Monday Morning Jolt
February 06, 2012

The Journey Home
Who Am I?… A Search for Significance
Acts 3:1-20

What is your only comfort in life and death? This question is the first question in the Heidelberg Catechism and I believe represents the fundamental question for all humans. Throughout human history every person has been on their own journey of discovery; a discovery to find out who I am, why I am and how do I survive. Have you ever searched for answers to questions similar to these? I believe this is a common fundamental search to find out if I am significant and if so, where do I belong? Each person recognizes in some fashion that they are spiritually wandering “homeless” and wondering what will fill the void they sense in their life. We search for “Home”, the place where we find significance, meaning, purpose and deliverance from the misery of being “Homeless.” In essence, in the life I am living and when I die, what will give me ultimate and complete comfort when all else fails? What we come to know, and many accept and experience, is that “Home” is realized only in a reconciled relationship God. That because of God’s love, grace, forgiveness and sacrifice, Believers are no longer their own, but belong body and soul, in life and in death to their faithful Savior Jesus Christ! That is their comfort… that is HOME in the presence of God and His indwelling Spirit.

Each of you reading this right now are in a circumstance unique to you. Some are in a very good place emotionally, physically, spiritually, socially, economically, etc., and others are in a very different place where life is extremely difficult - full of stress, anxiety and fear. You may find yourself, like the crippled beggar in today’s passage, wandering and wondering: “What is life all about anyway? Why me? Why here? Why now?” and thinking, “My life feels like it is crippled… full of tragedies, sorrow, and pain; well, maybe with a little happiness but with no real direction, fulfillment or purpose. I feel like my life is insignificant and everything I’ve tried has left me longing for more. I am barely surviving!” The handicapped beggar discovered that the answer to life’s questions in his circumstance wasn’t in worldly pursuits but received a spiritual miracle which changed his insignificance to significance and healed him completely, physically and spiritually. He was no longer “Homeless” and without “comfort” in his life.

So what made the difference in his search, his journey? Was it the physical healing; the changing of his circumstance? According to this passage the changing of our circumstance is not what makes the difference in a person’s life – it is “faith in the name of Jesus” that is the power to transform “Homelessness” and “misery” into being “Home” in the presence of God with complete significance as His child and full of joy. “In the name of Jesus” points to the One who has the power to make the difference. “Faith,” in today’s passage, is the confidence that Jesus Christ, not men or anything else had the power and authority to make such a difference in a life. This phrase is not a magic formula but it is an expression of one’s sincere faith and trust in Christ Himself as the One who gives our prayers their power!

My encouragement to you is that in whatever circumstance you find yourself in your search for significance, meaning and purpose, you place your faith in Jesus Christ. As His redeemed child, gratefully you belong body and soul, in life and in death to your faithful Savior Jesus Christ! That is your comfort… that is HOME - to be in the presence of God and His indwelling Spirit.

You too, in response to this Good News, can get up and walk and leap and praise God! Do it right now!

Pastor Dwayne