WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:11.580 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, redistribution, or any other 00:00:11.580 --> 00:00:15.280 use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:22.620 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:34.420 Today's scripture readings are from the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 1, verses 1 through 00:00:34.420 --> 00:00:41.439 18, chapter 3, verses 10 and 11, and chapter 12, verses 13 and 14, as printed in the liturgy. 00:00:43.400 --> 00:00:45.500 A reading from the book of Ecclesiastes. 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:50.760 The words of the teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem. 00:00:50.759 --> 00:00:54.519 Meaningless, meaningless, says the teacher. 00:00:55.640 --> 00:00:57.879 Utterly meaningless, everything is meaningless. 00:00:58.920 --> 00:01:02.339 What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? 00:01:03.420 --> 00:01:07.200 Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. 00:01:08.280 --> 00:01:12.359 The sun rises and the sun sets and hurries back to where it rises. 00:01:13.079 --> 00:01:15.920 The wind blows to the south and turns to the north. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:20.159 Round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:24.679 All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. 00:01:25.219 --> 00:01:28.219 And to the place the streams come from, there they return again. 00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:32.359 All things are wearisome, more than one can say. 00:01:33.159 --> 00:01:37.079 The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. 00:01:37.679 --> 00:01:40.319 What has been will be again. 00:01:40.599 --> 00:01:42.259 What has been done will be done again. 00:01:42.939 --> 00:01:44.560 There is nothing new under the sun. 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:48.460 Is there anything of which one can say, look, this is something new. 00:01:48.980 --> 00:01:51.120 It was here already, long ago. 00:01:51.760 --> 00:01:53.060 It was here before our time. 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:55.960 No one remembers the former generations. 00:01:56.579 --> 00:01:59.939 And even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them. 00:02:00.840 --> 00:02:04.359 I, the teacher, was king over Israel and Jerusalem. 00:02:05.180 --> 00:02:09.480 I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. 00:02:10.520 --> 00:02:12.560 What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind. 00:02:12.560 --> 00:02:16.400 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun. 00:02:16.860 --> 00:02:18.319 All of them are meaningless. 00:02:18.900 --> 00:02:20.240 A chasing after the wind. 00:02:21.180 --> 00:02:23.180 What is crooked cannot be straightened. 00:02:23.780 --> 00:02:25.460 What is lacking cannot be counted. 00:02:26.280 --> 00:02:31.560 I said to myself, look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me. 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:34.300 I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge. 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:40.199 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom and also of madness and folly. 00:02:40.199 --> 00:02:43.899 But I learned that this too is a chasing after the wind. 00:02:44.319 --> 00:02:46.239 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow. 00:02:46.839 --> 00:02:48.819 The more knowledge, the more grief. 00:02:50.459 --> 00:02:53.219 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 00:02:54.019 --> 00:02:56.259 He has made everything beautiful in its time. 00:02:57.099 --> 00:02:59.439 He has also set eternity in the human heart. 00:03:00.439 --> 00:03:03.479 Yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 00:03:03.479 --> 00:03:06.739 Now all has been heard. 00:03:07.319 --> 00:03:09.079 Here is the conclusion of the matter. 00:03:10.159 --> 00:03:12.019 Fear God and keep his commandments. 00:03:12.939 --> 00:03:14.699 For this is the duty of all mankind. 00:03:15.699 --> 00:03:22.039 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. 00:03:22.039 --> 00:03:24.079 This is the word of the Lord. 00:03:24.739 --> 00:03:25.519 Thanks be to God. 00:03:26.719 --> 00:03:28.359 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:03:28.680 --> 00:03:30.079 It is so good to see you all. 00:03:30.359 --> 00:03:35.819 And as Andrew said, especially if you are new with us for this Explore God journey, 00:03:35.939 --> 00:03:40.159 if you've come along with a friend or received an invitation, we're delighted you're here. 00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:43.340 We do hope that you've already been warmly welcomed. 00:03:43.340 --> 00:03:50.439 And that you know this is a place where you can belong, whatever your spiritual or cultural background, 00:03:51.060 --> 00:03:54.439 wherever you may be on that spectrum of belief or unbelief. 00:03:55.000 --> 00:03:59.560 And we're excited to engage with you, explore God with you, and learn from you. 00:03:59.659 --> 00:04:03.560 And if you're part of our Christ Church family, we just encourage you to take this. 00:04:03.640 --> 00:04:07.039 The reason we gave it to you today is so you can give it to somebody else and invite them, 00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:10.860 a friend, a neighbor, a co-worker along on this journey with us. 00:04:10.860 --> 00:04:16.400 We have very busy lives, don't we? 00:04:17.280 --> 00:04:21.520 And there's so many questions that we ask ourselves every day. 00:04:21.740 --> 00:04:26.080 Like tomorrow morning, we're going to wake up and say, what should I wear? 00:04:26.759 --> 00:04:28.920 And what's the weather going to be like today? 00:04:29.139 --> 00:04:31.699 And what's happening at work? 00:04:31.740 --> 00:04:33.259 And how am I going to fit it all in? 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:39.259 But there's also these questions that are bigger, right? 00:04:39.259 --> 00:04:40.540 Like, why am I here? 00:04:41.400 --> 00:04:42.439 And where are we heading? 00:04:42.699 --> 00:04:44.020 And is this it? 00:04:44.740 --> 00:04:46.819 And is there more to life than this? 00:04:46.860 --> 00:04:52.199 These are life's big questions, but we rarely have the time to think through them properly. 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:59.100 And so that's why we're going to think seriously over the next seven weeks about these big questions of life. 00:04:59.160 --> 00:05:01.980 And we're going to begin today with this question, does life have a purpose? 00:05:02.280 --> 00:05:03.740 What's the meaning of life? 00:05:03.740 --> 00:05:07.060 And in the coming weeks, we're going to explore other questions. 00:05:07.120 --> 00:05:07.860 Is there a God? 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:10.240 Why does God allow pain and suffering? 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:11.819 Is Christianity too narrow? 00:05:12.740 --> 00:05:14.000 Is Jesus really God? 00:05:14.040 --> 00:05:14.960 Is the Bible reliable? 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:17.060 And can I know God personally? 00:05:17.139 --> 00:05:20.359 And if you're like me, you hear those questions, you're like, well, I have like 20 more questions. 00:05:21.079 --> 00:05:25.419 And so, as Andrew said, we do invite you to our Q&A time at the end. 00:05:25.420 --> 00:05:28.759 And go easy on me, though, because it's kind of new for us. 00:05:30.879 --> 00:05:43.960 When asked whether people think about the meaning and purpose of life, nearly three-quarters of people across the globe say that they do think about that question often or sometimes. 00:05:43.959 --> 00:05:53.639 And if you were to ask me, is there a book of the Bible that really devotes itself to this search for purpose and for meaning? 00:05:54.239 --> 00:06:02.259 And particularly that takes seriously the possibility that life may not have a meaning and that life may not have an actual purpose. 00:06:02.560 --> 00:06:07.259 And a book that explores the consequences of that possibility. 00:06:07.799 --> 00:06:11.120 I would have to say it's the book of Ecclesiastes that you just heard. 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:13.939 And I leaned to my daughter as I was being read. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:15.399 I said, did you even know this is in the Bible? 00:06:15.480 --> 00:06:17.439 She's like, no, I've never heard this in my life. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:18.819 Meaningless, meaningless. 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:20.600 Everything is meaningless. 00:06:20.840 --> 00:06:23.620 How can that possibly be meaningful? 00:06:25.399 --> 00:06:27.120 And who in the world is this teacher? 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:35.519 Well, this teacher in this book, he's a parent who's trying to prepare his kids to live wisely. 00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:44.799 And so he shares with his children his own agonizing struggle between skepticism and faith. 00:06:45.620 --> 00:06:48.799 He says, look, I've already been there and done that. 00:06:49.379 --> 00:06:58.199 And let me share with you this agonizing struggle that I've had between the absurdity of my existence and the fear of God. 00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:00.819 Skepticism and faith. 00:07:00.819 --> 00:07:04.699 And what we find is this book is full of skeptical questions. 00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:12.099 And this teacher is really pushing his kids and he's pushing us to the logical conclusion of our positions. 00:07:12.300 --> 00:07:18.480 He's trying to lay bare the foundations of our life and explore the boundaries of our thought. 00:07:19.019 --> 00:07:22.339 And he says to us relentlessly, well, why do you believe that? 00:07:23.579 --> 00:07:25.779 And do you know what that means? 00:07:25.779 --> 00:07:29.339 And have you thought about the implications of your beliefs? 00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:38.619 And this is a book that it does in the end, as you just heard, it affirms a faith in a generous God. 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:46.579 But it does so first by pointing us to the grim alternative of life without God. 00:07:47.299 --> 00:07:49.259 And it really asks us to consider that. 00:07:50.039 --> 00:07:52.139 What is life without God all about? 