Connect with God — it really does work

We live in an age of hedonism, the belief and practice affirming the chief goal in life is the pursuit of pleasure.

King Solomon expressed it clearly, “eat and drink for tomorrow we die”. Isaiah the prophet and Paul the apostle both quote Solomon’s words applying them to the hedonism of their times.

Covid-19 wake up

The mere pursuit of pleasure for its own sake leaves a huge deficit factor in one’s life, for God has created us for a higher purpose than that. The new normal since the Covid-19 pandemic has been a wake-up call to many. Reports are coming in from various parts of our nation of increased spiritual hunger and increased church attendance, as people seek to connect with God again or for the first time. This brings a proper balance to life and supplies what both materialism and its first cousin hedonism, cannot deliver.

The God factor

The Bible expresses that the human race was created as spiritual beings – “made in the image of God”. We have a moral and spiritual ability linked to our conscience. Mere things and earthly pleasures can never satisfy the spiritual dimensions we were created for. We ignore that to our loss and wellbeing. There is such a thing as moral bankruptcy, which our news media and courts often highlight such cases.

Freedom from anxiety

Our Lord Jesus taught large crowds about how to live a happy and fulfilled life. He spoke of multitudes who pursue a materialistic agenda. He referred to the “haves” and the “have nots”. This is a real issue in New Zealand right now. The mental and medical effects are in plain view. Jesus reminds us that our heavenly Father knows and cares. He tells us to seek first God’s kingdom and the needs of life will be supplied to us. On that basis, He tells us not to be fretful and worried. The God factor in life is vital. We need to reach out to Him first for who He is. Jesus said, “Without me you can do nothing.” That’s the truth up front.

Mercy and forgiveness

Both mercy and forgiveness are part of God’s nature. Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son showed that the hedonistic lifestyle resulted in brokenness morally, physically and socially. The way to recovery was to humble himself, to seek God’s mercy and acknowledge that he needed forgiveness. Another parable Jesus told was of the tax collector compared to the selfrighteous Pharisee. In those times tax collectors charged their own fellow citizens extra to line their own pockets. They were institutional thieves. The tax collector in Jesus’ parable did not pretend. He needed God’s mercy and forgiveness. He needed to be accountable to the living God. His words were few but from his heart – “God, be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13).

We could note other Bible examples. What about the woman caught in adultery, Simon Peter denying he never knew Jesus, the Samaritan woman at the well and the thief on the cross. All found mercy and forgiveness. That’s the answer for our times. For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Connecting with the God factor. It works. Try it, as you have nothing to lose and much to gain.

is senior pastor of Life4u Church, life4u.org.nz, and principal of International Bible College