The Beginning - John 1:1 – 1:3

      “In the beginning was the word...” has there ever been a better way to start off a series than with those six words? In the beginning was Christ, in the past was Christ and in the future Christ will forever be held exalted over all things. We live in the universe of the ephemeral, and thus in a time where neither life, limb nor possession are guaranteed to last the night. Although this knowledge can often come to us with a negative overtone, it can often provide us with great personal gain. The knowledge that our friends and family are a temporary treasure allows for us to truly cherish only that which is truly important. But with the ability to acknowledge the importance of things with great value, the potential of idolatry is always quick to follow.

     I ask you today a question that you have almost indefinitely been asked to think about before. What is most important in your life? After being asked this question many Christians, regardless of their maturity in Christ, will respond with the same answer, “God.” It is an impulse, something we have been taught to say since many of us where just kids. But today, because I am neither going to hear your answer nor be able to judge whether it be true or evident in your life, I ask you again to take the time and ask yourself, what do you make out to be most important in your life. Having a hard time deciding? Then ask yourself this simple question, “What do you give the majority of your time and money to?”

     The gospel of John goes on to say in verse three that “all things were made through Christ.” Christ does not want his children to suffer, he would not have gone on to make this world a beautiful place and put humans in it if he didn’t want us to enjoy what he had created. But in our enjoyment he does call for us to enjoy it with and through him. We have been gifted with a beautiful world, the knowledge that the things of it are temporary does allow for us to properly cherish it, but it also shows us a lesson that we often forget, that in the end most of it will mean nothing.

     What we take to heaven is not the TV shows we enjoyed or the high scores we got playing spider solitaire, but the people whom we helped lead to and experience Christ. This world was made for our enjoyment, but it provides only a mere glimpse of what our heavenly home will one day have for us. An idol is anything you have in your life that you choose to make more important than your relationship with God. We are called all throughout scripture to serve the Lord, take heed that in realizing that this world is finite, that you choose to serve the creator that will stand forever and not the creations that are all passing away.

“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” – Joshua 24:15