What is the point?

We live in a such an outcome driven society, our schooling, our work, our entire lives center around the question, what is the point? The point of learning anything in school, sadly, has become to get a grade on a test. Few people really know why they are learning anything anymore other than to achieve a certain score or degree. This has not always been the case. For instance, I cannot for the life of me imagine a mathematics student taught by the brilliant Isaac Newton at Cambridge University, so many years ago asking the question “When am I going to use this?” Can you? No, how absurd. So if you are one of the myriads of people who have asked that question, about Math, let me answer that question once and for all. Are you ready? If you were studying math, than at that moment you were using it. And for that moment alone, it was worth the effort. Yes. The process of studying math is actually beneficial to your brain. It needs exercise. So the actual study of math is a benefit and will produce future benefit simply by working through each and every problem or theorem. Can you imagine someone working out in the gym, and looking at their trainer and saying, “But when am I going to use these push ups?”

All of us are struggling with something. And when that struggle finally ends, there will be another one waiting. What is the point? Why can't it just be easy? Few people don't struggle financially. Because the more money you have, the bigger your toys get. And if you don't struggle with where to get the money, you can often struggle with where to PUT the money. Some are struggling with marriage. Some are struggling with singleness. Some are struggling too much work or too little work. But whatever the struggle is there will likely be a moment that it seems unbearable. Too much. I felt that today. And I heard these words in my spirit “For our light and momentary troubles....” Light and Momentary. I know this. I know this.

 Light. Seriously, the weight of my troubles do not even compare with those throughout history. And no matter how heavy ones troubles are, they are light in comparison to the burden Christ bore for us. For us. 

Momentary. Can someone please remind all of Christianity they we believe in eternity, with Jesus, and that this life is just a breath, a vapor? Because I think we have all forgotten, because life seems so hard and so long, until it doesn't. And you look back and can't believe that you are really the same age your mother was when she told you she couldn't believe she was that age. Light and momentary. Light and Momentary troubles. So I looked up the verse and read the whole thing.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:17

Achieving. Troubles are achieving. It's sea turtle season around here and there are signs all over the beach to remind us. When that sea turtle hatches, wouldn't it be better if we all just gathered round and picked that turtle up? Poor sweet tired turtles. Wouldn't it be better if we picked them up and placed them in the ocean? The journey to the ocean is long and exhausting. What is the point? If the point is just to get to the ocean, then I will just pick him up and put him in the ocean. But we know there is more to this turtles life then just getting to the ocean. He needs to struggle, because without the struggle, there will be no life in the ocean. To fully enjoy the ocean and all its grandeur, this turtle has to build the muscles in that sand to survive and thrive in the ocean.

Quite often we don't see “reasons” for our struggles, but this one thing we can know. They are light and momentary, and they are achieving.

Romans 5:3-5 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.