00:07:52.139 --> 00:08:00.459 Before it tells us what the purpose and the meaning of life is, it seeks to clarify for us what the meaning and purpose of life is not. 00:08:01.479 --> 00:08:03.759 And so that's what we're going to explore a little bit together. 00:08:04.099 --> 00:08:04.300 Okay? 00:08:04.459 --> 00:08:04.800 You ready? 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:09.500 I want to talk about the meaning crisis under the sun. 00:08:10.459 --> 00:08:16.180 The problem with self-made meanings and meaning above and beyond the sun. 00:08:16.180 --> 00:08:17.720 Those three things. 00:08:17.780 --> 00:08:19.180 The meaning crisis under the sun. 00:08:19.240 --> 00:08:23.319 The problem with self-made meanings and meaning above and beyond the sun. 00:08:23.360 --> 00:08:26.660 And I want to start by talking about the meaning crisis under the sun. 00:08:26.699 --> 00:08:30.660 And I want you to hear again these words in verse 3. 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:35.899 What does anyone gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? 00:08:36.700 --> 00:08:38.279 And then he says in verse 14, 00:08:38.279 --> 00:08:40.500 I have seen all the things that are done under the sun. 00:08:40.579 --> 00:08:43.439 All of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind. 00:08:43.500 --> 00:08:47.659 And this is a key word in this book is life under the sun. 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:49.939 He uses that phrase 29 times. 00:08:50.079 --> 00:08:51.519 Just repeats it over and over. 00:08:52.100 --> 00:08:54.740 And in that, the teacher is basically saying, let's do this. 00:08:54.759 --> 00:08:55.579 This is a thought experiment. 00:08:56.659 --> 00:09:01.759 Let's assume that nature, that material reality is all there is. 00:09:01.759 --> 00:09:07.740 And let's bracket out for a moment anything that could possibly be above and beyond the sun. 00:09:07.819 --> 00:09:10.580 Let's just say that there's no God who created you. 00:09:11.019 --> 00:09:12.580 No one who's sustaining you. 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:16.399 No lawgiver, no judge, no heaven, no eternity, no afterlife. 00:09:17.779 --> 00:09:22.279 And in this framework of all that's done merely under the sun, 00:09:23.340 --> 00:09:24.319 he asks some questions. 00:09:24.480 --> 00:09:28.539 What do we gain and profit from all of our labors? 00:09:28.539 --> 00:09:32.799 And when all is said and done, what are we going to have to show for it all? 00:09:32.860 --> 00:09:33.980 What will we have accomplished? 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:37.779 What difference will we have made in this life under the sun? 00:09:38.959 --> 00:09:43.139 And then his answer to that question 37 times throughout this book, 00:09:43.179 --> 00:09:45.539 it's just relentless, he says everything, 00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:49.639 when you consider life only under the sun, 00:09:50.379 --> 00:09:52.419 everything is utterly meaningless. 00:09:53.819 --> 00:09:57.699 Everything he says literally in Hebrew, he says it's vapor. 00:09:57.700 --> 00:10:02.860 It's a puff of air, it's just a breath that's here and then it's gone. 00:10:02.940 --> 00:10:04.860 And that's the theme of this whole book. 00:10:04.920 --> 00:10:10.379 And really the teacher's first goal is to get his kids and to get us to be realists. 00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:16.540 And to face the fact that life under the sun is vaporous 00:10:16.540 --> 00:10:21.080 and it's despairing and it's meaningless and it's absurd. 00:10:21.080 --> 00:10:28.139 And in many ways, I can't think of a more contemporary book that if this teacher were here today, 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:32.740 he'd be critiquing the default belief system that's emerging in our culture, 00:10:32.860 --> 00:10:34.420 which is secularism. 00:10:34.420 --> 00:10:41.100 And I think it's captured very well in this article by James Wood in The New Yorker. 00:10:42.020 --> 00:10:46.160 James Wood is a Harvard professor and he's a professor of English, 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:51.419 he's a literary critic and he's writing, really quoting a friend of his 00:10:51.419 --> 00:10:54.439 who's an analytical philosopher and a convinced atheist 00:10:54.439 --> 00:10:59.240 who wakes up regularly in the middle of the night haunted by a visceral angst. 00:10:59.319 --> 00:11:00.919 And he's quoting his friend and he says, 00:11:01.319 --> 00:11:06.259 how can it be that this world is the result of an accidental big bang? 00:11:06.980 --> 00:11:10.299 How could there be no design, no metaphysical purpose? 00:11:10.299 --> 00:11:16.139 Can it be that every life beginning with my own, my husband's, my child's, 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:19.379 and spreading outward is cosmically irrelevant? 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:22.899 And then Wood, who's a secular man himself, 00:11:23.099 --> 00:11:27.639 he admits that as one gets older and parents and peers begin to die 00:11:27.639 --> 00:11:32.679 and the obituaries and the newspaper are no longer missives from a faraway place, 00:11:32.759 --> 00:11:38.019 but local letters and one's own projects seem ever more pointless and ephemeral. 00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:44.000 Such moments of terror and incomprehension seem more frequent and more piercing 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:48.699 and I find as likely to arise in the middle of the day as in the night. 00:11:49.939 --> 00:11:51.539 It's a great article, it's called, 00:11:51.740 --> 00:11:55.919 Is This All There Is, Secularism and Its Discontents? 00:11:56.980 --> 00:12:02.600 And I want us to consider for a moment the belief structure of strict secularism. 00:12:02.600 --> 00:12:07.940 And the beliefs of secularism are basically these, 00:12:08.019 --> 00:12:11.320 that people are only physical entities without souls, 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:14.720 that when your loved ones die they cease to exist, 00:12:15.480 --> 00:12:19.480 that our sensations of love and beauty are just neurochemical events, 00:12:20.300 --> 00:12:24.540 and that there is no right or wrong outside of what we choose in our minds. 00:12:24.539 --> 00:12:33.459 And that secularism tends to really flatten and reduce human life 00:12:33.459 --> 00:12:34.799 so that as one author puts it, 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:40.219 all of our getting and spending amount to nothing more than fidgeting while we wait for death. 00:12:41.339 --> 00:12:42.679 Now maybe you feel that way. 00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:46.719 Many, many people in our lives feel that way. 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:49.459 They have good jobs, they have family, they have friends, 00:12:49.460 --> 00:12:53.120 they have resources to live in a materially comfortable way, 00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:55.480 but they say that their lives feel meaningless. 00:12:57.500 --> 00:12:58.280 And maybe that's you. 00:12:58.379 --> 00:13:03.060 I'm not really sure what all this activity that I'm doing is being done for. 00:13:04.680 --> 00:13:08.440 All this making and getting, I don't know if it actually matters, 00:13:08.680 --> 00:13:12.960 if it makes a difference, if it's accomplishing anything beyond itself. 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:17.740 And I'm not quite sure if I have an overall purpose for living 00:13:17.740 --> 00:13:22.440 or making a difference by serving some good beyond myself. 00:13:23.419 --> 00:13:25.500 Maybe that resonates with some of us. 00:13:26.500 --> 00:13:30.259 And yet, you know, many of us feel conflicted. 00:13:30.820 --> 00:13:33.500 We feel conflicted because we intuit, 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:37.200 either faintly or quite strongly, 00:13:37.379 --> 00:13:41.200 that human beings and human loves and human aspirations 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:45.500 can't be reduced down to mere material reality, 00:13:45.500 --> 00:13:48.059 that there's something more than just our chemistry 00:13:48.059 --> 00:13:49.960 and our genes and our bodies, right? 00:13:50.980 --> 00:13:54.639 So I think this teacher and his under-the-sun thesis 00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:58.220 is an incredibly relevant contemporary thing 00:13:58.220 --> 00:14:02.480 that speaks to this modern meaning-shaped whole 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:04.600 at the center of our culture. 00:14:05.600 --> 00:14:05.679 Right? 00:14:05.779 --> 00:14:06.820 And over the last century, 00:14:07.539 --> 00:14:09.360 we had many, many people writing. 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:12.440 Chekhov, Kafka, 00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:14.720 Camus, 00:14:15.060 --> 00:14:15.419 Sartre, 00:14:16.120 --> 00:14:19.060 and they talked about this existential dread 00:14:19.060 --> 00:14:20.740 that sort of came over 00:14:20.740 --> 00:14:24.300 Western 20th century life 00:14:24.300 --> 00:14:27.000 and this sense of angst and despair 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:28.000 and absurdity 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:30.720 and the nausea that ensued. 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:32.139 And they basically said, 00:14:32.340 --> 00:14:34.420 we're all like Sisyphus, right? 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:36.320 That Greek myth where there's that guy 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:37.980 just rolling his rock up the hill 00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:39.160 only to see your rock 00:14:39.160 --> 00:14:41.320 come rolling back down at the end of the day. 00:14:42.160 --> 00:14:45.200 We're trying so hard to do good 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:46.700 for the people we love 00:14:46.700 --> 00:14:48.620 and yet we know that that good doesn't last. 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:51.140 We know that the people that we love don't last. 00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:56.120 As the philosopher Bertrand Russell argued 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:57.600 about the secular view, 00:14:58.700 --> 00:15:00.240 he said that all of our human labor 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:01.520 and love and genius 00:15:01.520 --> 00:15:02.740 is, quote, 00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:04.019 destined to extinction 00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:05.940 and the vast death of the solar system 00:15:05.940 --> 00:15:07.919 and that results henceforth 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:10.039 in an unyielding despair. 