Monday, September 26, 2005
How did we know it was a stupid question? Our family was in Alaska some years ago and we asked some of the folks there what seemed like a reasonable question, "Where can we go to see a moose?" The only moose we'll ever see in New Jersey are those guys at the lodge hall. You know? Most folks just laughed at our question. Turns out seeing a moose is really no big deal in Alaska. In fact, some people we talked to had hit one recently! So, they're everywhere. Sure. While I was busy speaking, my wife and kids drove all over the countryside looking for some moose. Nada. Maybe people hit them all! They even went to the Moose Sanctuary and they saw no moose there; frustrating, tired of looking, and pretty sure those moose were only in pictures in the tourist brochures. One morning we walked out of the house where we were staying, we piled in the car, and we started driving down the driveway. Suddenly, one of the kids shouted, "Moose!" And sure enough, there were three members of the antler gang right there at the bottom of our own driveway! What we'd been looking for all that time was right in front of us.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Looking Everywhere But in Front of You."
In these times when spirituality is important to more and more people, there's a word you hear folks use to describe themselves spiritually - "seeker" or "searching." I'm searching spiritually, and that's a good thing to be doing. We're created with this eternity dimension by a God who is eternal, and we'll only find life's real meaning by shopping in the store called "spiritual answers."
Today, as never before, there's a spiritual cafeteria to choose from though. Our search for the truth can carry us to many different religions or a blend of several religions, into New Age spirituality, into ourselves to find the power within us. But like our family hunting for moose, we're looking, but often not finding what we're looking for. Much searching - but still no lasting peace, no getting our life under control, no security about eternity.
Many of us were stunned a few years ago by the suicides of 39 members of the "Heaven's Gate" cult near San Diego. It was particularly unsettling because these were bright, competent people; sincere spiritual seekers. Yes, hoping to graduate from earth to a waiting spaceship was an unusual belief, but listen to what one national news magazine observed about them and about us. It said, "Subtract the spaceship and the mass suicide, and you have a yearning and a search familiar to millions of Americans." That's true.
That magazine pointed out what they called universal needs that many people are trying to meet: "the craving to belong, the desire for certainty, the wish to connect to something larger than oneself, the secret hope of finding an all-caring parent who offers protection and comfort." Actually, those needs were built into you by your Creator.
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Colossians 1:16. "All things were created by Him and for Him." This simple statement from God could be the beginning of the end of your spiritual search. He says you were created by Jesus; you were created for Jesus. The Savior who's been pretty much in front of you all the time, but who you've passed by maybe because you get Jesus confused with all the religious baggage attached to His name because you thought it was some new spirituality you needed.
But only Jesus died to remedy our central spiritual problem: we're away from God because of our sin. And only the One who paid for that sin with His life can put you and God together. Without that, all spiritual searching must, sooner or later, turn up empty. It all comes together the moment you bring yourself to the cross where God's Son was dying and you say those two transforming words, "For me. What You did there is for me, Jesus. And You, Jesus, You are my only hope."
He's been there in front of you all the time, but you've missed Him. Do you want to find Him; belong to Him? Would you tell Him today, "Jesus, I'm Yours"? And would you let me send you the booklet I wrote about this new beginning of a relationship with Him? It's called Yours For Life. Just let me know you want it.
Searching is good. Finding is better. Your long search will end in the loving arms of the One who's been patiently waiting for you all this time. Jesus - He's the end of your search.