The Gospel Way Catechismنموونە

QUESTION 1: What Is the Center and Point of Everything?

ANSWER

God is the center and point of everything. In him, all things come to be and are held together. He has no rival.

“I am the master of my fate and the captain of my soul.” These words, spoken by Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela in the movie Invictus, come from the English poet William Ernest Henley. This phrase resonates with us in the modern world, stirring up a sense of exhilaration at the idea of controlling our destiny or determining our own meaning of life. This is one of the controlling ideas in Western culture today. The philosopher Charles Taylor describes this outlook: “My ultimate purposes are those which arise within me; the crucial meanings of things are those defined in my responses to them.” Master of my fate! Captain of my soul! The meaning of life is whatever I make of it. My future is in my hands.

Exhilaration eventually slides into exhaustion. When we prioritize our individual interests and perspectives above all else, when the “I” is always in the driver’s seat, we create a culture lacking in empathy and consideration for others. Loneliness arises. Friendships become shallow. We suffer under the weight and pressure of constantly having to figure out who we are, what our future should be, and what will make us happy.

When looking at life, the world starts with us. The Bible starts with God. The contrast matters. The Bible pushes back against an overly individualistic, human-centered way of thinking and living. Instead of making meaning, defining our identity, and coming to God on our own terms, we discover meaning, receive an identity, and meet the God who comes to us on his terms.

The Bible begins with God because God is the beginning and end. The world doesn’t revolve around us, and neither does God. It is we who revolve around him. And even if we may bristle at being demoted from first place, there’s something refreshing to realize God is at the center so that everything else falls into place. The good news of God being the point of everything is that we now have someone outside ourselves who tells us who we are, who declares our worth, and who helps us see the point of our existence.

Instead of living in an inconsistent, risky, and exhausting manner of thinking life is all about us, laboring to make sense of everything independently, why not embrace God as the center and point of everything? Why not experience the sigh of relief as we move out of the center and see God take his rightful place?

The world’s catechism says, “You come first.” But the Bible says, Seek God first (Matthew 6:33 CSB). And God promises, “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13 CSB). God can’t be reduced to just one of the many priorities on your list; he must be the priority. God is not just a chapter in the story of your life; he’s the author of your story, the one who makes sense of all the chapters of your life.

God is the master of our fate. God is to be the captain of our souls. “In the beginning, God ” (Genesis 1:1 CSB). The Bible starts with God. So do we.

Reflection Questions

How does acknowledging God as the center and point of everything challenge the contemporary notion that life is all about us? The idea that we find meaning and purpose inside ourselves stands in contrast to the biblical teaching that meaning and purpose come from God. How does this truth shape your understanding of your identity and purpose?

What practices can help remind us that God is worthy to be first in our lives? What are some practical ways our lives can show others that he is the center and point of everything?