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:14.100 And I think our teacher would agree. 00:15:14.700 --> 00:15:16.620 Our teacher's trying to help us 00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:18.259 live for a moment 00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:19.860 in that unyielding despair 00:15:19.860 --> 00:15:21.639 and he's begging this question, 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:23.220 can purpose, 00:15:24.279 --> 00:15:26.180 can meaning for our lives 00:15:26.180 --> 00:15:28.539 be found only under the sun 00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:30.519 in this here and now reality? 00:15:30.519 --> 00:15:33.879 Like material secularism 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:35.799 suggests that we should try to do. 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:39.000 And some people shrug at that 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:39.340 and they say, 00:15:39.439 --> 00:15:40.120 well, whatever. 00:15:40.620 --> 00:15:43.439 You know, I'm not really looking for meaning. 00:15:44.460 --> 00:15:46.659 If the universe is truly meaningless 00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:47.480 and indifferent, 00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:49.699 then why should we think 00:15:49.699 --> 00:15:51.059 that it ought not to be that way? 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:52.639 In fact, maybe we should just celebrate 00:15:52.639 --> 00:15:53.779 meaninglessness 00:15:53.779 --> 00:15:56.460 and acknowledge that it's liberating, 00:15:56.639 --> 00:15:57.019 actually, 00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:59.120 to relinquish our expectation 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:00.259 that there ought to be 00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:01.720 some kind of meaning 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:03.060 with a capital M. 00:16:04.539 --> 00:16:05.740 In fact, the result 00:16:05.740 --> 00:16:08.060 of there being no meaning 00:16:08.060 --> 00:16:09.419 is that now it's kind of great. 00:16:09.539 --> 00:16:10.860 We're free to determine 00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:12.860 for ourselves 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:13.860 how we want to live 00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:14.980 and we're free to construct 00:16:14.980 --> 00:16:17.060 our own meanings, right? 00:16:17.759 --> 00:16:19.759 And this is the great crisis 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:21.600 of meaning in our culture. 00:16:21.740 --> 00:16:22.299 Some people, 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:23.200 modern people, 00:16:23.720 --> 00:16:25.320 grieving our meaninglessness 00:16:25.320 --> 00:16:26.279 and our loss of meaning. 00:16:26.419 --> 00:16:27.220 Postmodern people, 00:16:27.220 --> 00:16:29.139 gleefully celebrating 00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:30.540 that we have no more meaning 00:16:30.540 --> 00:16:32.180 and this sense 00:16:32.180 --> 00:16:33.940 that we're cosmically irrelevant 00:16:33.940 --> 00:16:34.940 and that we share 00:16:34.940 --> 00:16:36.720 no more meaning in common 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:37.840 in our lives together 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:40.060 has created quite a bit 00:16:40.060 --> 00:16:40.740 of confusion 00:16:40.740 --> 00:16:42.100 and conflict 00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:43.279 and chaos 00:16:43.279 --> 00:16:44.820 that I think we've seen 00:16:44.820 --> 00:16:46.620 increase, even, 00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:48.120 over the last five 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:49.240 to ten years 00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:49.899 in our culture. 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:52.080 And I think our teacher 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:53.320 gives us this incredibly 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:54.540 haunting image 00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:56.159 that this crisis 00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:56.980 of meaning for us 00:16:56.980 --> 00:16:57.799 is like a chasing 00:16:57.799 --> 00:16:58.579 after the wind. 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:01.899 We're trying desperately 00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:03.480 but unsuccessfully 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:04.700 to grab hold 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:05.420 of something 00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:05.859 that's slipping 00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:06.720 through our fingers. 00:17:08.259 --> 00:17:09.139 You tracking with me 00:17:09.139 --> 00:17:10.279 on this crisis of meaning? 00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:11.460 You feel that 00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:12.720 in your life 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:13.440 and in our culture? 00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:15.619 There's a crisis of meaning 00:17:15.619 --> 00:17:16.539 under the sun, 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:17.700 our teacher says. 00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:19.519 But then he goes on 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:20.519 and I want to explore 00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:21.240 the problem 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:23.619 with self-made meanings 00:17:23.619 --> 00:17:25.379 because many secular people 00:17:25.379 --> 00:17:26.239 might respond to this 00:17:26.239 --> 00:17:26.519 and say, 00:17:26.659 --> 00:17:28.779 well, I have to insist 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:29.719 that I actually do have 00:17:29.719 --> 00:17:30.639 a satisfying meaning 00:17:30.639 --> 00:17:31.279 in my life. 00:17:31.739 --> 00:17:32.699 You know, I'm seeking 00:17:32.699 --> 00:17:33.519 to be a good parent. 00:17:33.859 --> 00:17:36.079 I'm serving a crucial 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:37.179 political cause. 00:17:37.259 --> 00:17:39.279 I tutor underprivileged youth. 00:17:39.379 --> 00:17:40.459 I enjoy and promote 00:17:40.459 --> 00:17:41.500 great literature. 00:17:42.459 --> 00:17:43.339 And all this gives me 00:17:43.339 --> 00:17:44.359 great purpose 00:17:44.359 --> 00:17:44.879 and assurance 00:17:44.879 --> 00:17:46.179 that I'm doing some good 00:17:46.179 --> 00:17:48.119 beyond myself. 00:17:48.239 --> 00:17:49.139 I'm serving some good 00:17:49.139 --> 00:17:50.099 higher than myself. 00:17:50.099 --> 00:17:51.740 And it's true 00:17:51.740 --> 00:17:52.559 that, you know, 00:17:52.659 --> 00:17:53.779 people can live 00:17:53.779 --> 00:17:55.959 with these smaller meanings 00:17:55.959 --> 00:17:57.959 and not feel tortured 00:17:57.959 --> 00:17:58.619 like Kafka 00:17:58.619 --> 00:17:59.279 and gloomy 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:00.719 like Camus. 00:18:01.659 --> 00:18:02.539 And we should, 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:02.980 you know, 00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:03.459 it's a good 00:18:03.459 --> 00:18:04.199 and admirable thing 00:18:04.199 --> 00:18:05.939 to find true purpose 00:18:05.939 --> 00:18:07.119 and meaning 00:18:07.119 --> 00:18:08.159 in ordinary tasks. 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.000 But I want to suggest 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:09.419 to you 00:18:09.419 --> 00:18:11.819 that there's a vast difference 00:18:11.819 --> 00:18:14.279 between assigned meanings 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:15.259 on the one hand 00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:16.819 and inherent meaning 00:18:16.819 --> 00:18:17.719 on the other. 00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:20.039 I want you to see 00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:20.819 and think about 00:18:20.819 --> 00:18:21.779 this difference 00:18:21.779 --> 00:18:23.420 between subjective meaning 00:18:23.420 --> 00:18:25.319 that you come up with 00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:26.980 and objective meaning 00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:27.980 that's just there 00:18:27.980 --> 00:18:29.039 whether you discover it 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:29.440 or not. 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:30.660 Right? 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:31.220 There's a difference 00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:32.940 between created meaning 00:18:32.940 --> 00:18:34.700 and discovered meaning. 00:18:35.559 --> 00:18:36.220 For example, 00:18:36.380 --> 00:18:37.299 you might determine, 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:37.539 well, 00:18:37.579 --> 00:18:38.559 I'm going to live my life 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:39.640 for political change. 00:18:39.779 --> 00:18:40.319 I'm going to live 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:40.980 for influence 00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:42.279 in my vocational field. 00:18:42.380 --> 00:18:42.819 I'm going to live 00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:43.380 for happiness 00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:44.880 in my family. 00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:45.940 And those might serve 00:18:45.940 --> 00:18:46.420 for you 00:18:46.420 --> 00:18:48.700 as energizing goals. 00:18:49.500 --> 00:18:50.279 But our teacher 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:50.660 would say 00:18:50.660 --> 00:18:51.380 these kind of 00:18:51.380 --> 00:18:53.039 self-made, 00:18:53.620 --> 00:18:54.120 subjective, 00:18:54.360 --> 00:18:55.840 constructed meanings 00:18:55.840 --> 00:18:57.380 are actually quite thin 00:18:57.380 --> 00:18:58.440 and fragile 00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:59.640 and temporary. 