____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ February 9, 1997 ____________________________________________________ The Need For Purpose In One's Life by Tom Edwards Last week's article, ``Are You Hindered By An Obstacle Illusion?,'' made reference to the detriment a loss of will, hope, and purpose can be to one's soul; and that sometimes this occurs during times of adversity--though it is not the trials themselves that directly produce this. Today's article will expound on this point and serve to bring some encouraging light into the dark caverns of grief, despair, and unbelief. The Stark Inhumanity at a Nazi Prison Camp I once read a book called ``Man's Search for Meaning,'' by Viktor Frankl (President of the Austrian Medical Society for Psychotherapy). His experience justifies his position as President of this Society much more than any plaque on the wall; for he spent three years in a Nazi Prison Camp and was not only well-aware of his own sufferings, but he also was an eye-witness of how suffering can affect others as well. To give you an idea of his circumstances...One night he had seen a fellow-inmate having a terrible nightmare. While on his way to wake the man from this horrible dream, he stopped, changed his mind, and realized that no matter how terrible his dream was, it couldn't be nearly as bad as the reality in which they lived. Frankl had to work out in the cold with shoes and clothing that provided little protection from the elements. Food consisted of a small bowl of watered-down soup with a small portion of bread. After his release, someone was commenting at how pathetic a magazine picture was which showed prisoners in the sick room all lying near each other, looking terribly haggard and undernourished. It did not affect Dr. Frankl that way, though. He remembers the sick room with a joy: it was a time he was able to rest all day. ''...The Result of an Inner Decision'' Many of the prisoners gave up, lost hope, and saw no purpose for living. It was this loss of goal that he could see bringing an end to many of their lives; and he states, ''...in the final analysis it becomes clear that the sort of person the prisoner became was the result of an inner decision, and not the result of camp influences alone.'' This observation shows that it was not the suffering itself that caused one to give up, lose hope, and waste away; but it was that ``inner decision'' or choice which the prisoner made--If man cannot see a purpose for his life, he will soon waste away. The Mind Fully Set On Things Above As we think of the prison experience of Paul and Silas in Acts 16 or the apostles in Acts 5:40-42, we are reminded that faith, hope, love, and fellowship with God cannot be shut out by prison bars. In this former passage, Paul and Silas spent the midnight hour singing praises unto the Almighty God and going to Him in prayer--even though they had previously been severely scourged and had their feet fastened in the stocks in the inner prison. Though I'm sure their bodies ached relentlessly, their hearts rejoiced with sincere love, devotion, and purpose toward God. The positive attitude that these men possessed even while in confinement reminds me of the short poem about the two prisoners. It went something to the following effect: Two prisoners looked out from prison bars: one saw mud; the other saw stars. Where we have our sights has much to do with our strength and weaknesses in governing our desires and our attitudes. Paul encouraged the brethren in Colossae to ''...keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth'' (Col. 3:1,2). Obviously, Paul does not mean that one is not allowed to think on anything of earth like some strange type of ascetic who will not permit himself to be aware of any material object around him--for how could this even be done? But Paul is putting the emphasis on the heavenly things that we, too, need to highly cherish, esteem, and exalt in our hearts. And as Jesus also said, we are to ``seek first His kingdom and His righteousness'' (Matt. 6:33); but this cannot be done by trying to find God's kingdom on a road map or astral map, for seeking God's kingdom involves more than merely using a path that can be charted in this physical realm. Yes, to walk on the ``ancient path,'' in order to seek God's kingdom, one must turn to that spiritual chart, which is found only in the Scriptures; for ``we walk by faith, not by sight'' (2 Cor. 5:7). We must, therefore, like the apostle Paul, ``look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal'' (2 Cor. 4:18). Only with the eyes of faith can we look in this manner, and only through God's revelation can that faith be acquired (Rom. 10:17). Bringing Light to those in Darkness We, who are Christians, should be peacemakers, proclaimers of the gospel, and instillers of faith and hope to a world lost in sin, despair, and without proper direction. Can we even be called Christians if we are not even trying to save lost souls? Would not the term then be a misnomer? We, who profess to be followers of Christ, and in which the very name ``Christian'' signifies, are we really following Him in this very important matter of soul winning? Little Words with Major Impacts In addition, sometimes just a few words can make a great deal of difference in someone's life. Not flattery, but a sincere word of appreciation or a compliment that encourages the soul, gladdens the heart, and increases one's gladness to be alive. This certainly can have a positive, rejuvenating, and healthful impact on the one appreciated. Who among us does not need encouragement? to be helped up when we have fallen? As the wise man Solomon proclaimed almost 3,000 years ago, ``Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up'' (Eccl. 4:9,10). Rather, than trying to lift up the fallen, have we ever been guilty of just stomping that one deeper into the ground? A brother falls into sin, but instead of us trying to win him back, we ignore him; and the only time we do think of him is when we're gossiping about his sin all over town. Is this the Spirit of Christ? Is our reaction often, ``Well, if that's the way brother so-and-so is going to live, I see no need to make any attempt to even talk to such a one about coming back to the Lord.'' Yet, Paul writes, ``Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted'' (Gal. 6:1). People need encouragement; people need instruction; people sometimes need help to get back on the right track. If we don't believe they do, or that we don't have any type of responsibility in this matter, we need to read again the changeless