Lenten Insights From A Preacher*

We humans are part of creation; physical beings; considered the most complex of the mammals. We are also homo faber, the maker of tools; creating some wonderful and some monstrous ones. We are also the humanus, who can not only communicate with signs, but can speak. We not only maintain our existence, but also create and shape culture and civilization.

What is more amazing is we have an individual identity, like no other known created being. Soon after birth it is evident to those who care for us that we quickly become individuals. We each are a person, who becomes the 'I-Self' in union with the 'Thou.' We are also the creatures who are forever seeking to know ourselves, even while we flee from self. We are forever drawn and attracted to something higher than ourselves. We dream of 'eternity' and are forever trying to make an everlasting contribution.

Therefore, human beings have gods or a God, from whom we are seeking guidance. In other words, human beings are religious, always seeking a Higher Being; someone who can help us to make meaning and eternal purpose out of existence. Our sense of being related to a Higher Power drives us to seek to influence outcomes; not only in his earthly life span, but also in eternity.

Therefore, human beings are incurably religious, often even trying to substitute Self for God. We are never satisfied with accepting our physical and intellectual temporary existence. No matter how sophisticated and knowledgeable we become we are always homo religious. We are forever seeking to find meaning in our lives, not only for this life, but for eternity. We can no more rid ourselves of our homo religious nature than we can reject our need to experience life from the concepts of past, present, and future.

It is no wonder that from the time He was born until the present, 2000 plus years later, millions of human beings find in Jesus Christ the One who gives life meaning and hope.

During this Lenten Season we celebrate that in Jesus Christ, God became one of us; Even to the point of taking our sins upon Himself, in order to save us for God's eternal purposes.

*Curtis Schofield was moved by these insights while reading "Man In Revolt" by Emil Brunner.

(see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emil_Brunner)