Today is
going to be “ah-mazing!” I can just
tell. I was up early and went to the gym
for the best workout I’ve ever had. I even listened to one of my favourite
pastors so I’ve had the best little personal church service already as well. I
went home to shower and kissed the best wife in the world good-bye for the day
and hugged the best kids ever before I left. I got to Starbucks and I had a
reward available which means I’m writing this while enjoying a FREE Venti
Carmel Macchiato with an extra shot. How’s it taste, you ask…The Best One I’ve
Ever Had!!! Now I’m looking forward to
the rest of the day where I get to serve as the Lead Pastor at the Best Church,
with the Best People, in the Best City, in the Best Country in the entire
world!! Today will be LEGENDARY!!
But then
again…I said the same thing about yesterday…I believe the same thing for
tomorrow.
Is it
possible for every day to be the BEST Day?
Is it
rationale to think that every sunrise is the most AMAZING one you’ve ever seen?
Is it
realistic that the steak you had for supper last night is the steak that will
ruin every other steak you will ever eat because you proclaimed LEGENDARY
status over it?
Can every
Sunday at our churches be the most EPIC service ever, that no one within
driving distance should miss or they will regret it for all of eternity?
I’m
starting to think there’s a flaw in our descriptive language.
I took
Isaac, my oldest son, to a baseball game earlier this summer. Around the fourth
inning we were joined by two boisterous women who took up residency in the
seats directly behind us. I’m all for loud fans at a sporting event. When they
are talking about the game. It’s expected, even entertaining. These two ladies
however, were more interested in discussing their lives and the event planning
business they were ready to “take to the next level.” A company that is soon to
become so big that all the competition will be jealous and the A-listers will
want only them to plan their events but when those A-listers call, these ladies
will turn them down because they can.
That may or may not be a direct quote. I told you they were loud.
As they got
more heated in their discussion, I heard a theme coming out. Everything in their lives was “literally the
greatest.”
They threw
“literally, the greatest parties.”
They knew
“literally, the best people.”
That
person, “literally, had the best boyfriend.”
That TV
show, “literally, is the best show and you HAVE to watch it.”
That player,
“literally, has the best butt.” (That is
a direct quote)
As I sat
there and listened, I had to wonder how you go through life with a sense that
what you did today and the people you meet from this point forward in your life
have to live up to such incredibly high standards.
Why do we
do this?
One Sunday,
a few weeks ago, I made reference to the fact that we have become a culture
that is obsessed with pleasure. Where everything we experience is the “best.”
It has created a lifestyle of pursuit.
We are surrounded by opportunity for immediate gratification, immediate
pleasure. As a result, it’s easy to find
ourselves living our lives obsessed in our pursuit of pleasure in these
temporary things. To live life for the
next “Greatest Thing Ever.”
I know for
years the church has taught us that words matter. If you want great things in
your life, it’s as simple as speaking great things about your life. I think we’ve
taken this to an extreme. All you have to do is look to social media to
understand my point. It’s become a hashtag society with fun buzzwords that we
use to convince ourselves and others that our lives are the “best.”
I’ve been
guilty of it myself. I routinely have to edit myself while talking about things
happening at church because I actually do know that not every week is going to
be the most life-changing experience of people’s lives. Sometimes, we’re just
going to come together and worship and receive a really practical word from
God. Practical is boring. I know. I struggle on those Sundays because I feel
like people are out there thinking, “When is he going to make me laugh?” “Where
is the catchy tag line or impacting illustration?” Sometimes, it’s just simple
truth from God’s Word. It’s powerful,
just not always entertaining. Life can be that way as well. Not every day is
going to be “Epic.”
What’s the big deal?
Please hear
me, I’m not saying pleasure is wrong. I’m not saying we should all sit quietly
in a huddle and read our Bibles all the time. - BUT - If
we’re not careful, in an effort to keep up with the demands of a pleasure
driven society, we will begin to displace our pursuit of God with a pursuit of
pleasure. We begin to place more priority on our next pleasure fix than
spending time with God each day. The next thrill begins to take the place of
our time together in worship or small groups. It’s so ingrained in the world we
live in that I even deal with from my kids. Almost on a nightly basis, at least
one of them will ask on the way to bed, “Are we doing anything fun tomorrow?” It
baffles me how they can become so bored so quickly. Most of the time I feel
like Russell Crowe in Gladiator. I want
to throw something across the room and scream, “Are you not entertained!?!?” Sadly, it’s not just reserved for kids but
many adults go through life trying to find the next fix of pleasure. Only to
find they quickly need to find another source of pleasure…and then another…and
another.
“Entertain me…I’m
bored…I’m discontent…I’m lonely…I’m depressed…”
What’s the answer?
When our
understanding of “Blessed and highly favoured” comes to mean a life with no
obstacles and endless pleasure, we have a problem. That’s not real life. Every day is not the
best day. Every meal is not the best food I’ve ever put in my mouth. Every friend
I have is not the greatest person that ever lived. (Sorry friends) My life kind
of sucks sometimes…true story. I locked my keys in my car in the Walmart
parking lot a few weeks ago. Does that mean I’m not “Blessed?” It sure didn’t
feel like the “best” day ever. I’ve been talked about behind my back. I didn’t
feel “Blessed” with great friends in that moment. My kids can reach a volume
the stretches the boundaries of sanity. My wife and I go through periods that
are less than blissful. Does that mean I’m not “Blessed” with the “Best” family
or “Best” marriage ever? I believe I’m blessed. But here’s why.
Psalm 146:3-9 (Message Bible)
Don’t put your life in the hands of
experts who know nothing of life, of salvation life. Mere humans don’t have what it takes; when they die, their projects die with them. Instead, get help from the God of Jacob, put your hope in God and know real BLESSING!
The Hebrew
word used here means “Happy.” So what the Psalmist is saying is, “…put your
hope in God and know real “HAPPINESS!”
When I look
to man-made things and experiences it’s never fulfilling long-term. “Mere
humans don’t have what it takes” to provide me with the kind of happiness that
can sustain me through the inevitable ups and downs of normal, everyday
life. They don’t even know the meaning
of this salvation life we live. This means that when life become hard, I
quickly become disillusioned with life. I’m quick to struggle to creep into
depression.
But the kind
of “blessing” that comes from God means that despite my problems or pleasures,
in defeat or in victory I always can find happiness. My happiness is not based on the economy,
things, people, entertainment, or even my appearance. But when our hope is
connected to God – because He is immovable – my happiness never wavers and I am
at peace because of who He is.
Enjoy life!
Seek
adventures!
But pursue
the pleasure and happiness that can only come from God.
