They Understand the Problem... but Not the Solution

It seems very often that I run across some brilliant insight from the world's perspective about the world's problem. Consider the following ...

"Somewhere in the seven pounds of gray matter that rests between our ears we hear tiny voices. We don't usually know what's being said but we know something is up. Something is not quite right with our lives, the voice seems to be saying. But because most of us are usually tired at the end of the day and because our kids want us to watch another episode of Sponge Bob with them and it's our turn to take out the garbage and walk the dog, etc., we struggle to respond correctly ... you feel the need for something in your life that is not quite tangible"

That's not the beginning of Erwin McManus's next book about the passionate longings in your soul. It's from the intro to a book about rustic log cabins. And though I also am fascinated by them, I don't think they are the answer to the things that are "not quite right with our lives."

Or consider this ...

"Since the dawn of recorded history something like one hundred and ten billion human beings have been born into this world, and not a single one of them made it... Roughly 60 million people die every year ... I read this quote once 'We live alone; we die alone. Everything else is just an illusion." It used to keep me up at night. We all die alone. So why am I supposed to spend my life working sweating, struggling for an illusion ... no amount of friends, no girl, no assignment about conjugating the pluperfect... is gonna help avoid my fate."

That's not John Elderedge at Catalyst setting us up for an explanation of how God has written a story that does gives meaning to what seems meaningless to so many. It's the opening monologue of a movie called The Art of Getting By.

The world understands the problem very well. Things are not right ... and the world system not only displays this reality, it acknowledges it. I recall Matchbox 20 - "can you help me I'm bent, I'm so scared that I'll never get put back together ..." Watch movies, listen to music - the world knows things are messed up! Listen to Coldplay passionately crying out "tears stream down your face, when you lose something you cannot replace..." We have indeed lost something we cannot replace - the purpose that God created us for, the meaningful existence we were meant for.

But here's the thing, though the world is well versed about the problem ... they have nothing to offer in the way of a solution. I remember riding in the car with a friend who was struggling with addictions... a Pink Floyd song came on the radio and he talked about how it resonated with him ... he could relate to it b/c of his issues ... but not b/c it offered him hope for overcoming those issues.

Sad thing about the world's insight on our plight ... it stops with the plight, their heart cries are genuine and honest, but with no direction. The best the world has to offer is the progress of modern man, who sees himself as the answer to his own problems.

The world must look beyond the world for a solution to what is troubling the world. We long for something like Heaven, but know it is unattainable ... so we just sing about the troubles of earth. BUT ... there is a place where Heaven and earth intersect ... the incarnation. Jesus understood the troubles of earth too, because He entered into our troubles in the flesh. But, unlike the world's system, He had a view of heaven, and He has made that view a reality for us... "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." - I Peter 3:15. Jesus brought Heaven to earth when it was out of our reach, and because of His life and death, and resurrection, we don't have to be stuck with songs that only articulate the world's problems ... we have a God who provided a solution.