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:01.660 And they don't really 00:19:01.660 --> 00:19:04.140 pass the rigorous test 00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:06.200 and really the withering test 00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:07.259 of our teacher 00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:08.400 because he would come to you 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:09.019 and he would say, 00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:09.980 okay, great. 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:12.500 You're living for a project 00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:13.620 that's larger than yourself. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:14.840 You're caring for your family. 00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:16.039 You're alleviating poverty. 00:19:16.399 --> 00:19:17.399 But what's the point of that? 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:19.639 What difference does that make? 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:20.720 And you say, 00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:20.959 well, 00:19:21.039 --> 00:19:22.299 I'm trying to make the world 00:19:22.299 --> 00:19:23.099 into a better place. 00:19:23.159 --> 00:19:23.639 But our teacher 00:19:23.639 --> 00:19:24.859 would keep boring down on you 00:19:24.859 --> 00:19:25.099 and say, 00:19:25.139 --> 00:19:26.159 but what's the point of that? 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:27.119 And you answer 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:27.419 and he says, 00:19:27.459 --> 00:19:27.559 well, 00:19:27.579 --> 00:19:28.439 what's the point of that? 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.740 And what's the point of that? 00:19:29.759 --> 00:19:31.359 And what's the point of that? 00:19:31.399 --> 00:19:31.740 And he says, 00:19:31.819 --> 00:19:32.500 if you say, 00:19:32.579 --> 00:19:33.519 if my meaning 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:34.859 is attached 00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:35.919 to personal relationships, 00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:36.519 the teacher would say, 00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:36.720 well, 00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:37.299 all those people 00:19:37.299 --> 00:19:37.980 are going to die. 00:19:39.419 --> 00:19:39.799 And if you say, 00:19:39.879 --> 00:19:40.000 well, 00:19:40.059 --> 00:19:40.720 my meaning 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:41.399 is invested 00:19:41.399 --> 00:19:42.819 in future generations 00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:45.099 and making the future world 00:19:45.099 --> 00:19:46.519 a better place, 00:19:46.579 --> 00:19:46.879 he would say, 00:19:46.939 --> 00:19:48.639 but all that's going to pass away too. 00:19:49.899 --> 00:19:51.119 He says in verse four, 00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:52.759 generations come 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:53.980 and generations go. 00:19:54.939 --> 00:19:55.659 And in verse 11, 00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:55.980 he says, 00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:56.939 there's no remembrance 00:19:56.939 --> 00:19:58.059 of people of old 00:19:58.059 --> 00:19:59.179 and even those 00:19:59.179 --> 00:20:00.099 who are yet to come 00:20:00.099 --> 00:20:00.980 will not be remembered 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:02.839 by those who follow them. 00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:05.419 Within this secular vision 00:20:05.419 --> 00:20:07.039 of life under the sun, 00:20:07.439 --> 00:20:07.839 he says, 00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:09.639 your influence 00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:11.060 and your impact 00:20:11.060 --> 00:20:12.480 is in the grand view 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:12.820 of things 00:20:12.820 --> 00:20:14.400 going to be quite negligible. 00:20:15.560 --> 00:20:16.300 How many of us 00:20:16.300 --> 00:20:17.460 even remember 00:20:17.460 --> 00:20:18.120 the names 00:20:18.120 --> 00:20:19.259 of our great grandparents? 00:20:20.300 --> 00:20:20.860 Some of us 00:20:20.860 --> 00:20:22.180 can barely remember. 00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:23.880 Think about that 00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:24.900 for your own life. 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:26.000 In 50 years, 00:20:26.380 --> 00:20:27.040 who is going 00:20:27.040 --> 00:20:28.100 to be talking about you? 00:20:28.800 --> 00:20:29.660 If you leave 00:20:29.660 --> 00:20:30.380 a ton of money 00:20:30.380 --> 00:20:31.700 behind to an organization, 00:20:32.120 --> 00:20:33.220 maybe they named 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:34.100 something after you. 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:36.320 In 500 years though, 00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:37.340 are they going 00:20:37.340 --> 00:20:38.140 to be talking about you? 00:20:38.140 --> 00:20:39.400 Maybe if you ruled 00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:40.240 over an empire, 00:20:40.380 --> 00:20:41.140 we might be reading 00:20:41.140 --> 00:20:41.680 about you. 00:20:42.060 --> 00:20:44.100 But 5,000 years from now, 00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:44.520 are we going 00:20:44.520 --> 00:20:45.540 to be talking about you 00:20:45.540 --> 00:20:46.320 and even remembering 00:20:46.320 --> 00:20:46.860 your name? 00:20:47.780 --> 00:20:49.500 Our teacher says, 00:20:50.720 --> 00:20:50.900 you know, 00:20:51.060 --> 00:20:51.940 you kind of have 00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:52.940 to tell yourself 00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:55.320 that your self-made meaning 00:20:55.320 --> 00:20:56.840 matters even though 00:20:56.840 --> 00:20:57.440 you know 00:20:57.440 --> 00:20:58.980 that the universe 00:20:58.980 --> 00:21:00.360 is going to cool down 00:21:00.360 --> 00:21:02.220 or collapse on itself 00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:03.520 and when it's dying, 00:21:03.840 --> 00:21:04.960 it's never going to care 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:06.100 that you even existed. 00:21:06.099 --> 00:21:08.259 And so you have 00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:09.259 to train yourself 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.579 as a secular person 00:21:10.579 --> 00:21:12.240 not to ask 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:13.240 these meta questions 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:14.000 about the point 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:14.500 of your life. 00:21:14.599 --> 00:21:15.399 You have to discipline 00:21:15.399 --> 00:21:16.779 yourself not to think 00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:18.619 about the ultimate outcome 00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:19.959 of all that we do, 00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:21.299 which in the secular view 00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:21.759 of things 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:23.159 is sheer nothingness. 00:21:24.419 --> 00:21:24.859 And you say, 00:21:24.959 --> 00:21:25.039 yeah, 00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:25.919 but I just put it 00:21:25.919 --> 00:21:27.079 all out of my mind 00:21:27.079 --> 00:21:27.839 and I try to focus 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:28.439 on the meaning 00:21:28.439 --> 00:21:30.039 of this present moment, 00:21:30.199 --> 00:21:30.559 but that, 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:32.139 what you just said 00:21:32.139 --> 00:21:32.839 is that you get 00:21:32.839 --> 00:21:33.559 your feeling 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:34.639 of meaningfulness 00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:36.160 by a lack of rationality, 00:21:36.800 --> 00:21:38.620 that through a suppression 00:21:38.620 --> 00:21:39.420 of your thinking 00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:40.000 and reflection 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:41.820 on the larger reality, 00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:42.540 you can kind of 00:21:42.540 --> 00:21:43.560 conjure up 00:21:43.560 --> 00:21:44.200 this feeling 00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:45.220 of meaningfulness. 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.300 And some of you say, 00:21:47.380 --> 00:21:48.620 well, gosh, okay, 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:51.400 maybe humanism's 00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:52.460 kind of not the way to go. 00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:54.280 And some of you say, 00:21:54.340 --> 00:21:55.220 well, I kind of actually 00:21:55.220 --> 00:21:56.420 left this version 00:21:56.420 --> 00:21:57.680 of humanism behind 00:21:57.680 --> 00:21:58.660 and at some point 00:21:58.660 --> 00:21:59.500 I just embraced 00:21:59.500 --> 00:22:00.799 kind of a straight-up 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:02.279 hedonism, right? 00:22:02.460 --> 00:22:03.279 Hedonism says, 00:22:03.860 --> 00:22:04.759 well, I'm not going 00:22:04.759 --> 00:22:05.580 to live anymore 00:22:05.580 --> 00:22:06.500 for other people. 00:22:06.600 --> 00:22:07.380 I'm now going to live 00:22:07.380 --> 00:22:08.120 for myself. 00:22:09.060 --> 00:22:09.840 And my main goal 00:22:09.840 --> 00:22:10.500 in life now 00:22:10.500 --> 00:22:11.660 is to just experience 00:22:11.660 --> 00:22:12.779 as much pleasure 00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:13.740 and as little pain 00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:14.380 as possible 00:22:14.380 --> 00:22:16.120 and hope that I die 00:22:16.120 --> 00:22:16.740 in my sleep. 