How often do you stop to think seriously about the ultimates of your human existence? That's a heavy question, isn't it?

This week I have been pondering that question for myself. I have to conclude that although I am a very reflective person, I do not that often strip life down to its ultimate questions. Why not? I don't because I'm usually caught up in the tyranny of the urgent. And when I am not caught up in the tyranny of the urgent, I am usually seeking diversion from those urgent matters that so preoccupy my thoughts.

This is not to minimize or trivialize the urgent. My urgent is important. So is yours. But how often do we slow our systems down long enough to prioritize by asking ourselves some tough questions? I invite you this morning to stop long enough to think seriously about the ultimates of your human existence.

A few moments ago you saw on the screens a vivid pictorial narrative of the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. The scenes are shocking to see in a Christian sanctuary. I shared them in an endeavor to capture your attention for just a few moments. For today is not about an Easter bunny, a hunt for brightly-colored eggs, and overdosing on chocolates. It's about the triune God who created us in His image, sees that something has gone wrong, and breaks into our history in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. This is the God who cares for you and me and wants to address the ultimates in our lives.

Every so often you and I can benefit from a change in environment. Whether it's a vacation, a personal crisis, or someone who simply shakes us to our core by a challenging message, it's good for us to stop, remove ourselves temporarily from the tyranny or the urgent, and to think deeply about ourselves, God, and how we and God can come together.

Jesus demonstrates for us what it is to take advantage of a momentary change in environment. The night before He was crucified, He stripped matters down to essentials in a way we can all find helpful. If you knew you were going to die in the next few hours, you would do this too, wouldn't you? You would think and talk seriously about the ultimates, both for your own sake, as to your own future, and for the sake of your loved ones as to theirs. So Jesus did this. He talked about His life and death and about that which is of most importance to others. He talked in terms of four priorities. He talked about the way to live and die. He talked about the truth concerning living and dying. He talked about life as it involves our existence here on earth and in the life to come. And He talked about how to have a healthy connect with God.

Would you agree that these are topics of ultimate significance? Don't these embody the ultimates of your human existence? Jesus made this statement about all four. He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me'" (John 14:6). All four of these are important to me. How about you?