Living Life In High Definition
- Rev. Jerry Lepasana
- Mar 4, 2007
- Series: High Definition Living
High Definition Living: (Part I)
LIVING LIFE IN HIGH DEFINITION
John 10:10; 1 Corinthians 13:12
John 10:10
10) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
1 Corinthians 13:12
12) Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
Today, one of the latest and hottest technologies that came out in home entertainment is HDTV or high definition television. How many people here have HDTV? High definition television is high resolution digital television combined with Dolby Digital Surround Sound.
Now I have no idea what that means, but I do know that it produces a remarkable image and sound. The high resolution picture is the main selling point for it. They are about 10 times more resolution, 10 times more clarity on an HDTV screen than on a regular television screen. So there is a huge difference. It takes watching television to a whole new level. That's why they call it high definition television.
However, to have HDTV requires a lot of technology, a lot of equipment and a lot of tasks. For instance, HDTV requires the following: new high definition television stations and broadcast towers have to be built in communities to produce high definition signals. So high definition digital signals can't come from regular television station or tower. The cable operators combine all of their equipment and have to change their set top boxes. Not only that, but broadcasters have to spend a considerable amount of money to switch to HDTV. They have to buy new cameras, new equipment, and new machines. It's a big investment. And finally, you and I have to buy new equipment. We either have to buy one of those expensive big, nice televisions or we have to buy a converter box that converts the digital signals so that they will play on our televisions. High definition television is definitely the best, biggest, boldest, brightest revolution in home entertainment in the last couple of years, but it comes with a hefty price tag and requires us to make considerable changes.
Well, beginning this morning we will be talking about High Definition Living. How can we live a high definition life? How can I live a life that is better then what I have right now, a life that has purpose and excitement? A life that stands out from the low resolution lives of the people who are around me. A life on a higher level spiritually, emotionally, professionally, physically, the kind of life that God wants his children to have.
I know a lot of people think that the Christian life is boring, dull and so predictable. But that's not the way God intended it to be. God intended the Christian life to be exciting and full of life. In fact, if you look at our next verse John 10:10, Jesus came and lived on earth so that we could live life in high definition. Read again the verse. Let me give you the Message translation of the last part of it - "My purpose is to give life in all its fullness, more and better life than you ever dreamed of."
You see, HDTV is television in all its fullness. Bigger, bolder and brighter. High definition living is life, lived in all of its fullness. Bigger, bolder and brighter life than we ever experienced or dreamed of. It's your life taken to the next level. Of course, high definition living is higher quality at a higher cost. It's higher quality because when you connect your life with God and live your life the way He created you to live; you begin to live life in high definition.
In the New Testament, Paul writes in I Corinthians 13:12. Paul writes, "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." This is what I call high resolution living. Here, Paul says, there is no complete clarity in life. Life isn't going to be perfect this side of Heaven. But what he does say is, the more connected we are with God, the more we begin living the life with higher clarity, a life that is much better.
As we have already emphasized, it is a higher quality at a higher cost. If we want a high definition life we need to make some significant steps that will bring about some changes in our lives. You need to have four important elements in a high definition life.
I A UNIQUE SOURCE:
First of all, high definition television requires a unique source to broadcast high definition digital signals. For instance, we could go out to the store and buy the most expensive high definition television, and still could not watch television in high definition unless there was a source, unless a specific high definition television station had been built with a broadcast tower to send that signal.
In the same way, it doesn't matter what kind of life you are trying to live or how good you are trying to be. To have a high definition life also requires a unique source. God is our ultimate source for high definition living.
I believe all of us want to live exciting lives, but we often look to the wrong source to provide us that life. Sometimes, we look to money or our careers and think-if we accumulate enough stuff, or if we climb to certain level in our career, that will bring us the type of life that we dreamed of. Or we think if we just meet the right person, or we live the right lifestyle and that will bring the happiness and fulfillment that we have been searching for. The truth is without God, all of these will only lead to a lot of frustrations and emptiness. The Bible makes it very clear in Genesis 1:27 that man is God's ultimate and most special creation:
Genesis 1:27
27) So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
As God's most special creation, we are the only part of God's creation that can have a relationship with God. And it's our most important purpose. In fact, we are created to long for and desire that relationship more than anything else. However, when that connection and that relationship are missing, there is a noticeable emptiness in our lives. The biggest tragedy that can happen in our lives is for us to be cut off from our source, for us to be cut off from our Creator.
