Is That All There Is?

Peggy Lee made the song a hit in 1969 -- Is That All There Is?. It's the cynic's song. It's about seeing various parts of life -- the family home burning down, a visit to the circus, falling in love, likely dying -- and how it was all pointless, unfulfilling, flat.

Chorus:
Is that all there is? is that all there is?
If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing.
Let's break out the booze and have a ball
If that's all there is.

There are two statements in this song. First is the obvious -- "Is that all there is?" -- and then there's the implied -- "It's not enough."

The first requires a presupposition: "What I sense and experience defines reality." I would like to suggest that, while this is certainly the perceived starting point of most all of us, it is inaccurate. It denies the spiritual realm, an absolute must in today's materialist world and the absolute contradiction to Christianity. First, there is much more out there than what you sense. Second, the Bible assures us that "the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked" ... that what you do sense you may very well lie about to yourself.

The second concept, "It's not enough", is also a likely starting point for a lot of people. Paul didn't suggest his position was the common one when he said, "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." Contentment doesn't come easy to us humans. But if "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me", then it is the only reasonable place for a Christian to stand.

So, why is this a Sunday post? I am using it as a jumping off place ... for you to consider. Remember, what you sense does not necessarily define reality. So keep in mind at church, you have not come to a building with a few people, some nice singing, and a pleasant sermon. "You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel" (Heb 12:22-24). No, you don't sense it, perhaps, but that doesn't make it any less real. So when you come away from that, don't catch yourself asking, "Is that all there is?" It's very unlikely that there could possibly be more. It's more likely that you missed all that there is. Don't.