ONLINE CHURCH #03

Previously I laid some foundations for an online church based on the book of Acts. A quick recap.

Online Church #01 – Church without location (church buildings) nor fixed time (services). They met anywhere, anytime.

Online Church #02 – Church that seeks, not attracts. It was a movement, not an institution.

 

Today I want to lay down some basic blueprints as to what I think an Online church ought to be.

Online church is not a replica of an Offline. Broadcasting Sunday services online do not make it an Online church. Online church is driven by two main thrusts. It is about empowering and engaging. When the church started in the book of Acts, they were without buildings or hierarchy. Like ants without a commander, churches (gatherings of Christians) sprung up everywhere in houses throughout the entire Asia Minor. How did it happen?

EMPOWERING

In an institution, there is always a hierarchy. At the very top is the CEO (head). Everything flows down from there. The empowering of the organization comes from the top and accountability from bottom up. Like a spider, if you thumb the head, the spider (organization) dies. Basically, this is how the church functions today. There is a flow chart with the senior pastor right at the top. Everything else (church board, pastoral team, etc.) flows down from there and all accountability flows upwards. The church in Acts did not have a “head” – command and control centre. It functions like a starfish. A starfish does not possess a head nor brain, yet every tentacle manages to coordinate with each other and move as a singular unit towards a common goal. If you cut a starfish radically (right across the center) into five parts, the five parts will regenerate into five starfish. It does not die. That is how the early church survived and thrived during severe times of persecution. Having no head to thumb, no hierarchy to disrupt, no church buildings to tear down, the church thrives anywhere, in whatever conditions because you cannot stop people from coming together. A church can be as small as a family unit of two or three. Like the starfish, each member can function in any of the five-fold offices and various ministries as the Spirit of God empowers them. The house churches moved as a single movement in a divinely coordinated fashion. There was no stopping the church of Jesus Christ, not even the gates of hell.

As an example of empowering, members of Online church ought to be given the freedom to use their tithes for "fishing". To a “fisher of men”, the tithe is a powerful tool. Like in the book of Acts, it can be used to help people find their way to God. The generosity of the early Christians towards their communities caused many to turn to Christ daily. Having no building to maintain or a big budget for staffing, Online church empowers its members to personally  and effectively fulfil the role of “fishers of men”. "Fishing" will take on a whole new dimension! In contrast to Offline church where everything revolves around the church, tithes and offerings are brought into the church and the church is empowered to manage it as it sees fit. Usually, big portions are set aside for buildings, administrations and staffing.

 

Again, I have need to state my stand. I am not suggesting our current church model is wrong. In any organization, there is a need for hierarchy and management. As long as there is transparency and accountability, it can function well. I am just bringing to your attention the concept of Online church the way I see it. Church in Acts was a powerful movement until it was institutionalized. There is a big difference between a river and a lake. In my personal opinion, I see the need for church today to go hybrid if we are going to be effective and relevant for the future.

Offline church's primary responsibility is towards its congregation. As can be seen in this pandemic, the immediate response of the church was to find ways to reach out and stay in touch with its congregations. It dedicated much of its resources towards its congregations. Online church on the other hand, do not incur much expense. It is simple, duplicable, and not in need for big budgets, either for start-ups or maintenance as it is a church without buildings. Its primary responsibility is the harvest fields. Online church do not gather. It decentralize. That's the power of the internet. It connects people via social media no matter where or when. Most people are engaged in social media. The church needs to hop on board. We need to go to sea in order to fish.