John 15:5
5) "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Are you connected with God today? How can we stay connected? This leads me to my second point:
II A UNIQUE RECEIVER:
We need a unique source to live a high definition life. But we also need a unique receiver. Just as I have to take the step to buy an HDTV, to take advantage of the technology and receive that kind of quality, I have to take a step in connecting with God. Now, if anyone wants to be connected with God, he or she needs to take the step of faith. Listen to what Jesus said:
John 6:47
47) I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.
Underline that word "believe". If I want to be connected with my Creator, I have to believe first. What happened is, God reached out first. He created us as a His unique creation and He loved us so much that even though we turned away from Him, He became of this world to save us by dying on the cross for our sins. I ask you, who in this world would die for you, right now, willingly, even after you have rejected them? Think about it. If you do think of someone, they must love you tremendously. It would be so selfless to do something like that.
Well, that's what God did-not just for one person, He did it for everyone who will believe in Him. All you have to do is accept the gift. All we have to do is believe what Jesus did for us.
The Greek word used for ‘everlasting life" is ZOE. It's translated as vitality, a fullness of life, an extraordinary life,. This is the high definition life we can receive in Jesus Christ. Remember, He alone can connect us with God.
John 14:6
14) Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
III A UNIQUE SIGNAL:
The HDTV signal is the highest quality of video and sound available, the images are so real and vivid. They are extraordinary. It is almost as if you could reach out and experience the picture with your senses. Just like HDTV, for a high definition life, we need a unique signal.
Let's look at our next verse which is Matthew 5:13.
"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
The human body cannot survive without salt. It's one of those elements that is critical, but the body cannot manufacture it. So we must provide it. And we must usually provide it through our diet. Then, salt is also used as a seasoning. It brings out the food's natural flavors. It makes food flavorful. Food without salt is just ordinary. It's bland. Therefore, salt transforms our food from ordinary to extraordinary.
Well, salt has another important use. It's also used a preservative. It prevents food from rotting. It extends the life of food so that it will be eatable for much longer. Now, why did Jesus say that once we are connected with God we are the salt of the earth? Because God says that when we are connected with Him, our life has flavor and spice, not just for us, but for the world around us. But God also tells us that when we are connected to Him, we will be an instrument to bring preservation in the lives of others like our friends and loved ones. If we are not connected with God and receiving His signal, we will slowly lose our flavor. We will become worthless. Is your life seasoned and flavorful? Are you the salt of the earth? We haven't lived a life until we lived a life through Jesus Christ. God has the greatest, more loving, successful and extraordinary life planned for each of us that we could possibly imagine. But we must choose to live this high definition life.
IV A UNIQUE SERVICE:
Last but not the least, to live the life that God has for you, to live a high definition life, it also requires that your life affects the people around you. You see, the result of high definition living, is not to keep this bigger, bolder and brighter life to ourselves, it is to use it to impact the lives of those around us as well. Look at how Jesus described a high definition life in the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 5:14-15
14) "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
15) Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In these verses, it is clear that to be a high definition Christian, we need to be serving others. We should never hide our light from Jesus Christ. Jesus emphasize in the text that no one lights a candle and hides it under a bowl.
Therefore, as an individual, you must decide to take the steps necessary to impact the world around you and live a high definition life. That's the reason why at Bible Church International, we are committed to going to the next level to be a light in our city, in our community. In fact, one of our goals this year is to connect with and serve our community in meaningful ways. So besides our medical missions, there will be ministry opportunities this year like going to nursing homes, feeding the homeless, and many others.
I hope you will understand that God intends others to discover a high definition life. But this can only happen when they see the light of Jesus through us. Do you know the number one reason people buy high definition televisions? It isn't because of a sophisticated advertising campaign. It's because of satisfied customers who would openly recommend HDTV to their friends and loved ones. We too can do the same. We can boldly recommend a high definition life to others which can be found only in Jesus Christ.