Daily Thought for Thursday, March 10th

March 10, 2011

Existentialism

Today’s Thought:

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards..”– S. A. Kierrkegaard

Today’s Question

Did you know that “Life is like an onion: you peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep?” – Carl Sandburg

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

Existentialism is a byproduct of the cultic beliefs of nihilism and pessimism, which was popularized after World War II in France by Jean-Paul Sartre.  This belief promotes the idea that man exists as an individual in a purposeless world; and he/she must assume responsibility for his acts of free will without any knowledge or understanding of what is right or wrong, good or bad; and by thus doing, he/she will overcome the hostile environment in which he/she lives.

As Christians we do not embrace this belief but it seems like there are many Christians acting like they are having existential crisis on a daily basis.

First mankind exists in this world because God creates us for His good pleasure. 

“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” – The Bible (John 1:3-4)

To imply that mankind has no knowledge of what is good or bad, right or wrong is to insult him/her and to insinuate that we are all dullards and lack any real sustentative intelligence.  We begin learning right and wrong, good and bad in the early stages of toddler-hood and if we don’t retain this knowledge then maybe we need to sign up for a remedial course in life.

“ Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” – The Bible (James 4:17)

We, Christians need to stop acting like we are lost and confused in a world with no meaning or purpose and we need to live like we know who we believe in and we must prove that we are persuaded He is able to keep what we commit to Him.

J. M. Barrie wrote in The Little Minister, “The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it.”

Life has a purpose and our purpose is not to be purposeless, but rather it is to let the life of Christ in us radiate from us so that the world can see the reason for the hope we have and desire to embrace that same hope.

What story are you writing with your life?

Would you like to change the direction of your storyline, so that it will make better reading when you get to Heaven?

Existentialism is a lie; God is truth: if you know Him you know the truth and the truth will set you free.

Today’s Verses:

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

                   John 10:9-10

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

                   Galatians 2:20

Today’s Prayer:

Father, some of the chapters of my life do not read the way I want them to so help me do some real-time editing to make the phrases of my life will be a better description and reflection of You.