Introduction : A dementia specialist told me that while he was treating his patients, he felt that these people were so miserable because they were gradually losing a sense of time. They couldn´t distinguish between the past, the present, and the future, and then they lost the concept of space. That is, they didn´t know where they came from, they couldn´t find the houses where they used to live, they didn´t recognize their loved ones, and finally they became a person in a vegetative state. It is truly awful to lose a sense of self and life. Likewise, it is very unfortunate and dreadful to have spiritual dementia. It is a terrible thing when someone doesn´t know where he came from, what he is living for, where he is going, has lost his identity, lives the life of a lost being, and leaves this earth without meaning. The gospel of Christ is the Good News that can save us from this spiritual dementia, so that we can find our identity in God and have eternal life.
1. Life without God. 1) They agree with the accidentalists who insist that the universe was made by accident, and life has evolved. (Ps.14:1; Job 38:4) 2) Regarding Jesus, the incarnation of God. (1) It is a made-up story that Jesus was born, lived, died, and rose from the dead. (1Jn. 4:2-3) (2) Faith in Jesus is meaningless, and so is hope of the dead. (1Co.15:17,32; 2 Pe:3:4) (3) Humanity is a being of eternal despair because of sin, meaninglessness, and death. (1Jn.2:22; Eph.2:12, Jer.2:13)
2. Life with God. 1) Jesus was born, lived, died, and rose from the dead according to God´s plan and will. (Isa.7:14; Ac. 2:22-24; 1Co.15:3-4; Ac.1:11) 2) Our faith in Jesus is certain, and so is our hope for the resurrection of the dead. (Eph.1:4-7; 1Co.15:45, 51-52) 3) Jesus´ resurrection and ascent into heaven and the coming of the Holy Spirit confirmed that God is alive. (Ac.1:3, 2:32-33)
3. Life with God as our Father. - We are the most blessed and happiest people. 1) God protects us. (Ps..91:1-7; Ro.8:31; Heb.13:6). 2) God nurtures us. (Ps.100:1-3; Eph.4:15). 3) God matures us. (1) He builds us up in our faith. (Eph.4:13) ¨ç Through the Word. (Eph 5:26; 2Ti.3:16-17) ¨è Through prayer. (Ro.8:26) ¨é Through obedience, dedication, and service. (1Sa 15:22; Ro.6:13) ¨ê Through trials. (Ps.119:71; 1Pe.5:10) (2) He disciplines us and heals us (Heb 12:5-13; Jas.1:2-4). 4) God takes us up to heaven. (Jn.14:3; 1Th.4:16-17)
Conclusion : People will be really unfortunate and miserable if they lose their identity and live only because they were born in this world, because their lives will finally lead to eternal death. However, if they believe in Jesus, they will be happy, find their identity, and live in hope. They will know that they will have eternal life in heaven. |