Purpose

Purpose?

Many years ago I discovered a wonderful story by Ben Zion Bokser called The Rose Talked Back. It goes like this,

The Rose Talked Back

"The man sweeping the synagogue paused for a moment.  He looked at the flowers lying about in disorder, ‘What waste!’  He said too himself.  Those roses had adorned the pulpit at a wedding aan hour before.  Now all was over and they were waiting to be discarded.
The attendant leaning on his sweeper was lost in thought when suddenly he heard a strange sound.  One of the roses replied to him.
‘Do you call this a waste?” the flower protested, ‘What is life anyway, yours or mine, but a means of service?  My mission was to create some fragrance and beauty, and when I have fulfilled it my life has not been wasted.  And what greater privilege is there than to adorn a bride’s way to her beloved, what greater privilege than to help glorify the moment when a bride and groom seal their faith in each other by entering the covenant of marriage?’
Our little flower paused for a moment too watch the man’s face, and then continued her discourse.
‘Roses are like people.  They live in deeds, not in time.  My glory was but for a brief hour, but you should have seen the joy in the bride’s eye.  I like to believe that I had something to do with it, by creating a suitable setting for the moment of her supreme happiness.  So don’t grieve for me.  My life has been worthwhile.
Having spoken her little piece, the rose was once more silent.  The attendant, startled from his reverie and a little wiser, pushed the sweeper again and continued with his work".
                                                                                                                 Ben Zion Bokser
Do you have meaning in your life?
As I look sadly at many people going from the west to join terrorist organisations like IS. I have to wonder what is causing them to go.
But perhaps we should reverse the question and ask, why can’t western society keep them here. What is so lacking in western society that people would want to join such a twisted way of thinking and theology?
Personally I think western society is the very best choice of a lot of bad choices.
We in the west enjoy freedoms that are the envy of many countries in the world. However western society is extremely materialistic. And materialism is a cold bed partner.
My father’s generation had a cause to fight. He and other young men like him at the time fought against the evil that was Nazism. They believed in their righteous cause and were willing to die for it.
Youth today seems to lack a cause a purpose in life. In our materialistic society. A society that seemingly has forgotten God. Life seems cheap. With many people particularly our youth trying to fill it with the latest gadget, bangle bobble or popular trend.
While there are causes within western society that our youth can latch onto. Our youth see a society that while it claims to the best, with int it is a lot of poverty and suffering.
With in North American society as rich as it is, people can’t get access to health care and medication they need, because they lack the money and government is unwilling to help.
People struggle to put food on the table. Children and adults go without meals every day. People rely on food banks to get food. Something that should be a basic human right written into the laws of the land.
People live on the streets while the top ten percent have more money than they will ever need.
There are programs out there to help people but they are far too few, hard to find and woefully underfunded.
Sometimes I look at the news and think the gun lobby and the right to bear arms gets more attention than the need to help the poorest of the nation.
Is it any wonder idealistic youth looking for a better cause can be fooled by such perverted people like Islamic State.
Hitler proved you could fool one of the most culturally advanced nations in Europe ultimately causing the deaths of millions.
To my mind society need to turn to Christ, to God. For only then will the individual find fulfilment in life.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
                                                                                                                                  Abba Hillel Silver.
It is my belief that the further our society moves away from God the worse it will become.
Our youth and for that matter everyone within our society needs something to aspire to. We need purpose and meaning in life. This is what faith in God and his One and Only Son Jesus Christ has to offer
Jesus said,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 
                                               Matthew 11:28-30.
I have found that to be so true.
It is my hope that people everywhere would find hope and meaning in Christ Jesus.
Please take time today to start to read the New Testament and see what Jesus can do in your life.
Please think about it.