The objective of this lesson: To stress that truth regarding the purpose of human existence is still found in Jesus Christ.
The objective of every American [and I suspect every person in all other cultures] is to escape an empty life and find a life with meaning. Some may see an attempt to achieve such an escape as hopeless even before the effort begins. Most find the definition of emptiness in life changes as one's age changes.
It is common for all to seek the meaning or purpose of his or her existence. To conclude there is no reason 'for my existence' is distressing for almost everyone.
Paul indicated that one reason for these gentile Christians turning to Christ was to find truth in him. Paul commonly appealed to idol worshipping gentiles to realize the foolishness of worshipping idols.
Paul stressed that believing in and being in Jesus Christ added to the meaning and purpose of physical life in ways idolatry did not.
Consider his speech in the Areopagus to well educated, idol worshipping gentiles found in Acts 17:22-31. Note his following emphasis to thinking people.
To add to the significance of Paul's observations about God and His nature, read Acts 17:22-31 prior to observation/discussion.
1. God is Creator of everything. (verse 24)
God's creative powers were an important part of the understanding of God's nature in Judaism and in the early church. God held His position as God and deserved honor and praise because He was creator.
2. God is Lord of heaven and earth [the all encompassing Lord, not Lord of a sphere]. (verse 24)
To His creative power was ascribed the fact that He brought everything humans see into existence. He was responsible for more than just the creation of the earth and all that is on or in it. He was (is) also the source of all that exists in the physical heavens.
3. God is not confined to temples made with human hands. (verse 24)
God is too enormous to be confined to a building constructed by humans. Read 1 Kings 8:27 to see the Jewish view of the temple Solomon presented God. Also see Isaiah 66:1,2 and Acts 7:48-50.
4. God does not depend on humanity for existence. (verse 25)
The relationship between God and humanity does not involve God existing in a dependent relationship on humanity. Idols were dependent on humanity for everything. People do not take care of God. God takes care of people.
5. God is over humanity, not dependent on humanity. (verses 26-28)
See the comment on observation # 4.
6. God's nature cannot and should not be reduced to created materials and images that are a product of human art.
To reduce God's nature to precious metals or human artistic expression demeans the reality and position of God. God is beyond physical worth or human depiction. Humanity has never seen the Holy God. (See Exodus 33:18-23; 1 Timothy 6:16; John 1:18.) Having never seen God, how can humanity depict God?
7. God will judge the world by His [not our] concept of righteousness.
God is so superior to humanity, He will judge humanity by His standards.
Paul's presentation of God's nature was in distinct contrast with most idol worshippers' concept of God's nature. Idol worshippers [whether they realized it or not] embraced concepts of the nature of deity that made deity dependent on humans. Paul stressed that God was independent of humans in every area and consideration of existence.
Christianity and idolatry had contrasting concepts of God's nature. Idolatry often depicted the gods as being disinterested in human affairs. See 1 Kings 18:27-29. In most instances, idolatry's concept of the gods' natures was quite compatible with the concept of fate.
Consequently, when gentile idol worshippers became gentile Christians, they were seeking truth about God and themselves in Jesus Christ. Idols did not represent the truth about deity or the truth about humanity. Jesus revealed the truth about God and the truth about humanity.
We understand the truth about ourselves when we understand the truth about God as revealed in His giving us Jesus and allowing Jesus to die and resurrecting him.
Just as Paul called those at the Areopagus to note some of their convictions about divine nature, you are asked to contrast faith in Jesus Christ with some prevailing attitudes in the American culture today.
The challenge to see God's nature also includes the challenge to understand ourselves.
1. Some hold the conviction that acquiring money and possessions is the key purpose of life. This conviction presents itself in many forms. One form is seen in just plain greed. Another form is seen in the declaration, "I do not want lots of money; I just want the lifestyle lots of money makes possible." Another form is measuring one's personal significance in terms of his worth. There seems to be a direct relationship between age and the significance of money. The older one gets, the emptier having money becomes. There is a time in life when "look at what I have" seems significant. There is a time in life when "look what I have" becomes the height of foolishness.
To surrender to the conviction that the purpose of human life can be found in or defined by money or possessions is to fall to a form of deceit that produces emptiness.
2. Some hold the conviction that having 'fun' is the key purpose of life. Interestingly, those that are beyond retirement age likely lived through periods in life when surviving was the primary consideration and having 'fun' was never mentioned. Of equal interest, it is likely that many 30 or under never lived when having 'fun' was not a significant consideration. The first went through periods when there was no 'disposable income'. The second never existed in conditions when 'disposable income' was not a normal monetary situation. As maturity advances, the concept of having 'fun' changes. There is an age when one cannot have 'fun' physically in any manner he or she had 'fun' in the past. There is a sad emptiness when having 'fun' is relegated to one's memories.
In this culture, having 'fun' often depends on the physical abilities and coordination of youth. Amazingly, what was great 'fun' when we were young is a difficult demand never associated with a pleasurable experience when we are old.
3. Some hold the conviction that 'success' is the key purpose of life. Those who hold this conviction often define success either as achieving a goal or as receiving recognition for accomplishments. True, it is always a special joy to receive the appreciation of others. However, if you link 'success' with the purpose of life, reflect on some questions. How does a person measure his or her success? What happens when you can no longer pursue your goals? Is present life made meaningful by looking at past awards? Does life lose meaning because a person can no longer pursue past important goals? Is life to be divided in the 'meaningful' and the 'meaningless' period as a result of 'success' surrendering to one's past measurements?
What represents success at early age commonly does not represent success at a later age. Do you not find it interesting that 'successful' people change focus for their lives several times prior to death?
Numerous other things may be substituted in the quest of the key meaning of life. The single point to be made is this: passing time, deteriorating bodies, and age make meaningless pursuits we considered as central to our earlier existence.
These three things are not the only three things in which people who reject Christ seek to find the key to the meaning of life. These are just three common pursuits for meaning of life in our culture.
Paul reminded gentile Christians that when they were in idolatry, idolatry destroyed them and gave them wrong concepts of God. It was only Christ that gave purpose and meaning to their lives. Christians today need to be reminded that when we substitute a declared purpose in life for the one given us by Jesus Christ, life becomes empty and meaningless as it nears its physical end. Few horrors are greater than nearing the end of one's life, looking back, and seeing a life that was incorrectly focused and misused.
Some pursuits destroy the meaning of life rather than enhance the meaning of life.
For Thought and Discussion:
The objective of every American is to escape an empty life and find a life with meaning.
Paul told gentile Christians that one reason they abandoned idolatry to turn to Christ was to find truth in him.
God's nature was in distinct contrast.
They were seeking truth about God and truth about themselves.
The single point is that passing time, deteriorating bodies, and age make meaningless pursuits out of things we considered as central to existence.
The great horror is looking back and seeing a life incorrectly focused and misused.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 4