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:18.640 Maybe you feel this way 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:19.220 or maybe you know 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:20.000 people that live 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:20.900 this way, 00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:21.620 but our teacher 00:22:21.620 --> 00:22:23.120 would respond to that 00:22:23.120 --> 00:22:23.680 in verse 8 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:23.980 and say, 00:22:24.140 --> 00:22:24.840 well, all things 00:22:24.840 --> 00:22:25.680 are wearisome 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:27.580 more than one can say. 00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:29.340 The eye never has 00:22:29.340 --> 00:22:30.620 enough of seeing 00:22:30.620 --> 00:22:31.779 nor the ear 00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:33.759 its fill of hearing. 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:36.400 What makes you think, 00:22:36.460 --> 00:22:37.140 the teacher says, 00:22:37.180 --> 00:22:38.000 that your eyes 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:38.539 or your ears 00:22:38.539 --> 00:22:39.519 or any other sense 00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:40.259 perception 00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:41.900 that's going to take in 00:22:41.900 --> 00:22:43.460 all those pleasure 00:22:43.460 --> 00:22:44.220 feelings 00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:45.560 are ever going to say, 00:22:45.840 --> 00:22:46.519 that's enough 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:47.620 or I'm full. 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.900 It's never going 00:22:49.900 --> 00:22:50.460 to satisfy. 00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:52.259 We know that we can't 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.200 get enough dopamine. 00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:54.180 The more dopamine 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:54.960 hits you get, 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:55.819 the more you have 00:22:55.819 --> 00:22:56.519 to go find. 00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.579 And the teacher 00:22:58.579 --> 00:22:59.360 of Ecclesiastes, 00:22:59.860 --> 00:23:01.240 if you keep reading 00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:01.660 this book, 00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:02.340 which I encourage 00:23:02.340 --> 00:23:02.840 you to do, 00:23:03.680 --> 00:23:05.059 he says in Ecclesiastes 2, 00:23:05.140 --> 00:23:06.319 I tried this. 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:07.579 I tried shearing myself 00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:08.160 with wine 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:10.079 and I built houses 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:10.840 for myself 00:23:10.840 --> 00:23:11.860 and planted vineyards. 00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:13.640 I made gardens 00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:14.200 and parks 00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:15.200 and planted 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:16.000 all kinds of 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:16.860 fruit trees in them. 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:17.700 I amassed silver 00:23:17.700 --> 00:23:18.840 and gold for myself 00:23:18.840 --> 00:23:19.440 and the treasure 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:19.940 of kings 00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:20.660 and provinces. 00:23:21.539 --> 00:23:22.440 I acquired male 00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:23.440 and female singers, 00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:24.799 even a whole 00:23:24.799 --> 00:23:25.880 harem of women, 00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:26.580 the delights 00:23:26.580 --> 00:23:27.720 of a man's heart. 00:23:28.559 --> 00:23:28.960 He says, 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:30.019 I denied myself 00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:31.420 nothing my eyes desired. 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:32.600 I refused my heart 00:23:32.600 --> 00:23:33.680 no pleasure. 00:23:34.820 --> 00:23:35.960 And yet when I surveyed 00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.920 all that my hands 00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:37.320 had done 00:23:37.320 --> 00:23:38.100 and what I'd toiled 00:23:38.100 --> 00:23:38.720 to achieve, 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:41.120 everything was 00:23:41.120 --> 00:23:42.759 meaningless. 00:23:44.120 --> 00:23:45.220 A chasing after the wind. 00:23:45.320 --> 00:23:46.740 Nothing was gained 00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:48.160 under the sun. 00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:50.740 In the secular vision 00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.240 of life, 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:52.580 dopamine is not only 00:23:52.580 --> 00:23:53.140 not enough, 00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:53.720 but you have to 00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:54.400 remind yourself 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:55.160 that none of the 00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:56.120 good things you feel 00:23:56.120 --> 00:23:56.860 have any meaning. 00:23:58.140 --> 00:23:59.620 When you fall in love 00:23:59.620 --> 00:24:00.580 and you're attracted 00:24:00.580 --> 00:24:01.240 to that girl 00:24:01.240 --> 00:24:01.960 or that guy, 00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:04.180 it's just an accidental 00:24:04.180 --> 00:24:05.279 collision of atoms. 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:08.380 Your response 00:24:08.380 --> 00:24:09.779 to her 00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:10.820 is only a psychic 00:24:10.820 --> 00:24:11.759 phosphorescence 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:12.980 arising from the behavior 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:13.779 of your genes 00:24:13.779 --> 00:24:14.800 and nothing more. 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:16.559 when you hear 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:17.639 that beautiful music 00:24:17.639 --> 00:24:18.480 and you think 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.279 to yourself, 00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:20.240 ah, there's such 00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:21.799 beauty and significance 00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:22.099 here, 00:24:22.139 --> 00:24:22.940 you have to tell yourself 00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:23.960 that's a pure illusion. 00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:26.180 That the only reason 00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:27.059 you like it 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:28.039 is because your nervous 00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:28.759 system has been 00:24:28.759 --> 00:24:30.299 irrationally conditioned 00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:31.119 to like it. 00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:33.259 The same goes 00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:34.399 for hugging a child 00:24:34.399 --> 00:24:36.240 or watching a sunset 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:38.079 or reading a book 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:38.559 and you say, 00:24:38.659 --> 00:24:39.460 ah, this feels good. 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:41.559 That's just electrochemical 00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:43.139 responses in your nerves. 00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:46.020 And you cannot say, 00:24:46.600 --> 00:24:47.660 I'm just going to project 00:24:47.660 --> 00:24:49.020 my feeling of meaning 00:24:49.020 --> 00:24:50.540 onto this senseless universe. 00:24:53.300 --> 00:24:54.000 And you say, 00:24:54.120 --> 00:24:54.340 okay, 00:24:55.320 --> 00:24:55.920 well, 00:24:56.220 --> 00:24:58.180 this is why I'm not 00:24:58.180 --> 00:24:59.480 a humanist 00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:00.340 and it's why I'm 00:25:00.340 --> 00:25:01.840 no longer a hedonist. 00:25:02.700 --> 00:25:03.600 It's why I became 00:25:03.600 --> 00:25:04.200 at one point 00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:05.320 an existentialist. 00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:06.860 And I said, 00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:07.400 well, okay, 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.480 now I'm going to 00:25:08.480 --> 00:25:09.600 fight for justice. 00:25:09.720 --> 00:25:10.400 I'm going to fight 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:11.759 against oppression. 00:25:11.960 --> 00:25:12.820 And with Dylan Thomas, 00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:13.319 I say, 00:25:13.659 --> 00:25:14.679 do not go gentle 00:25:14.679 --> 00:25:15.879 into that good night. 00:25:16.419 --> 00:25:16.819 Rage, 00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:18.379 rage against the dying 00:25:18.379 --> 00:25:19.379 of the light. 00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:19.720 Yes, 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:20.679 life is meaningless, 00:25:20.839 --> 00:25:21.579 but I'm going to rage 00:25:21.579 --> 00:25:22.240 against life 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:22.899 and I'm going to rage 00:25:22.899 --> 00:25:24.359 against all that meaningless 00:25:24.359 --> 00:25:25.179 and I'm going to hope 00:25:25.179 --> 00:25:27.039 that I do something 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:29.579 to put some wrongs 00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:30.079 in this world 00:25:30.079 --> 00:25:31.460 to right before I die. 00:25:33.399 --> 00:25:34.119 And our teacher 00:25:34.119 --> 00:25:34.939 would say to you 00:25:34.939 --> 00:25:35.720 in verse 15, 00:25:36.919 --> 00:25:37.500 what is crooked 00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:38.619 cannot be straightened 00:25:38.619 --> 00:25:40.419 and what is lacking 00:25:40.419 --> 00:25:41.460 cannot be counted. 