人の生きる目的

はじめに、ミヒャエル・エンデ著「がんばりやのカメ（トランキラ・トランペルトロイ）」という作品を紹介したいと思います。

トランキラ・トランペルトロイ: がんばりやのかめ

以下の文章は私が個人的に単行本からまとめたものです。

　古いオリーブの木の根元に、一匹のかめがいました。亀の名前は、トランキラ・トランペルトロイと言いました。朝日を浴びながらトランキらが食事をしていると、木の枝の上で二羽の鳩が話し合っていました。　

　「私たちの尊敬する偉大な王様、サルタン・レオ２８世の結婚式が二週間後に行われる。そこには全ての動物が招待されている」

　話を聞いていたカメはひるまじゅう考え、夜も眠らずに考えて、やっと心を決めました。朝日がのぼって、あたりが明るくなると、トランキラは歩き出しました。一歩一歩ゆっくりと、けれど、けっして立ち止まることなく。

　一日中せっせと歩いていくとイバラの間に巣を張っているクモに出会いました。クモはカメにいいました。「そんなに急いでどこに行こうっていうんだい？」トランキラはクモに偉大な王様の結婚式に行くことを話しました。するとクモはクスクス笑いだしました。「のろまの君がどうやって結婚式に間に合うっていうんだい。」カメは答えました「一歩一歩歩いていくんだよ。きみも一緒に行こう。動物たちは全て結婚式に招かれているのだから」クモは言いました。「あんな遠くまで、歩くのには遠すぎる。きみもあきらめて家に帰りなさい。」

　それでもトランキラの心は変わりません。何を言われても、トランキラはまた歩きました。野を超え山超え、一歩一歩歩いて行きました。すると湖のほとりでカタツムリに出会いました。トランキラがまた偉大な王様の結婚式のことを話すと、カタツムリは言いました。「王様が住んでいる宮殿は反対の方向だよ、しかも結婚式まであと２日しかない。もうあきらめて私と一緒にここで暮らしましょう。」かめはカタツムリの誘いを断ってまた歩きだします。何日も何日も、木のやぶや、岩や、砂地や森を越えて、来たのとは反対の方へ昼も夜も歩き続けました。

　すると、今度は岩の上で日向ぼっこをしているトカゲに会いました。トカゲは結婚式に向かうトランキラに言いました。「私たちの偉大な王様は戦争に出かけたため、結婚式は取りやめになったのです。もう行く必要はありません。」それでもトランキラの気持ちは変わりません。結婚式は王様が招待してくれたもの。何が何でもいかなくては。

　トランキラは立ち止まることなく歩きはじめました。何日も何日も、岩越え森超え、昼も夜も有るき続けました。岩だらけの荒れ地を通った時、カメは黒い喪服を着たカラスの群れに出会いました。カラスは言いました。「私たちの偉大な王様サルタン・レオ２８世は先の戦争で大きな怪我をして、数日前におなくなりになった。しかも、偉大な王の前には、賢者である我々でさえ、めったに行くことはできないのだ。」カメは答えました。「私は王様の結婚式に招待されたのです。一歩一歩歩いていきます。」カラスは言いました。「なんという愚か者が、もう結婚式は無いのだ、もう家に帰りなさい。」それでもトランキラの気持ちは変わりませんでした。トランキラはまた何日も何日も、野を超え、山超え昼も夜も歩き続けました。

　こうしてカメはやっと、花の咲き乱れる森に着きました。そこにはありとあらゆる動物たちが集まっていました、みな結婚式に招待された動物たちでした。しかし、それはサルタン・レオ・２８世の結婚式ではなく、サルタン・レオ・２９世の結婚式でした。そこへ若くて立派なライオンの王子と花嫁のライオンが現れ、盛大な結婚式が行われました。

　招待客の真ん中には、カメのトランキラが疲れた様子でしたが、とても幸せそうに座っていました。
　トランキラは言いました。「ほらね、いつも言っていたとおり、ちゃんと結婚式には間に合ったでしょ」

