Pursuing God- #4
Pursuing God- Remaining Connected
It’s been a sad few weeks- remembering Robin Williams! His death hit me really hard!It’s hard to fathom that someone of his stature and cultural importance would take his own life! This happening has had a huge ripple effect through many avenues of life and culture. It seems everyone has been affected by this in some way!
One of my questions is, “How could someone who ‘has it all’ not be able to rise above whatever circumstances he was in and overcome? Out of most people, wouldn’t he have had access to all the worlds’ best resources to deal with adversity?
For one, it really highlights the fact that addiction and depression are a terrible and powerful mix! And apparently, added to this was a grave Parkinson’s diagnosis. Thewidth and depth of the problem is impossible to overstate! Compassion needs to rule the day! Praying for and thinking of his family these days!
Ironically, on my first draft for last week’s message, the first slide was this picture fromthe movie Aladdin.
My message went in a different direction but the image is ironically appropriate today. This week’s message was going in a different direction as well, but I feel this topic can’t be set aside today. In this scene from the movie Aladdin, Genie is trying to encourage Aladdin that his best chance at winning the heart of Princess Jasmine, is to be himself!While this counsel of Genie is true, (and largely another topic for another day), I would raise the question, “What if ‘yourself’ is messed up? As Christians, we aren’t immunefrom these things- addiction, depression, suicide- but we do have access to a powerful antidote- Jesus! I believe it is not possible to embrace Jesus fully and not experience relief from the valleys of this life. It’s not to say you won’t visit the ‘valley of the shadow of death’, but we are in position to experience his presence through it!
In the news media this week, I’ve read articles and blogs on opposites sides of the subject of suicide.
One side says it’s not a selfish choice and that depression can be so all encompassing that one cannot be faulted for choosing that option. The opposite side says that suicide is the ‘easy way out’, and fails to consider the needs of others in its quest for inner peace.
In thinking of the fate of Robin Williams, I can’t help but wonder how many other similar souls are right here in our families and community. Fighting inner demons, or whatever labels you like to put on them, people all around us are seeking peace!
When I was young, I had an Uncle Bob. He was quite a role model- handsome, athletic, beautiful family, etc… He took his own life and shocked the whole family! His marriage was failing and he apparently had no hope. Not only was I concerned about my two little cousins left behind, I just missed his influence in my life! I remember wondering why there were no answers for him.
Depression/ suicidal thoughts often affects the ones that appear to be successful, thathave achieved things that others dream of, perhaps they have a nice home, the dream job, a loving family, drive a cool car, take exotic vacations. But inside they are in a battle- the weight of unseen things pressing heavily on their soul. Striving for the elusive prize of security, inner peace and acceptance, they sometimes turn to substances to silence the war inside. When that fails for them, suicide becomes a viable option.
Many of the extremely talented and artistic people throughout history end up despondent. I often think of King Solomon- the one that was given wisdom but ultimately didn’t follow his own advice! His take on life at the beginning of the book ofEcclesiastes:
Ecclesiastes 1: 1-8 NLT
These are the words of the Teacher, King David’s son, who ruled in Jerusalem. “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes. The sun rises and the sun sets, then hurries around to rise again. The wind blows south, and then turns north. Around and around it goes, blowing in circles. Rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows out again to the sea. Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.
The last two lines especially summarize the human condition well!
“No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.”
We could take the next hour and still not list everyone in the public eye whose life ended tragically through this deadly mix- Mark Antony, Roman politician in 30 BC, Brutus, assassin of Julius Caesar in 42 BC, Judas Iscariot, to Van Gogh, Hemingway, Marilyn, Cobain, etc… Many also died from overdoses that may not have been suicides but are evidence of self-destructive behavior like Elvis, MJ, Hendrix, Joplin, Howard Hughes, John Belushi, River Phoenix, Heath Ledger, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Winehouse, etc…
Emperors and Kings, Actors and musicians, right down to our own family and friends- everyone needs the Hope that lies within us! Just as depression, addiction and suicideare a powerful combination, Faith, Hope and Love are unstoppable!
You might ask, if that is so Mike, why is the world so messed up? Why do people like Robin Williams have to die? I believe that this world offers only faint promises of Hope.