00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:43.920 It takes a certain 00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:45.299 level of narcissism 00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:46.319 to think that you 00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:47.240 finally are going, 00:25:47.380 --> 00:25:48.120 you've arrived 00:25:48.120 --> 00:25:49.500 to straighten everything 00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:50.720 in this crooked world out. 00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:51.240 And our teacher 00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:53.200 would say to you as well, 00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:54.059 where do you even get 00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:54.700 your standard 00:25:54.700 --> 00:25:55.559 for straightness 00:25:55.559 --> 00:25:56.120 and fullness 00:25:56.120 --> 00:25:58.880 by which you discern 00:25:58.880 --> 00:25:59.500 that the universe 00:25:59.500 --> 00:26:00.059 is crooked 00:26:00.059 --> 00:26:01.220 and lacking? 00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:05.660 have I lost you completely? 00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:08.579 You would have to appeal 00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:09.640 to some authority 00:26:09.640 --> 00:26:10.720 above yourself 00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.799 and above this world 00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:12.519 to even say 00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:13.360 that something's wrong 00:26:13.360 --> 00:26:14.019 with this world. 00:26:15.019 --> 00:26:16.140 And the teacher would say, 00:26:16.259 --> 00:26:17.319 how can you say 00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:18.700 that your origin 00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:19.660 is insignificant 00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:20.680 and your destiny 00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:21.559 is insignificant 00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:22.759 but while I'm alive 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.339 I'm going to work 00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:24.240 for human rights 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:25.480 and human justice 00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:26.339 as if somehow 00:26:26.339 --> 00:26:27.039 those things 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:27.680 are significant? 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:29.240 You can't say that. 00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:31.720 How can you say 00:26:31.720 --> 00:26:33.400 that my origin 00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:34.019 is an accident, 00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:34.839 my destiny 00:26:34.839 --> 00:26:36.299 is to be annihilated 00:26:36.299 --> 00:26:38.019 but for right now 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:38.759 we should all love 00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:39.120 our neighbors 00:26:39.120 --> 00:26:39.599 as ourselves. 00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.660 Where did you get that? 00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.680 And is that even 00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:43.220 consistent 00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:44.319 with your vision? 00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:45.640 That actually takes 00:26:45.640 --> 00:26:47.900 an entire giant leap 00:26:47.900 --> 00:26:49.259 of religious faith 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:49.940 and some kind 00:26:49.940 --> 00:26:51.900 of transcendent reality 00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:54.120 to say that human beings 00:26:54.120 --> 00:26:54.880 have some sort 00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:56.180 of inherent specialness 00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:56.819 or dignity 00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:58.059 that we should do 00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:58.880 something for them. 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:01.339 But isn't it 00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:02.200 more consistent 00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:04.019 with the secular vision 00:27:04.019 --> 00:27:04.559 of reality 00:27:04.559 --> 00:27:06.000 to say the strong 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:07.140 should devour the weak 00:27:07.140 --> 00:27:10.120 and might makes right? 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:10.920 That is actually 00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:11.680 the ethic 00:27:11.680 --> 00:27:13.059 that goes along 00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:14.180 with your metaphysic. 00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:16.880 And the teacher says 00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:17.440 in verse 18 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:17.740 he says, 00:27:17.880 --> 00:27:19.019 for with much wisdom 00:27:19.019 --> 00:27:21.099 comes much sorrow, 00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:22.059 the more knowledge 00:27:22.059 --> 00:27:23.720 the more grief. 00:27:24.920 --> 00:27:25.480 He says, 00:27:25.559 --> 00:27:26.579 maybe you just 00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:27.680 haven't lived long enough 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:29.380 because the more 00:27:29.380 --> 00:27:29.980 you live, 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:31.500 the more you see, 00:27:32.140 --> 00:27:33.060 the more you know 00:27:33.060 --> 00:27:34.940 that all of these schemes, 00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.360 humanism, 00:27:36.900 --> 00:27:37.519 hedonism, 00:27:38.060 --> 00:27:38.960 existentialism, 00:27:39.360 --> 00:27:40.460 all the other isms, 00:27:41.100 --> 00:27:42.000 they've been tried 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:43.019 in some form 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:43.539 or fashion 00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:44.759 and they've been found 00:27:44.759 --> 00:27:45.600 wanting. 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:48.080 They fall apart. 00:27:48.860 --> 00:27:49.980 They come to nothing. 00:27:50.080 --> 00:27:50.500 They end, 00:27:50.580 --> 00:27:50.940 he says, 00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:51.480 in sorrow 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:52.880 and in grief. 00:27:52.880 --> 00:27:55.080 And at some point, 00:27:55.260 --> 00:27:55.500 you know, 00:27:55.780 --> 00:27:56.820 some of you have said, 00:27:57.020 --> 00:27:57.140 okay, 00:27:57.260 --> 00:27:59.040 this is the worst sermon 00:27:59.040 --> 00:28:02.400 I have ever heard 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:04.180 and I hate this book 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:04.620 of the Bible. 00:28:06.120 --> 00:28:06.320 But, 00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.520 and I get that, 00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:08.540 it's super depressing 00:28:08.540 --> 00:28:10.680 but we have to think about 00:28:10.680 --> 00:28:12.140 what the meaning of life 00:28:12.140 --> 00:28:13.060 and the purpose of life 00:28:13.060 --> 00:28:14.200 cannot be 00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:16.080 if we're going to discover 00:28:16.080 --> 00:28:17.600 what it actually is. 00:28:17.720 --> 00:28:18.020 And so we, 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:19.060 if you agree 00:28:19.060 --> 00:28:19.880 that there's some sort 00:28:19.880 --> 00:28:20.740 of meaning crisis 00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:21.420 under the sun 00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:22.800 and if you agree 00:28:22.800 --> 00:28:25.380 that all these self-made meanings 00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:26.340 are quite thin 00:28:26.340 --> 00:28:26.940 and fragile 00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:27.640 and temporary 00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:28.640 and don't stand up 00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:29.480 to these tests, 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:31.000 then I'd like for you 00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:31.500 to consider 00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:33.039 for these last few minutes 00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:33.940 a meaning above 00:28:33.940 --> 00:28:34.980 and beyond the sun. 00:28:36.100 --> 00:28:37.660 Because our teacher says 00:28:37.660 --> 00:28:39.120 in the third chapter 00:28:39.120 --> 00:28:39.900 of this book, 00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:40.279 he says, 00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:41.680 I've seen the burden 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:42.300 God has laid 00:28:42.300 --> 00:28:43.140 on the human race. 00:28:44.120 --> 00:28:45.080 He's made everything 00:28:45.080 --> 00:28:46.779 beautiful in its time. 00:28:47.600 --> 00:28:48.940 He has also set eternity 00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:50.140 in the human heart 00:28:50.140 --> 00:28:51.900 yet no one can fathom 00:28:51.900 --> 00:28:52.640 what God has done 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:53.960 from beginning to end. 00:28:55.220 --> 00:28:56.080 The teacher says 00:28:56.080 --> 00:28:56.740 your heart 00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:58.180 is telling you something 00:28:58.180 --> 00:28:58.820 if you'll listen 00:28:58.820 --> 00:28:59.500 very closely. 00:29:00.620 --> 00:29:01.940 Your heart is telling you 00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:02.540 that there's something 00:29:02.540 --> 00:29:03.360 more to life 00:29:03.360 --> 00:29:04.080 than what's merely 00:29:04.080 --> 00:29:04.920 under the sun 00:29:04.920 --> 00:29:05.759 in the here and now 00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:06.680 material moment. 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:08.600 Your heart 00:29:08.600 --> 00:29:10.060 is longing 00:29:10.060 --> 00:29:10.880 for justice 00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:11.740 and for the world 00:29:11.740 --> 00:29:12.540 to be put right. 