ぜひ、本を手にとって読んでいただけたらと思います。

さて、今日お読みした聖書の中には、偉大な神の子、王なるイエス・キリストを信じる者たちの希望が書かれています。

私たちは今の暮らしや身分、立場、職業、家柄、一切関係なく、キリストを信じる者は神の子どもとされ、将来神の国を受け継ぐことになると約束されています。

この希望をもってクリスチャンは生きるのです。
それはちょうど、カメのトランキラが王様からの招待を信じて歩き続けたことに似ています。

私たちは、今がどんなに辛いときであったとしても、その先に良いことが待っていることを知っているなら、今を乗り越えることができます。

みなさんは今、何を期待しながら日々歩んでいるでしょうか？
みなさんの生きる目的は何でしょうか？
どこに向かって生きていますか？

もし、その目的が明確で、そして価値あるものであるなら、日々の苦しみも乗り越えることができます。

クリスチャンが待ち望み、期待していることは、イエス・キリストが与えてくださった約束です。

期待には二種類あります。
第一に、来るか来ないかわからないけれど、自分の勘にたより、希望的観測に頼ってひたすら歯を食いしばって待ち望むこと。
第二に、かならず来るという約束に基づいて、ワクワクして待つこと。

聖書は神の御国への招待状のようなものです。

神を信じるとは、この約束を神事、希望をもって生きることです。
そして、私たちが希望を持って生きる時、真実な神ご自身の栄光が私たちを通して現されることになるのです。

この一週間も、神さまの約束を信じ、希望をもって歩めますように！

最後までお読みいただき感謝します。
よろしければメッセージ動画も合わせて御覧ください。

purpose of human life　Eph1.11~14

Today's theme is really a big one.

First of all, I would like to tell you a story.

It is a story called "The hard worker　Tortoise" written by Michael Ende.

At the base of an old olive tree, there was a tortoise. The turtle's name was Tranquilla Trumpertroy. While Tranquilla was eating in the morning sun, two pigeons were talking with each other on the branches of the tree.

They said, "The wedding of our esteemed and great king, Sultan Leo XXVIII, will take place in two weeks. All animals are invited there."

The turtles, listening to the story, thought and thought all night long, and finally made up their minds. As soon as the sun rose and the sky became bright, Tranquilla set out on her journey. Slowly, step by step, but never stopping.

After walking diligently all day long, she came across a spider that had built a web among the thorns. The spider said to the turtle, " Where are you going in such a hurry? Tranquilla told the spider that they were going to the wedding of the great king. The spider began to giggle. How are you going to make it in time for the wedding, you slow wretch? The turtle replied, "Step by step. You will go with me. All the animals are invited to the wedding," said the spider. It's too far to walk,You should give up and go home.”

Tranquila's heart remained unchanged. No matter what was said, Tranquila continued to walk again. Step by step, he walked over fields and mountains.

Then he met a snail by a lake. When Tranquilla told him about the great king's wedding, the snail said, "The palace where the king lives is against the king. The king's palace is in the opposite direction, and the wedding is only two days away. Give up now and come live here with me." The turtle refused the snail's offer and started walking again. For days and days, it walked day and night in the opposite direction from where it had come, over thickets of trees, rocks, sand, and forest.

Then, this time, they met a lizard basking in the sun on a rock. The lizard said to Tranquilla, who was on his way to a wedding: " Our great king has gone to war, so the wedding has been canceled. There is no need for you to go." That did not change Tranquila's mind. The king had invited us to the wedding. She had to go no matter what.

Tranquilla started walking without stopping. For days and days, they crossed rocks and forests, walking day and night. When they passed through a rocky wasteland, the turtles met a group of crows dressed in black mourning clothes. The crows said, " Our great king, Sultan Leo XXVIII, was seriously injured in the last war and passed away a few days ago. Moreover, even we, the wise, seldom go before a great king." The tortoise replied. 'I have been invited to the king's wedding. I will walk step by step." The crow said. What a fool you are, there is no more wedding, now go home. That did not change Tranquila's mind. Tranquilla continued to walk for days and days, over fields and mountains, day and night.