word of God. Seeing with Hope, Purpose, and Meaning-- Even Through a Window of Adversity It was also pointed out in last week's bulletin of the need to be able to continue seeing purpose even in the midst of overwhelming trials, grievous loss, and difficult despair. The Bible, of course, has much to say about this. It tells of positive results, of the ability to strengthen, and of the maturing that can be brought about through trials, tribulations, and temptations--if the one enduring such, does remain faithful to God (James 1:2-4; 1 Pet. 1:6-9). Losing a spouse, a child, a parent, a close friend, a sister, a brother, or a dear relative in death is difficult. Actually, though, the grief, the sadness, the overwhelming loss is not experienced by the Christian who has died; no, it is experienced by the loved ones who are still living. Perhaps to realize that death, therefore, is merely a temporary absence between the living saint and the deceased Christian will bring us comfort. As David wrote, concerning his infant son who had died, ''...'While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ``Who knows, the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.'' But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me''' (2 Sam. 12:22,23). David knew that though his son would not return to him from death, that it was still possible for them to meet together after his life was also over--and of what greater place to have a reunion could there be than in God's blissful heaven! Paul also spoke consoling words concerning the dead in Christ in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. He declared that ''...the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.'' In addition, I would like you to also consider the following words by Dr. Frankl that helps the surviving spouse to see purpose in the loss of his or her loved one: Dr. Frankl once met a doctor who was suffering from severe depression because his wife had died. The doctor asked him, ``What would have happened, Doctor, if you had died first, and your wife would have had to survive you?'' ``Oh,'' he said, ``for her this would have been terrible; how she would have suffered!'' Then Dr. Frankl replied, ``You see, Doctor, such a suffering has been spared her, and it is you who have spared her this suffering; but now, you have to pay for it by surviving and mourning her.'' The widower was now able to see meaning for his suffering; and, as a result, was able to bear it. God's Desire for Each to Have a Meaningful Life Having meaning in life is having purpose; it is a life that is fulfilling. Our God, who has made possible our very existence with all the necessary accouterments that go along with it, wants us to have more than merely existence. In the words of Jesus, ``I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly'' (Jn. 10:10). Without question, the life that Jesus earnestly desires all to have is that meaningful, spiritual life that begins on this planet and continues throughout eternity in heaven. It is a non-ending relationship with God, in which we dwell together in peace, love, tranquility, and all the other blissful attributes that pertain to God's heavenly kingdom. Paul had no wife, but he had purpose. He longed for heaven, desirous to the point of passing through the gates of death immediately in order to be there; but he also realized that God had a work for him to do (Phil. 1:22-24)--a work which involved the saving of the lost and the building up of the saved. And for this reason, the apostle could put his hands to the plow, fight the good fight, keep the faith, and finish his course; for what greater purpose can man find in life than in finding true fulfillment in the Lord by faithfully carrying out His word, living in a harmonious relationship with Him, and being brought into the warm fellowship of loving Christians of like precious faith. ___________________________________________ NEWS & NOTES Joe E. Hendrix writes: ``Please pray for the Steele family here in Raytown, MO. One of our sisters here shot herself yesterday evening while her husband was at bible class. Through the years this would be her fourth or fifth attempt. She was in great pain and suffered from depression.'' David Thomley writes: ``Louise Coburn, the wife of James Coburn, died at 4:00 AM Sunday morning at ECM Hospital in Florence, Alabama. She was suffering with complications from leukemia. The Coburn family is well known among those who attend the Singing school each year.'' Peter McPherson solicits prayer for a 62-year old brother in the Lord, Laverne Newman, who ``as a result of sclerosis of the liver...in the advanced stages is awaiting a liver transplant...his only hope.'' He ``has been an active member at the Bancroft church for the last number of years....'' Barbara Withrow writes concerning her son in Richmond, KY: ``Chris is having arthroscopic surgery at Central Baptist Hospital on Feb. 17. He has been having a lot of pain and swelling on his right knee for some time now and is finally going to have some problems corrected....'' Following a heart attack, which required a few days in ICU, Bobbie Beasley was then transferred to another hospital in order to have an angioplasty that relieved the 90% blockage which had caused her illness. The day after she returned home, she sounded well, though weak (which is to be expected); and said she would be returning to work in a few days, but would have to take it easy for a while. Cecil Willis recently underwent a ``triple-plus by-pass surgery'' for his ``heart attack(s?),'' which is ``said to have gone well''; however, as his son Steve writes, his father apparently has ``some damage remaining to the heart,'' along with a kidney that is not totally up to par. He might return home by Monday, but is to have no phone calls for a while. John Hendrix had a bad fall from a roof, landing on concrete, which punctured his left lung, broke some ribs, caused contusions on his back, and has left him in much pain. He will have to wear a back-brace for probably a couple months. His wife Kathye requests prayers for her husband and their family. Let us be praying for all of these who are in need of our prayers. The Gospel Observer Home Page can now be accessed through the web address shown below. Feel free to visit anytime! ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 713 13th Street, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@wwd.net Gospel Observer Homepage: http://www.wwd.net/user/tedwards/go My Personal Homepage: http://www.wwd.net/user/tedwards ________________________________________