00:29:13.520 --> 00:29:14.200 Your heart 00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:14.880 is longing 00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:16.060 with a thirst 00:29:16.060 --> 00:29:18.140 for some hidden spring 00:29:18.140 --> 00:29:19.740 of spirituality 00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.940 and mystery 00:29:20.940 --> 00:29:21.800 and fullness 00:29:21.800 --> 00:29:22.860 and coherence 00:29:22.860 --> 00:29:23.720 that's beyond 00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:24.680 the space, time 00:29:24.680 --> 00:29:25.640 and matter continuum. 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:26.740 Your heart 00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:27.460 is hungering 00:29:27.460 --> 00:29:28.500 for love 00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:29.420 and you know 00:29:29.420 --> 00:29:30.520 somewhere in your being 00:29:30.520 --> 00:29:31.200 that you're made 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:32.320 for other people. 00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:34.080 And your heart 00:29:34.080 --> 00:29:35.960 is desiring beauty 00:29:35.960 --> 00:29:36.620 to stand 00:29:36.620 --> 00:29:37.120 at the top 00:29:37.120 --> 00:29:37.720 of that mountain 00:29:37.720 --> 00:29:39.160 to be on the edge 00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:39.720 of the ocean 00:29:39.720 --> 00:29:40.380 to peer 00:29:40.380 --> 00:29:41.700 into the eyes 00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:42.680 of your beloved 00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:43.420 and you know 00:29:43.420 --> 00:29:44.140 in your heart 00:29:44.140 --> 00:29:46.580 that all that justice 00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:47.859 and all that love 00:29:47.859 --> 00:29:48.839 and all that beauty 00:29:48.839 --> 00:29:49.960 and all that fullness 00:29:49.960 --> 00:29:51.460 is not meaningless. 00:29:52.119 --> 00:29:52.919 You know that. 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:54.659 These are signs 00:29:54.659 --> 00:29:55.539 that God has put 00:29:55.539 --> 00:29:57.039 in your heart 00:29:57.039 --> 00:29:58.460 pointing to eternity. 00:29:59.579 --> 00:30:00.379 And more than that 00:30:00.379 --> 00:30:01.559 God has put clues 00:30:01.559 --> 00:30:02.059 of himself 00:30:02.059 --> 00:30:03.039 into the world 00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:04.480 divine fingerprints 00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:05.119 everywhere 00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:06.039 that cause us 00:30:06.039 --> 00:30:06.939 to ask the question 00:30:06.939 --> 00:30:08.460 why is there something 00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:10.819 more than nothing? 00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:13.659 When you think about 00:30:13.659 --> 00:30:14.519 the fine tuning 00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:15.299 of the universe 00:30:15.299 --> 00:30:17.579 the speed of light 00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:19.259 the gravitational constant 00:30:19.259 --> 00:30:19.940 these weak 00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:20.980 and strong 00:30:20.980 --> 00:30:21.919 nuclear forces 00:30:21.919 --> 00:30:23.240 and how all of that 00:30:23.240 --> 00:30:24.919 is precisely calibrated 00:30:24.919 --> 00:30:25.700 at one 00:30:25.700 --> 00:30:26.799 in a trillion 00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:28.059 trillion chance 00:30:28.059 --> 00:30:29.240 that the universe 00:30:29.240 --> 00:30:30.579 supports human life. 00:30:30.720 --> 00:30:31.220 And you might say 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:32.299 well that's not a proof 00:30:32.299 --> 00:30:33.099 that God exists 00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:33.720 but I would say 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:35.379 it certainly seems 00:30:35.379 --> 00:30:36.119 to be a cosmic 00:30:36.119 --> 00:30:36.940 welcome mat 00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:38.619 that says 00:30:38.619 --> 00:30:39.359 I'm glad 00:30:39.359 --> 00:30:40.339 you're here. 00:30:41.899 --> 00:30:42.799 And this teacher 00:30:42.799 --> 00:30:43.819 he entertains 00:30:43.819 --> 00:30:44.539 the possibility 00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:46.139 that life 00:30:46.139 --> 00:30:46.940 is a tale 00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:48.039 told by an idiot 00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:48.899 full of sound 00:30:48.899 --> 00:30:49.379 and fury 00:30:49.379 --> 00:30:50.759 signifying absolutely 00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:51.259 nothing 00:30:51.259 --> 00:30:52.659 and maybe you believe 00:30:52.659 --> 00:30:52.960 that. 00:30:53.940 --> 00:30:55.119 The teacher also 00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:55.779 you know 00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:56.799 considers the idea 00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:57.519 that maybe life 00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:58.019 is a tale 00:30:58.019 --> 00:30:58.980 told by nobody 00:30:58.980 --> 00:30:59.639 and maybe that's 00:30:59.639 --> 00:31:00.159 where you are 00:31:00.159 --> 00:31:01.259 or maybe that life 00:31:01.259 --> 00:31:02.000 is not even a tale 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:03.019 there's no narrative 00:31:03.019 --> 00:31:04.299 structure to reality 00:31:04.299 --> 00:31:05.259 you say. 00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:07.079 But our teacher says 00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:08.279 I thought about that 00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:09.639 and I've actually 00:31:09.639 --> 00:31:10.559 tried to live 00:31:10.559 --> 00:31:11.460 by all these thin 00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:12.039 and fragile 00:31:12.039 --> 00:31:12.740 temporary 00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:13.980 self-made 00:31:13.980 --> 00:31:14.900 meanings 00:31:14.900 --> 00:31:15.799 under the sun 00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:16.420 and the result 00:31:16.420 --> 00:31:17.319 in my own life 00:31:17.319 --> 00:31:18.160 was that I became 00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:18.640 cynical 00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:19.539 and I became 00:31:19.539 --> 00:31:20.000 bitter. 00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:22.299 But what I want 00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:22.799 you to do 00:31:22.799 --> 00:31:23.259 my son 00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:23.700 what I want 00:31:23.700 --> 00:31:24.100 you to do 00:31:24.100 --> 00:31:24.660 my daughter 00:31:24.660 --> 00:31:25.279 what I want 00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:25.720 all of you 00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:25.960 to do 00:31:25.960 --> 00:31:26.319 he says 00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:27.579 is pay attention 00:31:27.579 --> 00:31:29.220 to those signs 00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:29.779 in your heart 00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:30.299 pay attention 00:31:30.299 --> 00:31:30.960 to all those 00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:31.460 clues 00:31:31.460 --> 00:31:32.600 in the world 00:31:32.600 --> 00:31:33.539 and ask yourself 00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:34.779 what do they mean? 00:31:36.220 --> 00:31:37.019 He's begging 00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:37.680 the question 00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:39.460 is it possible 00:31:39.460 --> 00:31:40.059 to live 00:31:40.059 --> 00:31:41.299 a life 00:31:41.299 --> 00:31:42.839 that's not merely 00:31:42.839 --> 00:31:43.799 for what's 00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:44.420 under the sun? 00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:46.839 Is it 00:31:46.839 --> 00:31:47.799 can we live 00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:48.400 in a reality 00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:50.019 that takes 00:31:50.019 --> 00:31:50.559 into account 00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:51.119 what's above 00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:51.680 and beyond 00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:52.180 the sun? 00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:53.740 You see 00:31:53.740 --> 00:31:54.339 our teacher's 00:31:54.339 --> 00:31:54.680 brilliant 00:31:54.680 --> 00:31:55.759 because he drives 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:57.039 us to despair 00:31:57.039 --> 00:31:58.559 in this present 00:31:58.559 --> 00:31:59.299 reality 00:31:59.299 --> 00:32:00.099 and then he meets 00:32:00.099 --> 00:32:00.700 that despair 00:32:00.700 --> 00:32:01.379 with hope. 00:32:02.220 --> 00:32:03.059 He drives us 00:32:03.059 --> 00:32:04.180 to see the absurdity 00:32:04.180 --> 00:32:04.579 of things 00:32:04.579 --> 00:32:05.180 and then he meets 00:32:05.180 --> 00:32:05.819 that absurdity 00:32:05.819 --> 00:32:06.440 with meaning. 00:32:07.019 --> 00:32:08.039 He drives us 00:32:08.039 --> 00:32:08.299 to say 00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:08.980 yes you're right 00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:10.279 everything is a vapor 00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:11.599 and then he confronts 00:32:11.599 --> 00:32:12.799 us with the reality 00:32:12.799 --> 00:32:13.859 of eternity 00:32:13.859 --> 00:32:15.680 and he says 00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:17.579 in the final chapter 00:32:17.579 --> 00:32:18.220 of this beautiful 00:32:18.220 --> 00:32:19.160 short book 00:32:19.160 --> 00:32:20.460 he says 00:32:20.460 --> 00:32:21.680 now all has been heard 00:32:21.680 --> 00:32:22.660 here's the conclusion 00:32:22.660 --> 00:32:23.319 of the matter 00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:25.059 fear God 00:32:25.059 --> 00:32:25.960 and keep his commandments 00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:26.920 for this is the duty 00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:28.039 of every human being 00:32:28.039 --> 00:32:29.299 for God will bring 00:32:29.299 --> 00:32:29.759 every deed 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:30.339 into judgment 00:32:30.339 --> 00:32:31.579 including every hidden 00:32:31.579 --> 00:32:32.559 thing whether it is 00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:33.799 good or evil. 