This Is Your Life, From Start To Finish

This Is Your Life, From Start To Finish

Psalm 63: 1-4

Intro: How many remember the old TV program called “This is your life”? For us younger folks, it was a TV program that started in 1952 and this original series lasted until 1961. There were spin offs and copycats but none were ever as popular as the original. The way it worked was that each week, a celebrity would be lured to a location close to the studio by a friend or acquaintance. They would then be surprised with the news that they were the featured guest on this week’s program. They would be taken to the studio and a review of the great accomplishments of their lives would begin. They would give accolades of their lives and family and friends would be there with gifts and presents that celebrated their life. The show was very successful for nine years.

. As I thought about and prayed through what God would want me to share with you on this day that we are honoring our seniors, I was led to Psalm 63 and especially the first four verses.

. As we examine this scripture, we are going to see a model for our Christian life.

. For our seniors here this morning, I hope this will help you as you look back and look forward to your walk with the Lord.

Lets read our scripture. Psalm 63:1-4

. 1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

2 I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory.

3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!

4 I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.

. Christian, Senior, This is your Christian life.

. Look at verse 1 again.

. 1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

. Our Christian life, your Christian life began and begins with a search for God.

. We may not understand exactly what we are searching for but it all began with a search.

. The boss of a big company needed to call one of his employees about an urgent problem with one of the main computers. He dialed the employees home telephone number and was greeted with a child’s whispered, "Hello?"

The boss asked, "Is your Daddy home?"

"Yes," whispered the small voice.

"May I talk with him?" the man asked.

To the boss’ surprise, the small voice whispered, "No."

The boss persisted, "Is your Mommy there?"

"Yes," came the answer.

"May I talk with her?"

Again, the small voice whispered, "No."

“Well, is there someone else there I might talk to?" the boss asked the child.

"Yes," whispered the child, "a policeman."

"Well then, may I speak with the policeman?"

"No,” whispered the child “he is busy"

"Busy doing what?" asked the boss.

"Talking to Daddy and Mommy and the Fireman," came the whispered answer.

Now the boss was growing concerned and just then he heard what sounded like a helicopter through the ear piece on the phone, the boss asked, "What is that noise?"

"A hello-copper," answered the whispering voice.

Alarmed, the boss nearly shouted: "What is going on there?"

In an awed whispering voice, the child answered, "The search team just landed the hello-copper!"

"Why are they there?"

There was a muffled giggle as the child said, "They are looking for me!"

. We all search for something.

. We all start our Christian life with a search.

.Our Christian life began with our soul thirsting for something or someone to fill an emptiness that is inside all of mankind.

. Many of us tried all sorts of things to fill that void.

. We try to do it with relationships with spouses or friends and acquaintances.

. There is nothing wrong with these relationships but they will not fill the emptiness that creates this search in us.

. We try filling this void with activities and hobbies. Sports or partying.

. There is nothing wrong with a good party but that never fills the void that we are searching to fill.

. David, in this psalm, describes how our body, our soul, our very being longs to be filled.

. We long to be filled and God is the only thing that will fill this void.

. We hear of the drive that adopted children have to find their birth parents. This desire and drive is in them because there is something missing in their life that needs to be present.