Thursday-Big Ideas

He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

1 Peter 1:20,21

I can’t speak for you, but I like big ideas. Ideas that can change everything. Doing something enormous can impact the lives of so many people. This is where on thing can alter the direction of the way we live life. And hopefully, for the good.

Within our modern life, I can’t think of anything that’s changed our daily lives than the smart phone. But the smart phone didn’t just fall out of the sky. No one said the magic words and presto, there was a smart phone. There were many steps along the way.

Yes, when David Meilahn made the first cell phone call to Jeff Benuzzi in 1983, that was important. And when Neil Papworth sent the first phone text message to Richard Jarvis in 1992, that was also big.

But then, on January 9, 2007, the iPhone was introduced in front of a crowd that just went wild. There was a color touch screen. No keyboard, just use your finger to talk with the world. And there was instant access to all the information in the world through the internet. And to top it all off, anyone could write and publish programs that did just about anything.

That was just about the biggest idea that I can think of. At least when it comes to life here on planet Earth. But then, is there anyone or anything that’s over and above things in this life? Is there a bigger idea that’s greater than what we can see and feel?

I’m thinking about this because the wife of one of my close high school friends died yesterday. They had been married for 45 years. He describes her as his closest friend. The person who he made a happy and fulfilling life together with is now gone.

What do I say? What can I do? How can I help my friend in this time of need and loss? I don’t mean to be mean or unfeeling, but if this life is all there is, then I’m afraid there’s really very little I can say or do.

If we’re all just an accident, then King Solomon was right. If everyone and everything is the result of a great Big Bang, then everything truly is meaningless. But not just plain vanilla meaningless, but completely meaningless.[1]. It’s like running after wind so we can grab it in our hand[2]. A complete waste of time.

So, if we don’t want a life without meaning, there is only one choice. Instead of no one, there has to be someone. Someone that’s in control. Someone who’s older and more powerful than the universe they created. But they couldn’t just make it, they’d also have to hold it all together[3]. The only possible idea is a God who can’t be seen.

No one seems to have any problems with the idea that God is invisible. After all, he’s so much bigger, greater, smarter, and more powerful than we are. After all, how could you fit that kind of God into a human body? It’s impossible. Ain’t no way that could ever happen. It’s beyond understanding.

But that’s exactly the tough question that Peter’s bringing up to his readers. The invisible God of the universe was made visible in Jesus Christ. The one who made everything came down from heaven and fully showed himself in a way that we could understand. And that was in the person of Jesus.

Let’s be clear, there’s no wiggle room for what Jesus said about himself being God. He said that he had all godly authority in heaven and earth[4]. He had the right and power to forgive sins[5]. His miracles showed that he wasn’t just another guy[6]. He accepted worship as God[7]. At every Christmas, we sing about him being Immanuel, God with us[8]. And then to top it all off, several times he predicted that he’d physically be raised from the dead[9] – and he did it[10]!

So, if Jesus said these things and more about himself being God, why are people so afraid to talk about it? He’s so very clear, there can be no misinterpretation about his intent or meaning. He says that he’s God. Period. That’s it.

This leaves us with the question, what’s our response? What are we going to do with this biggest of all big ideas? That God would come down to pay the awful price for us to be reunited with him. To be reunited with ourselves. To be reunited with one another. And to be reunited with all of creation. Those four things are what we all want. Peace with God. Ourselves. Each other. And our environment. It’s such a big idea that God himself had to do it. He did it so it would be done right. Another great big idea.

Noodling Questions

• List three big ideas that have changed your world. Describe each.

• How is the big idea of God becoming a man change everything?

• What changes need to be made in our life because God came down?

[1] Ecclesiastes 1:2

[2] Ecclesiastes 2:11

[3] Colossians 1:17

[4] Matthew 28:18

[5] Mark 2:5

[6] John 2:11

[7] Matthew 21:9

[8] Matthew 1:23

[9] Matthew 16:21-23, 20:17-19, Luke 13:33, John 11:25,26

[10] Mark 16:6, Luke 24:6,7