...the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse: A Message of Hope for Those Without

I often find myself on the receiving end of some difficult questions. I used to feel the pressure to have answers to such questions, but I quickly learned that answers only cheapen the depth of the question being asked. This is much the same way that someone seeking to comfort you by quoting a bible passage cheapens your grief, as if a single verse from the bible will encompass your experience as a person.

I was recently asked (in a couple different ways by a couple different people):

"What is the point?"

I think behind the question is this question:

"Why death? Why live, only to die and lose it all in the end? What is the point? Why can't we live forever?"

It's 2:00 AM, and sitting in my study I read this excerpt from Lesslie Newbigin's;
  The Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission:

For untold ages peoples have accepted their lot as something that cannot be radically changed and have accepted the ancient picture of human affairs as part of the cycle of nature, rising only to fall again, being born only to grow old and die. When the idea of total salvation enters into history this cycle is broken. People begin to dream dreams of a world from which pain, suffering, and injustice have been banished. The vision is created of a single world history leading to a single goal... Where the gospel is preached the way is opened for movements offering the hope of total liberation.

I fear death. Death is the enemy. I am not comforted by cliche's suggesting that this is the circle of life. Death is unacceptable. I have thought much about death since I was a very small boy. Yet, paradoxically, I have invited it many times in my life. There must be a reason to all of this. There must be a goal to which history is moving and of which we are all a part.

O ME! O life!... of the questions of these recurring;  

Of the endless trains of the faithless—of cities fill’d with the foolish; 

 Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)  

Of eyes that vainly crave the light—of the objects mean—of the struggle ever renew’d;  

Of the poor results of all—of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me;

Of the empty and useless years of the rest—with the rest me intertwined;  The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?    

Answer.

That you are here—that life exists, and identity;  That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse

                                                                                                - Walt Whitman  


Jesus is the goal. Jesus is the ambition. Jesus is the point. His resurrection signals that the old order of things is being done away with. That which you hope for and dream about in Him will be fulfilled. That which is shattered will be restored. That which is ugly will be made beautiful; and that which has been destroyed by death and decay will see life once again. We are here to proclaim this secret and partake of this mystery. The powerful play goes on, and that powerful play has been orchestrated by Christ. The powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.