On the side, let me emphasize the fact that although anyone can start a “church” (as in Ecclesia) online, we must not neglect working with others. In the spirit of the Bible, we practice servant hood - the attitude of stewardship and accountability. I do not condone independent spirit. We are designed by God to interact with others. We are stronger when we walk and work together. The smallest unit of accountability must be towards at least two or three. There is safety in numbers. The devil is prowling and looking for the stray aways. Online church is not meant to be an independent entity. As churches sprung up in Jerusalem and other regions, they still move together as a single unit. The apostles formed a council (not an organization) and cultured a spirit of check and balance. The apostles travelled to where Christians had gathered and they preached and taught the Word. The early Christians allowed themselves to come under an umbrella of safety, of check and balance as they yield to the counsel and influence of the apostles. Somehow, by the Holy Spirit, like the starfish, they were able to move as a single unit of hearts and minds. Today, it is hard for us to imagine a church without hierarchy. It is even harder to see the church as a movement because mostly, churches work independently of each other. Perhaps this pandemic has shaken the church a little. we need to rediscover church and fall back to the core of its existence. Try envisioning the church Jesus initiated. To me, it does look different from the church we know today.

I am sure you would have questions popping into your mind. You can post it in the comments section. Next week, I will write about engaging. The Online church seeks to engage, not attract. It practices the “School of Elisha” - a concept I introduced into Vineyard some years back. God bless.

ONLINE CHURCH #02

This is my second write-up with regard my thoughts on ONLINE church. As you read, keep in mind what I wrote previously: that OFFLINE (on-site) church will never fade away. ONLINE church had made its debut and is here to stay even after this pandemic. The church has a need to go hybrid and in these articles, I am helping us understand what it means to go hybrid and what an ONLINE church really is. What we are experiencing today is only a replica of church services online. I am looking beyond. So stay with me on this journey in rediscovering church.

 

Since the beginning of creation, God has reached out to mankind. After the Fall in Eden, God continued reaching out. He established covenants, raised up a people and a nation for Himself for the sake of others. Till this day, through Jesus' incarnation, God continues with His mission - “seek and rescue”. God is always on the move. He is still seeking, not attracting.

 

The difference between “seeking” and “attracting” is the marked difference between the ONLINE and OFFLINE church. For centuries, one of the major tasks of the church is centered on its buildings. This involves real estate (prime locations) and facade (spicing up its buildings). The idea is to convert a property into a “house of God” and the mission, to attract people into its buildings. This represents the OFFLINE church. To understand ONLINE/OFFLINE church further, let us go back to the days of Tent and Temple.

 

The concept of temple ministry started with God. It was God’s idea to build a sanctuary. The reason was clearly stated: “so that I may dwell among them” (Ex. 25:8). In the building of the Tabernacle, God took the effort of going to His people. This sanctuary was built to be simple, mobile, and temporary. It was built a tent. In contrast, Solomon’s Temple was a permanent building, lavishly built at a fixed location. It is important to note the building of Solomon’s Temple was man’s idea, not God. God never asked for it. After a short discourse with David, God allowed the building of the temple through Solomon, David’s son, thus it was called Solomon’s Temple. Whether it was the Tent or the Temple, the emphasis was not so much about the structures. It was about the priesthood ministry.  

 

Since the Tabernacle was a mobile tent, it was not confined to a fixed location, unlike Solomon’s temple where one had to travel to Jerusalem to grace the House of God. The Tabernacle can be moved anywhere, anytime. That is the marked difference between an ONLINE and an OFFLINE church. One is “mobile” while the other is not. One “seeks” while the other needs to “attracts”. For a long time now, churches have invested heavily in their buildings, trying to keep them attractive. We want people to come visit. We hoped they would like it enough to stay and be part of the church. I am not suggesting this is wrong, but if we truly want to be fishers of men like we are called to be, then we need to GO where the fishes are. They are out at sea and we need to go find them. Today, Christians are more comfortable at being keepers of the aquarium (forgive the pun) than being fishers of men. The dynamics of the church in the book of Acts are so different from today. We would rather attract than seek. We have evolved from a movement into an institution. I am speaking generally.

