Dear Church Family,

One day in my high school cafeteria, Karen announced to those at the table that she had gotten a puppy the day before. She had named the dog Alfie. Immediately a guy started singing “What’s it all about, Alfie?” I think I had heard the song before, but did not know it was from a movie so on the edge it was the first in history to get a “Mature” rating.

Today Google led me to a summary of the film that “tells the story of a young womanizing man who leads a self-centered life, purely for his own enjoyment, until events force him to question his uncaring behavior, his loneliness and his priorities.” As the movie ends “Alfie is left lonely and wondering about his life's choices, then asks the viewers "What's it all about? You know what I mean."”

I wish the fictional Alfie played by Michael Caine who was nominated for an Oscar could hear my sermons about the glory of God. That is what is about. The first question of the Shorter Catechism asks what the chief end (purpose) of Man is. The answer is that we glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Instead, people seek meaning in living for themselves – their own pleasure and happiness. God did not create us to live for ourselves. This would be like trying to cut your grass with a snow blower. You may expend a great deal of energy, but you have made a mess of your lawn.

Sadly most people go through their entire lives without understanding why they have been born. Please give thanks to God that you not only know that purpose, but also by His grace can live out that purpose.

Again, I leave you with the words of J. I. Packer that closed this last Lord’s Day sermon, “Glorify Christ every in every way.” Alfie, that is what it is all about.

Living by grace to His glory,
Pastor Gillikin