Is that All there Is?
“Life is like a big bowl of water, set way up high. Each of us represents a drop of water falling from that bowl. When we hit the ground, we evaporate and go back up into the bowl and start again."
The quote above represents the worldview of one individual with whom I spoke in Brooklyn this summer. For the past two years Covid had brought short-term ministry teams to a halt. It was refreshing to take a group of twenty-somethings from our Midwest church for a week of evangelism training in New York.
On our outreaches we engaged with a variety of people in public places – on the street, in the park, on the boardwalk – seeking to have spiritual conversations. Here’s more of what I heard:
“I used to believe in God. But life has been really hard. I prayed but never got any answers, so I just gave up.”
“The Messiah will come when we are ready to receive him. We have to merit his coming by keeping the mitzvot (commandments).”
“I can’t say I’m religious, but I am spiritual…. I believe each of us must find our own path.”
“The Bible is just one level. Beyond that, I discovered we have the power for flight to distant planets” (as in teleportation).
"The book of Revelation is a straight up lie, man. It’s supposed to be the revelation of Jesus Christ and all that stuff was supposed to happen right after the Lamb was slain. But it didn’t happen, so it must be a lie.”
We did have some extended spiritual discussions with individuals willing to talk, but engaging people in conversation at any level remains a challenge. I had thought “post pandemic” (if only it were past tense) individuals might be hungry for socializing.
But a good percentage of those passing by, regardless of venue, were focused on their smart phones. Whether making calls, texting, or watching videos with earbuds in place, their phones functioned like an invisible force field, shielding them from interacting with the world outside their headphones and screens.
This underscores the importance of our digital evangelism efforts through In Search of Shalom[1] and YouTube videos.[2] But there is still a need for human interaction, up close and personal.
In reflecting the variety of experiences we had, the words of Proverbs came to mind. “There is a way that seems right to a man….”[3]
According to the philosophies represented by so many, that verse should conclude “and he should pursue it wholeheartedly!” But of course, the biblical ending is “but the end thereof is the way of death.”
The struggle to find meaning in life is not new. The book of Ecclesiastes depicts it well: “Futility of futilities, all is futility” (Ecclesiastes 1:2).
Those old enough to remember the ‘60s may recall the haunting lyric, “Is that all there is?” In the song Peggy Lee chronicles losing her home to fire as a child; seeing a variety of acts at the circus; falling in love and being abandoned. Following each verse, the chorus questions, “Is that all there is?”
In the final verse she notes that some might think such heartaches in life would drive her to end it all. But she chooses to delay “that final disappointment,” confident that when breathing her last breath she’ll be saying “If that’s all there is, my friends, then let’s keep dancing. Let’s break out the booze and have a ball if that’s all there is.”[4] This is the modern version of the “eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die”[5] expression of old.
Solomon has a better prescription. Having tried it all and owned it all and found both physical pleasures and material wealth wanting, he states, “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth.”[6]
In God’s providence, while in New York my wife and I also met individuals whose lives have been transformed by the power of the gospel. Some came from very religious backgrounds, others less so. Each has a unique story of God’s gracious love manifested in their lives.
At the newly renovated LaGuardia Airport on our way out of town Lori and I grabbed an open table near the spectacular water display in Terminal B. The man sitting with his wife at the adjacent table had a big Bible in front of him. Within minutes he was telling us of his life, including serving the Lord in four ministries. The joy in their faces reflected the reality of a relationship with the living God. No room for “Is that all there is?” in their story.
“For in Him we live, and move, and exist.”[7] Regardless of life’s circumstances, a life centered on the Creator provides both meaning and purpose in this world – and ultimate reward in the next.
“Messiah in you, the hope of glory”[8] changes the believer’s perspective 180 degrees. Instead of “Is that all there is?” we who follow Messiah Jesus have the promise of His presence[9] and an eternal, abundant life.[10]
Written by Wes Taber, Life in Messiah Global Ambassador
Are you still wondering “Is that all there is to life?” Check out the personal stories at http://www.insearchofshalom/all/storiesofshalom of individuals who found peace with God and purpose in life.
Are you a follower of Messiah? You have a story to tell! Who in your circle needs to hear how God’s love has changed your life?
Please join us in praying for those who have heard the message of salvation through Life in Messiah’s workers and others around the world, that many will place their trust in the Lord Jesus.
Endnotes:
[1] See www.insearchofshalom.com.
[2] Check out https://www.youtube.com/lifeinmessiah.
[3] Proverbs 14:12, repeated in Proverbs 16:25.
[4] “Is that all there is?” lyrics and music composed by Mike Stoller and Jerry Lieber.
[5] 1 Corinthians 15:32.
[6] Ecclesiastes 12:1.
[7] Acts 17:28.
[8] Colossians 1:27.
[9] Hebrews 13:5.
[10] John 10:10.