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:35.619 He says 00:32:35.619 --> 00:32:36.460 my eyes see 00:32:36.460 --> 00:32:37.079 that life 00:32:37.079 --> 00:32:37.720 is meaningless 00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:38.420 and life 00:32:38.420 --> 00:32:38.960 is a vapor 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:40.120 but my heart 00:32:40.120 --> 00:32:41.100 knows that God 00:32:41.100 --> 00:32:41.640 is there. 00:32:41.940 --> 00:32:42.360 My heart 00:32:42.360 --> 00:32:43.100 knows that God 00:32:43.100 --> 00:32:43.600 is someone 00:32:43.600 --> 00:32:44.779 that I must deal 00:32:44.779 --> 00:32:45.039 with. 00:32:45.160 --> 00:32:45.660 My heart 00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:47.059 knows that God 00:32:47.059 --> 00:32:48.340 is somehow good 00:32:48.340 --> 00:32:49.079 and wise 00:32:49.079 --> 00:32:49.980 and just 00:32:49.980 --> 00:32:50.559 and that he's 00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:51.220 the one writing 00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:52.240 the story of history 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:52.960 and the story 00:32:52.960 --> 00:32:54.039 of my life 00:32:54.039 --> 00:32:54.860 and so finally 00:32:54.860 --> 00:32:55.460 finally 00:32:55.460 --> 00:32:56.079 finally 00:32:56.079 --> 00:32:58.180 he tells us 00:32:58.180 --> 00:32:59.140 the real purpose 00:32:59.140 --> 00:33:01.080 and the real meaning 00:33:01.080 --> 00:33:01.900 of our lives 00:33:01.900 --> 00:33:03.300 in two words 00:33:03.300 --> 00:33:05.940 fear God 00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:09.400 fear God 00:33:09.400 --> 00:33:10.460 that's the conclusion 00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:11.020 of the matter 00:33:11.020 --> 00:33:11.420 he says 00:33:11.420 --> 00:33:12.060 it's the summary 00:33:12.060 --> 00:33:13.360 of the whole 00:33:13.360 --> 00:33:14.220 Bible 00:33:14.220 --> 00:33:16.320 stand in awe 00:33:16.320 --> 00:33:17.300 and wonder 00:33:17.300 --> 00:33:19.180 of this being 00:33:19.180 --> 00:33:20.020 who is permanent 00:33:20.020 --> 00:33:21.360 and supreme 00:33:21.360 --> 00:33:22.880 and worthy 00:33:22.880 --> 00:33:23.900 of your highest 00:33:23.900 --> 00:33:24.840 esteem 00:33:24.839 --> 00:33:25.619 stop living 00:33:25.619 --> 00:33:26.619 by what's merely 00:33:26.619 --> 00:33:28.519 by sight 00:33:28.519 --> 00:33:29.359 and what's here 00:33:29.359 --> 00:33:30.079 under the sun 00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:30.759 start living 00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:31.359 by faith 00:33:31.359 --> 00:33:32.139 and what's above 00:33:32.139 --> 00:33:33.399 and beyond the sun 00:33:33.399 --> 00:33:33.839 this God 00:33:33.839 --> 00:33:34.659 who is your maker 00:33:34.659 --> 00:33:35.159 this God 00:33:35.159 --> 00:33:35.959 who's your judge 00:33:35.959 --> 00:33:36.539 this God 00:33:36.539 --> 00:33:37.480 for whom you were 00:33:37.480 --> 00:33:38.379 made to love 00:33:38.379 --> 00:33:39.339 with all of your heart 00:33:39.339 --> 00:33:40.039 soul 00:33:40.039 --> 00:33:40.500 mind 00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:41.199 and strength 00:33:41.200 --> 00:33:43.620 now I could 00:33:43.620 --> 00:33:45.160 land the plane 00:33:45.160 --> 00:33:45.819 right there 00:33:45.819 --> 00:33:47.360 and hopefully 00:33:47.360 --> 00:33:48.039 I've gotten you 00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:48.799 to think about 00:33:48.799 --> 00:33:50.140 the fact that 00:33:50.140 --> 00:33:51.220 maybe secularism 00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:52.420 is not really the way 00:33:52.420 --> 00:33:54.120 maybe I should consider 00:33:54.120 --> 00:33:54.740 deism 00:33:54.740 --> 00:33:55.600 or theism 00:33:55.600 --> 00:33:57.160 and that would be 00:33:57.160 --> 00:33:57.740 a good thing 00:33:57.740 --> 00:33:59.840 but the New Testament 00:33:59.840 --> 00:34:01.500 says that this God 00:34:01.500 --> 00:34:02.420 who's a maker 00:34:02.420 --> 00:34:03.660 and our judge 00:34:03.660 --> 00:34:05.420 has not only written 00:34:05.420 --> 00:34:06.059 these signs 00:34:06.059 --> 00:34:06.640 in our heart 00:34:06.640 --> 00:34:07.240 and these clues 00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:07.960 into the world 00:34:07.960 --> 00:34:09.039 he's the author 00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:10.139 who wrote himself 00:34:10.139 --> 00:34:11.359 into the story 00:34:11.359 --> 00:34:12.400 as the main character 00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:13.460 as Jesus Christ 00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:14.500 who was born 00:34:14.500 --> 00:34:15.000 in the manger 00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:16.039 and rose from the dead 00:34:16.039 --> 00:34:17.900 when you look 00:34:17.900 --> 00:34:18.359 at the gospel 00:34:18.359 --> 00:34:18.980 of John 00:34:18.980 --> 00:34:19.799 chapter 1 00:34:19.799 --> 00:34:21.179 the opening words 00:34:21.179 --> 00:34:21.699 of that gospel 00:34:21.699 --> 00:34:22.079 say 00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:23.219 in the beginning 00:34:23.219 --> 00:34:24.179 was the logos 00:34:24.179 --> 00:34:26.599 and the logos 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:27.659 was with God 00:34:27.659 --> 00:34:28.239 and the logos 00:34:28.239 --> 00:34:29.839 was God 00:34:29.839 --> 00:34:31.539 and that's 00:34:31.539 --> 00:34:32.719 an astonishing statement 00:34:32.719 --> 00:34:33.739 it's this incredible 00:34:33.739 --> 00:34:35.420 revolutionary claim 00:34:35.420 --> 00:34:36.940 that Jesus Christ 00:34:36.940 --> 00:34:38.960 he's the meaning 00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:39.900 behind the universe 00:34:39.900 --> 00:34:40.960 he's the reason 00:34:40.960 --> 00:34:42.099 for life 00:34:42.099 --> 00:34:44.039 that the universal 00:34:44.039 --> 00:34:45.680 order of the cosmos 00:34:45.680 --> 00:34:46.599 is in fact 00:34:46.599 --> 00:34:48.400 an individual person 00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:50.380 the power 00:34:50.380 --> 00:34:51.740 that undergirds 00:34:51.740 --> 00:34:52.539 all reality 00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:53.460 this absolute 00:34:53.460 --> 00:34:54.619 personal God 00:34:54.619 --> 00:34:55.880 became human 00:34:55.880 --> 00:34:56.639 and eternity 00:34:56.639 --> 00:34:57.720 stepped in 00:34:57.720 --> 00:34:58.639 to time 00:34:58.639 --> 00:35:00.920 and he was there 00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:02.180 and he saw us 00:35:02.180 --> 00:35:03.320 under the sun 00:35:03.320 --> 00:35:04.119 alienated 00:35:04.119 --> 00:35:05.059 and cut off 00:35:05.059 --> 00:35:06.039 from the life of God 00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:07.039 because of our 00:35:07.039 --> 00:35:08.519 preoccupation 00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:09.219 with ourselves 00:35:09.219 --> 00:35:10.500 because of our sin 00:35:10.500 --> 00:35:11.380 and our pride 00:35:11.380 --> 00:35:12.920 and so he came 00:35:12.920 --> 00:35:14.159 from beyond the sun 00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:16.699 and he became human 00:35:16.699 --> 00:35:18.880 and he died on a cross 00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:20.420 and on that cross 00:35:20.420 --> 00:35:21.159 what did he say 00:35:21.159 --> 00:35:22.059 my God 00:35:22.059 --> 00:35:22.659 my God 00:35:22.659 --> 00:35:24.940 why have you forsaken me 00:35:24.940 --> 00:35:26.800 and in that moment 00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:29.440 God himself 00:35:29.440 --> 00:35:31.400 experienced the darkness 00:35:31.400 --> 00:35:33.039 and the meaninglessness 00:35:33.039 --> 00:35:34.039 of life 00:35:34.039 --> 00:35:35.420 without God 00:35:35.420 --> 00:35:36.860 which is the penalty 00:35:36.860 --> 00:35:37.980 for all of our sins 00:35:37.980 --> 00:35:40.700 Jesus got life 00:35:40.700 --> 00:35:41.340 without God 00:35:41.340 --> 00:35:42.260 so that we could have 00:35:42.260 --> 00:35:42.660 life 00:35:42.660 --> 00:35:43.820 with God 00:35:43.820 --> 00:35:45.800 he put himself 00:35:45.800 --> 00:35:47.260 in our lives 00:35:47.260 --> 00:35:48.180 of misery 00:35:48.180 --> 00:35:49.039 and mortality 00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:50.400 and meaninglessness 00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:51.579 so that we could be brought 00:35:51.579 --> 00:35:52.400 into his life 00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:53.019 of joy 00:35:53.019 --> 00:35:54.340 and immortality 00:35:54.340 --> 00:35:55.260 and eternal 00:35:55.260 --> 00:35:56.260 meaning 00:35:56.260 --> 00:35:58.320 and so friends 00:35:58.320 --> 00:35:59.200 I leave you with this 00:35:59.199 --> 00:35:59.739 that meaning 00:35:59.739 --> 00:36:01.099 is not a concept 00:36:01.099 --> 00:36:02.059 or a cause 00:36:02.059 --> 00:36:03.239 that you go out 00:36:03.239 --> 00:36:03.839 to find 00:36:03.839 --> 00:36:05.799 meaning 00:36:05.799 --> 00:36:06.939 with a capital M 00:36:06.939 --> 00:36:08.199 is a person 00:36:08.199 --> 00:36:08.779 who's come 00:36:08.779 --> 00:36:09.899 to find you 00:36:09.899 --> 00:36:11.899 and the purpose 00:36:11.899 --> 00:36:12.319 of life 00:36:12.319 --> 00:36:13.259 is to fear him 00:36:13.259 --> 00:36:15.119 to follow him 00:36:15.119 --> 00:36:16.679 to put your faith 00:36:16.679 --> 00:36:17.480 in him 00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:18.279 and when you do that 00:36:18.279 --> 00:36:19.859 you've found 00:36:19.859 --> 00:36:21.480 why it is 00:36:21.480 --> 00:36:22.419 that you're even 00:36:22.419 --> 00:36:23.319 here 00:36:23.320 --> 00:36:26.559 there's probably 00:36:26.559 --> 00:36:27.320 a ton of questions 00:36:27.320 --> 00:36:28.120 I'll see you 00:36:28.120 --> 00:36:28.600 over here 00:36:28.600 --> 00:36:29.300 at the Q&A 00:36:29.300 --> 00:36:30.280 in just a little bit 00:36:30.280 --> 00:36:31.059 but I'm going to 00:36:31.059 --> 00:36:31.740 park it there 00:36:31.740 --> 00:36:32.180 in the name 00:36:32.180 --> 00:36:32.640 of the Father 00:36:32.640 --> 00:36:33.000 Son 00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:33.800 and Holy Spirit 00:36:33.800 --> 00:36:34.539 Amen 00:36:34.539 --> 00:36:34.679 Amen