 

Christians are in a dilemma. Sundays are sacred and faithful Christians are expected to be in church on Sundays. For the un-churched, the church does not matter. With only one weekend per week, they had plans to chill, to catch up with family and friends. Many travel during extended weekends or they do  stuff like marketing, breakfasts away from home, cycling, hiking, shopping, lunches, etc.. These “fishes” are out at sea. How do we fish them unless we are willing to go out to sea? Lamps need to be placed on lamp stands and strategically located for it to be useful.Why do we place our “lamps” in places where it is already brightly lit and not out there in darkness where it is much needed? Light is necessary for "fishing". Light attracts fish. If we are to be the light of the world, then we need to be where we are needed. This is where Online church comes in handy. Having no church buildings, its purpose was to seek, not attract. That was how the early church grew into a movement. Being "mobile" like a tent, they met anywhere and anytime. During His earthly ministry, Jesus did not have a fixed location to attract people. He was always on the move seeking out the lost.Jesus was a movement.

 

This pandemic has helped me grasped what I have been trying to figure out for a decade. We are now into a new season. We need to adapt and evolve. I no longer feel institutionalized. On weekends, you will find me in church. And if I am not, then I am probably "out fishing" and I am bringing church with me. Most nonbelievers do not care about church. They do not care about our buildings (except maybe as tourists) or our services. Occasionally they may pop in for functions and invites. Instead of trying to attract them into our church, why not we follow after them? When Jesus came, He did not come to attract. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. Instead of focusing on attracting, we need to focus on following. This is what seeking is all about. ONLINE church seeks to follow.

 

Having laid these foundations, next week I will endeavor to explain my understanding of Online church. For now, understand this. Online church is not here to replace On-site church. Neither is it designed as an alternative church for convenience sake. Church is serious business. In today's digital world, online church has become a necessity. Our world has evolved. Digital platform has been around for quite awhile but the church has not really got on board, not until this pandemic. Things are pretty much online nowadays. From shopping to dating, we are experiencing a new normal. In as much as online shopping has become a norm, shopping complexes will always remain. We need both OFFLINE and ONLINE church. Time for the church to evolve and going hybrid is not only necessary but is the church for the future. My journey in rediscovering church continues. God bless.

ONLINE Church # 01

 

Back in 1980 I had my first experience in pioneering church. Vineyard Church was my second. Today I am pressing on to pioneer yet another, but this will be an ONLINE Church. This pandemic is changing the landscape of this current centuries-old-western-church model. Personally, I think it is a good and welcoming change. With this in mind, in the next couple of write ups, I want to share my thoughts on what I envision as an ONLINE Church. Let me begin with a bit of background.

My journey began some ten years ago. Vineyard Church had grown to be one of the mid-sized church in the AOG circle. At one time, we breached the two hundred and fifty markers in attendance, yet there was this growing dissatisfaction within me. I had always had the impression that something was amiss about the way church is being done today. I am aware there are diversities of workings and of method in ministries, but in this current church model, I felt we were not hitting the spot. A couple of years before this pandemic, I started ACTS 29. I wanted to be able to do church anywhere, anytime, not confined to a fixed location and fixed time services. But there was yet another reason for wanting to “decentralize” church. What IF for some reason, the freedom to worship at fixed locations is taken from us? Rather than being caught unaware, I needed a contingency plan and thus ACTS 29 was introduced to the Vineyard. We know the book of Acts ended at chapter 28. ACTS 29 is to be a replica of the church the way it was back in the days of Acts. From Acts, I came to an understanding of what the church really was and how it ought to be, but the current church model did not give me the freedom to do that which I had wanted to. While I deliberated on this, I passed the leading of the church to one of my pastoral team while I freed myself from church work to further explore ACTS 29. That was 2019. Then came Covid, 2020 and I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Instead of feeling frustrated by the disruptions and interruptions of life due to this pandemic, I got curious. Just short months into it, I saw church evolving. What was supposed to have happened maybe five years or more in the future is been escalated to today. Churches were caught unprepared and went into survival mode. Pastors were trying to figure out ways to reach its congregations. Online services became the obvious solution. The more creative ones took to social media. Change was inevitable and unstoppable. The tide had changed and a new season had unfolded. Churches have to rise to the occasion or miss out on the greatest opportunity of a lifetime We need to evolve. We need to see beyond this pandemic. Our analog world had evolved into a digital world and the church must flow with the tide. Gen X, Y and Z were born into a digital world. With this reality in mind, I want to take us on a journey in rediscovering church. The way I see it, the church in Acts is making a comeback, but in a digital format. So let's walk the road that was once traveled upon. This road may be faintly recognizable but the impressions along the way will still lead us there. We need to rethink church in today’s digital world.

