back; in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you" ( [New York: Harper & Row, 1973]).

JESUS CHRIST CLEARLY TAUGHT THAT NOT ALL WHO PROFESSED TO FOLLOW HIM WOULD ENDURE:

Matt. 13:1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had

ables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Concerning Rulership or Greatness Jesus taught his disciples:

Luke 22:24--34 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

Psa. 37:1-- 36 A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

David's son Solomon was a man of great wisdom -- as applied to this life.   Some words of wisdom pertaining to our conduct toward each other.

Prov. 7:1--10A good name is better than precious ointment....

Prov. 14:1--17    The tongue of the wise -- compared to the foolish

Prov 15:17--19 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith...

Prov. 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

Eph. 4:1-32  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called....

James 4:1-12….Whence come wars and commotions among you, James asked? And answered...

One who is a follower of Jesus Christ is in training to serve with Him as Kings & Priests in the coming Kingdom of God. Do you see MEANING IN THE EXPERIENCES OF THIS LIFE? Do you understand that Our Heavenly Father is testing and trying us in this life to prepare us for the Work of His Kingdom -- and for ETERNITY?

Are you prepared?

Are you preparing?  The reward is waiting -- but it won't wait forever!