Merv Griffin show

Alan Smith recalls seeing a body builder who appeared on the Merv Griffin
show a number of years ago. When he got on stage, the body builder stepped
forward and flexed a series of well-defined muscles from chest to calf. The
audience applauded.

Merv asked him, "What do you use all those muscles for?" Again, the
muscular man flexed, and biceps and triceps sprouted to impressive
proportions.

Merv persisted. He said, "But what do you use those muscles for?" And the
body builder was bewildered. He didn't have an answer other than to display
his well-developed frame.

After viewing the incident, Alan Smith wrote: "I think we face the same
temptation. God has blessed each of us with a host of talents and
abilities. But they haven't been given to us simply so we can 'show off' in
front of others. And when we are asked the question, 'What do you use your
talents for?', I hope our response is not to flex our muscles and look
confused. I hope we realize that all that we have and all that we are has
been given to us for a purpose."

For what purpose? God's Word provides the answer.

Our purpose is to live in fellowship with God and bring glory to Him with
our lives.

The PROBLEM is that our sins separate us from God and from life's noble
purpose. Our situation is like the people of Isaiah's day: "Your iniquities
have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from
you, So that He will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2).

But God has provided a SOLUTION. He sent His Son to die on the cross to pay
the price for our sins so that we might have forgiveness of sins and the
freedom to live life properly (Ephesians 1:7).

Each of us can accept this forgiveness and freedom upon our obedience to the
Gospel ("Good News") of Jesus by: placing our faith and trust in Him (Acts
16:30-31), turning from our sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing
Him before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized into Christ (Acts 2:38;
Romans 6:3-4).

Then, we are to "count ourselves DEAD to sin but ALIVE to God in Christ
Jesus" (Romans 6:11) to fulfill the REAL purpose of life....

"Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do ALL to the
glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Won't YOU?

David A. Sargent