Finally, the turtles arrived at a forest full of flowers. There, all kinds of animals had gathered, all of them invited to the wedding. But it was not the wedding of Sultan Leo XXIII, but of Sultan Leo XXIX. A young and handsome lion prince and his bride, a lion, appeared and a grand wedding ceremony took place.

In the middle of the guests sat Tranquilla the tortoise, looking tired but very happy.

Tranquilla said, "You see, as I always say. See, just like I always said, we made it on time for the wedding.

　Now, in the Scriptures we read today, we find the hope of those who believe in Jesus Christ, the great Son of God, the King.

　Verse 11 says that God's plan (mystery), is that we will be heirs of His kingdom (11). Also, in verse 10 earlier, it is promised that those who believe in Christ and are saved will be gathered together as one, which means that "the glory of inheriting the great Kingdom of God has been given to us.” This means that those who believe in Christ, regardless of their current lifestyle, status, position, occupation, or family background, will be considered children of God and will inherit the Kingdom of God in the future.

　This is the promise that God has given to us. By believing in this promise, Christians live with hope for the future. It is just like the turtle Tranquilla who believed in the invitation from the king and kept walking.

　As verse 12 says, "For we who have set our hope in Christ before, praise the glory of God," those who have hope in Christ will praise the glory of God and will live in the world manifesting the glory of God.

In the Westminster Doctrinal Questions and Answers, the very first question is this one.

Q1 “What is man's chief end?”

Answer “The chief end of man is to display the glory of God and to rejoice in Him forever.”

　God has continued to show His love for us through Israel and through the life of Jesus Christ. The Jews of old knew of the birth of the Savior through the Old Testament and longed for His birth. And just as they had hoped, Jesus Christ was born.

Verse 13, From this promised Savior we have now heard the word of truth, the gospel of salvation, and have believed.

The gospel we have heard is not an unfathomable one. It has been revealed through the work of the cross and resurrection made real by Jesus Christ, as promised.

As Romans 10 tells us, our faith begins with hearing. As soon as we believe and trust, we are given the Holy Spirit.

This Holy Spirit is the assurance of God Himself. It is a sign that this promise is sure.

In modern Greek, it is also translated "engagement ring," a sign that it will be so in the future. The Holy Spirit reminds us of God's promise at all times and helps us to have hope. Even when we have faith, we can sometimes feel anxious. We can get tired. We can be tempted. And yet, we never lose hope, we never lose faith, because we have the seal of the Holy Spirit in us.

　We can get through the present, no matter how hard it is, if we know that good things are waiting for us ahead.

　We can persevere with hope, but we can also encourage the steady progress of each step.

What do you expect from life? What is the purpose of your life? Where are you headed? If your purpose is clear and of great value, you will be able to overcome daily suffering.

　What Christians are waiting for and expecting is the promise that Christ has given us. That is that Jesus Christ will come again to this earth as King in His heavenly ascended form after His resurrection. He will invite us into the Kingdom of God that He has prepared for us and make us inherit it. Those who hear and believe the Word and are given the Holy Spirit are given this hope. As we remember this promise, we will have hope and strength for the future.

　The time of this glory will surely come.

　However, there are two kinds of waiting.

　(1) Waiting with gritted teeth, relying on our own intuition and wishful thinking, even though we do not know whether it will come or not.

　(2) Waiting based on the promise that something will surely come. Waiting for what is sure to come. The Bible is a book of God's promises.

　

　The Bible as an invitation to the Kingdom of God. This promise is a sure promise. What was promised in the Old Covenant has already been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. God is good and trustworthy. People's thoughts and words change. Nothing is absolute. But the Word of God is eternal and unchanging.

To show forth the glory of God does not mean to grit one's teeth and believe desperately in order to enter heaven. Rather, it is to live in the hope of the Kingdom, secure in the knowledge that it is the Word of God.

　Just as Tranquilla the tortoise did not give up no matter what, but continued to walk trusting in the word of the king who invited him, so God's glory will be revealed in our walking with hope, trusting in God's word. The purpose of our life is that we may manifest this wonderful glory of God. This glory is revealed when we aim for God's promises and live in hope.

　During this week, I want to believe in God's promises and walk with hope.