November 20, 2014 (Thursday)
Did you hear about the Billy Goat that jumped off a cliff to end his life? Why? He heard the song, “There Will Never Be Another You.” (you sounds like ewe–get it? get it? heh, heh). The song is from 1950 and the joke originated at the same time, nearly 65 years ago. Never say I don’t keep up with the times.
I thought about the song this morning, so I went to “Youtube” and listened to Nat King Cole sing it again. After all these years, his recorded voice is still one of the greatest.
The song has a pointed message that each of us needs to take to heart: “there will never be another you.” There will never be another me.
I’ve seen people who resemble their parent. Though they may look alike, they are not exactly alike. Each person is unique. And special. When my grand daughter Melinda, was just a little girl, she sang for the worship service at her church a song entitled, “I’m special.” And she is. You are, too. So am I. Every individual is unique.
I was asked this week, “What is the point of living?” A question that needs interpretation. What was the person asking? It was not, “Should I go on living?” but was a simple query, ‘What is life all about, anyway?” A simple question, but one that needs an answer. Part of the answer is that God has given you your life. It is His gift to you. And He has never made anyone exactly like you. Our life is a discovery of what God has in mind when He creates, guides, and saves us. Christians believe that God acts with purpose in everything He does, so the question really is, “What is God’s will for my life?”
Over 50 years ago, I heard a Thanksgiving sermon that has stuck with me. It gave three reasons for being Thankful: 1. Creation, 2. Providence, and 3. Redemption. God made us, He guides us, and He saves us. Three reasons to be thankful. Big reasons. Great reasons. Logical reasons.
Long ago John wrote about Jesus and he said, “we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).
As the Gaither’s song declares, “Life is worth the living because He lives!”