 

ACTS: CHURCH WITHOUT LOCATION OR FIXED TIMES.

Acts 2:46-47

With one accord they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Back in Acts, churches were active every single day as suggested by the expression “daily”. The early Christians were not into church buildings nor fixed time services. They congregated at homes, anywhere, anytime. In contrast, believers today attend church on weekends and perhaps occasionally on weekdays. This has been the practice and culture ever since the first half of the second century. The church had evolved from a movement into a religious institution with hierarchy, fixed locations and fixed time services. In my following articles, I will endeavor to paint a picture of what I perceive an online church to be. You will note the similarities with the church in Acts. I am hoping to replicate the early church in context of our digital world today. What we are seeing currently is not what I perceive an online church to be. Live streaming of on-site services is just an extension of on-site church. Video On Demand is just a resource. An online church is a movement. It has no fixed locations nor fixed time services. There are no geographical boundaries. It is driven by different "engines". Online church is church anywhere, anytime as long as we are digitally connected.

To begin our journey, let me be clear up front.

1) I am not saying the way we do church today is wrong.

There are diversities of ministries and of methods. (1 Cor 12:4-7). In one way or another, the gospel is being preached and souls are being saved. That’s the core.

2) I am not reinventing the wheel. Wheels are round no matter. Church is church, whether it’s OFFLINE or ONLINE. So why am I looking into pioneering an ONLINE church? The short answer: "the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few".

OFFLINE church is never going away just as ONLINE service is never going to fade away. ONLINE church is the new kid on the block. It is here to stay. We are no longer just living in an analog world. Today’s kids are born into a digital world which is fast evolving. To remain relevant, on-site church must not just replicate Sunday services online. It has to go hybrid. I have been trying to achieve this hybrid model since ACTS 29. I couldn’t find our sweet spot back then but today, because of this pandemic, I have a better perspective. As I unfold my thoughts in my following articles, keep an open mind. For now, understand this: When church began in Acts, it was never about buildings and fixed time services. It was a movement, not an institution. It has no hierarchy. Movement spreads, institution grows. With the internet, church can once again be a movement. Online church is literally a church without walls. It grows beyond the capacity of buildings. It will reach far and wide across nations and peoples. I suspect this will be the vehicle in which the gospel can and will be made known throughout the whole world. 

We are living in exciting times indeed. Walk with me in this journey in rediscovering church. Just as the letter or the law differs vastly from the spirit of the law, you will be pleasantly surprised when you discern the "spirit" of the church from the institution of the church today. God bless.

“NAKED I CAME … NAKED SHALL I RETURN”

“NAKED I CAME … NAKED SHALL I RETURN”

And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)

The above sayings had been quoted often as the sayings of God when in fact it was the sayings of Job in the midst of his misfortunes and sufferings as he was trying to make sense of everything that was happening. Is it true that the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away? Is it true that naked we came and naked we shall go? We need to understand, just because someone said something which was recorded in the Bible, it does not necessarily mean the saying is of God. We have need to differentiate between what is of God and what is of man, what God said, what man said and the conversation between God and man or man with God must be taken into content. Otherwise, it is easy to mistake man’s thoughts as God’s thoughts and man’s sayings as God sayings. A lot of damage had been done because we do not take things in its context. That is why when reading the Bible, we need to keep in mind the WHO, WHAT, WHEN, HOW and WHY. Coming back to the sayings of Job above, here is what I think.