At best, the pleasures of this world are a cheap imitation of the Eternal treasures!Believers must step it up into an authentic relationship with Christ, and represent Jesus accurately and powerfully!
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 1 Pet 3:15 NIV
We need to have answers to a culture that needs hope! Desperate times mean desperate measures!
In looking up the origins of the quote, it’s actually even better: in 1605, Guy Fawkes is reputed to have said "The desperate disease requires a dangerous remedy"...
The cross is a ‘dangerous remedy’! The life of the Christ follower is to be absolutely extreme! The modern watered down version of Christianity is not powerful enough to make a lasting difference in the world- it doesn’t rise above the alternatives. The painted on Happy Jesus face won’t cut it when facing the strongholds that bring us down. Only the power of the Holy Spirit, enabled by the cross of Christ in the life of the believer is sufficient to combat the enemy of our souls!
I’ve read some passionate pleas this week for emphasis on improving mental health, suicide prevention, de-stigmatizing depression and addiction.
I don’t dispute those things. As a simple minded believer, I’m not qualified to offer rehab or therapy for those things. I do know that most folks that succumb to these demons have unsuccessfully tried the world’s therapy. I read that Robin Williams had just come out of rehab for depression the month before his suicide! I’m not against these things, I just believe that by themselves, they are not enough.
I’m not naïve enough to think that a vibrant, living church can eliminate depression, addiction and suicide. But if we would take seriously the power and promises of Jesus and boldly radiate them to those around us, who knows what could happen? What if Heath Ledger or Robin Williams had a best friend or family member that overflowed with Living Water?
Do you know someone that needs Hope?
I do not know specifics, but what if there was someone in the life of one of these people that had the boldness of Peter, and grabbed them by the hand, and said, “Silver and Gold have I none…”?
It’s easy to judge the families and friends of these tragic figures and say, ‘Where were you?’ How could you let this happen?
Robin William’s daughter experienced this terrible attack this week on social media. The truth is that they probably poured out all they had into this person.
In order to combat the ‘Prince of the Powers of the Air’, we must unleash the power of the Holy Spirit! Our human resources, even love and compassion, are not enough to conquer the iron grip that destroys these lives. I know from experience that the ‘normal’ tools are ultimately of little effect in the grasp of these demonic strongholds. Saying ‘Love conquers all’ sounds good, but like most sayings, they are just words apart from the power of God.
There is only one Hope, but it’s all encompassing!
The song we’ve been singing, ‘Come to Me, I’m All You Need’ speaks of this all sufficiency. ‘I’m your everything’. As often happens with me, the songs we sing here linger in my heart all week. I can’t overstate how vital worship is to inner power of the believer!
If Jesus is your everything, you need nothing!
How does this work in daily life?
We human beings are easily distracted, prone to wander and get lost, suffer from short term memory loss! We get disconnected from our Source! God’s book, the Bible, is full of examples of folks that had it all but messed up, lost their way, questioned their faith, and found their way back. Most of them are listed as the ‘heroes’ of Faith in Hebrews!Their secret was staying close to or returning to the Source!
Jesus taught us this secret in John 15:
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.
We can only be light and hope to a dark world around us as we stay connected to Jesus! If you find your life is lacking joy, lacking fruitfulness, lacking power, lacking love,check your connection! Just as a branch that has been snipped off the vine, we too must remain connected to Jesus to bear fruit!
John 6:35 I am the bread of life…
35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Jesus gave us the ‘Remember me’ of communion. He promised that he would dwell within us just as surely as the bread and wine become a part of us. The whole of John Chapter 6 is a discourse of the all sufficiency of Jesus. The chapter begins with the feeding of 5000! Using that as a backdrop, we hear this precious promise that we need never hunger or thirst again!
As we prepare our hearts to receive communion, I’d like us to reflect on our relationship with Jesus tonight. Is Jesus your everything? Have you let that relationship shape you like the Potter’s hands we spoke about last time? Do you know someone that is struggling with life?
It’s so easy to make someone’s life more bearable! It’s equally easy to be the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back! The tongue can be a force for Light or Darkness! We can resolve to be light. We can ask for direction with our hands, feet and eyes, ears and tongues! We need to remain in Him!
A Prayer of blessing: Eph 3:14-21
I … pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understandfully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Thanks for reading this post! God bless you and see you next week!