What God had given, can be lost if we are not careful. Unlike us, God is generous. Everything He made for Adam and Eve in Eden were “taken” away not because God was vengeful or disappointed with them. God simply cannot allow sinful (fallen) man to have access to the Tree of Life in Eden. God gave man everything and man lost it all. We reap what we sow, and this is the universal law of cause and effect. As for “naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return” this is what it is. First of all, we are not returning to our mother’s womb. That is not a possibility. Secondly, it is not true we shall return naked. We will in fact return with all our works, our deeds, whether good of bad. There will be two future judgments awaiting humanity. The Great White Throne Judgment and the Judgment Seat of Christ. The former awaits the unbelievers and rejecters of God and the later is reserved for followers of Christ. At both judgments, Books will be opened and each will be judged by their works. The degree of sufferings and rewards will then be determined.

At the Great White Throne Judgment:

Romans 2:5-6

5But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”

 

At the Judgment Seat of Christ:

2 Cor. 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

 

How we live our lives today matter.

Ecclesiastes 12:14

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

Let us therefore not have this notion that “Naked I came ... and naked I shall return. The Lord gave and the Lord had taken away”. We will all leave one day with our works. And what God had given, being stewards, we either gained more or we had lost it. Our salvation too is a gift from God. Let us not lose it for the sake of temporary pleasures and lust. Think eternity. And remember, as believers and followers of Christ, even though we are saved by grace, we will be judged by our works. Jesus do not wish that we return to God empty handed. He said it is important TODAY that we store up for ourselves treasures in heaven.

 

Matt. 6:19-20

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

So yes, naked we came but when we leave, we will not go empty handed. Let us store up for ourselves today treasures in heaven. Why? Because one day, we shall migrate to heaven. Our treasures will give us a head start. God bless.

Your thoughts?

 

Maybe not in our country but maybe in your travel overseas, you would have seen huge billboards on Jesus? If I was to ask if billboards about Jesus are a good idea, I am sure I will get all kind of reactions. There are always the braves, the smarts, the uninformed, the highly opinionated, the extremes, etc who would have something to say about this. Just like the issue of wearing masks. But I do have a question I will ask. Will Jesus be thrilled to see Himself on billboards if He were to walk our streets today? Will He admire the billboards? Will He say, “Good job?” Let me take this one step further. Will Jesus be elated and thrilled with YouTube videos on Christian testimonies and related postings? Will He say, “Fantastic?” Should your answer be “Yes”, I have two more questions I will ask.

1. Why didn’t Jesus choose to come in our era of internet instead of back then when Rome ruled?

2. Why did Jesus warned those He healed not to tell about the healing? (eg. Matt :30; Mk 1:43-44).

Care to share your thoughts? I am thinking ... Christians prefer testimonies over the Word of God. 

What is the meaning of life?

 I was at a prayer session via Zoom last night when a lady asked "What is the meaning of life". It was an opening cue she uses when she shares the gospel but I thought she was serious about THE question. She got me thinking of a response. I can understand coming from someone who have no faith in God but for a Christian? I didn't share my thoughts then because I wasn't asked but here is what I had wanted to say then: "Ask Moses or any of the Israelite in the wilderness en route to Canaan land."  Why?

Imagine you and I being part of Moses' camp. Here we are in the wilderness with nothing but bare necessities and no idea where we are going. All we know is we are heading to Canaan land which wasn't very far off (fourteen day journey actually) but we don't seem to be getting there. Rather, we are camping here and there and the days had turned into weeks, into months and into years! How would you have felt had you been in Moses' camp? We know from the Bible the Israelite complained and rebelled couple of times due to a sense of lostlessness, of hopelessness and what seem to be a meaningless venture. That's how people feel without God. That's why post people ask: "What's the meaning of life?" How do you think Moses will answer? I can't speak on behalf of Moses but here's what I think. Life is a preparation for the afterlife.

Ever since the fall of mankind, not only mankind but our planet too had been judged, a result of cause and effect. Today, earth is weighed down heavily by the sin of mankind and sin is raging like the Corona virus. Unlike Corona which will eventually be dealt with when God's mercy eventually shows up in time to come, sin on the other hand will always remain. And how is sin affecting mankind and earth today? The earth groans (that's when calamities and pandemics hit) and death is inevitable. Not just physical death but the second death (eternal separation from God).  That's why we hope in God and His future plans which include a new earth where sin will no longer ravage and destroy and where death is no more.

²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?" (Romans 8).

This hope we have in God is what this life here on earth is about. A preparation, a transition to that which is to come. Like Moses and the Israelites, though the wait is long and difficult, the wilderness was never meant to be their ultimate destination. God was preparing them to be able to not only inherit Canaan land but to also handle life there. Let me remind us once again this hope, this reason for living our lives well here and now ...

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God^[a]; believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14).

"My Father's house = Universe

"Many rooms" = Solar Systems

There's this song ringing in my heart now: "This world is not my home. I'm just a passing through. My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue. My Savior beckons me from heaven's open shores. And I can't feel at home in this world anymore".

Live well and don't just live for now. Live for eternity. That's God's plan for mankind. That is the meaning of life.

FOREVER or for ETERNITY

 

This morning I read from Ecclesiastes 1 and a word from verse 4 caught my attention. “Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever."  That word is “forever”. Checking the dictionary forever mean for all future time; for always. Is the earth going to last forever? I don’t think that’s what Ecclesiastes meant.

Forever has to do with time. Time has to do with our planet’s rotation and orbit around the sun in sync with other planets in our solar system. Should we get out of earth, away and beyond our milky way, time is no more. Out in deep space, there is timelessness. If you perhaps land on some other solar system with a planet that sustains life, then time begins again. But time then would be different than that which we experience here. My point is, there is a huge difference between forever and eternity. In a realm where time is not, eternity is. God is timeless. God is not bound by the laws of physics nor time. Our time on earth is determined. One can live averagely eighty years after which comes eternity when we will no longer be here on planet earth where time is but forever.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

Forever is temporary. Eternity is infinite. Our eternal God reminds us the stark contrast between forever and eternity. An eternity on earth is a nightmare. Our milky way is not the one and only creation of God. That would not justify God's existence. God created the entire universe. It starts with a big bang but it is God who caused that fateful explosion that brought about life and time. Four billion years it took for earth’s creation may seem like forever, but considering eternity, forever is but just a moment. Science is simply knowledge. There is so much more yet to uncover, to learn and even if we live to be a thousand years old, we will still gain but a teeny-weeny knowledge of the universe God had created. That’s why I look forward to eternity. As long as we are alive, we have the ability to gain knowledge. And the good news is, life does not end on earth. God has set eternity for us. Earth is but a gateway to the universe God had created for His pleasure and for us. I really wish scientists can know this. There is yet so much to hope for, to look forward to if only we look beyond forever into eternity.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14:1-4).

I like to paraphrase the above invitation of Jesus. To me, this is what I understand.

“Do not let your heart be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s universe has many milky ways; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place to where I am going”.

How do we know the way? Jesus Himself proclaimed: “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). Look at the universe. Eternity is for real. Sad thing is, people choose to live forever instead of for eternity. The apostle Paul made mention: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18). There is a stark contrast between forever and eternity. 

My take for today? 

1. Church, never lose your way with God. If you feel you have strayed too far and you feel lost, it is time you pray to find your way back to God. Who knows what tomorrow holds? Like flowers in the fields, we are here today and gone the next. 

2. For those who are in a quest for knowledge, good news is you can have all eternity for your quest, to learn and to unravel the wonders of creation. God created us for His pleasure. And one of His greatest pleasure is that we gain knowledge of His creation. The universe is God's playground for us. I hope you live a blessed life. Find your way to God, or find your way back to God. Either way, life doesn't make sense without acknowledging God and His creation. Have a good day.