Title Fill the void
Contents
Subject: Fill in the emptiness
Text: John 4:1-24
Korea is obsessed with the World Cup fever these days.
The content of people talking about playing soccer wherever they go is all about the World Cup. Because of the World Cup, life seems to be worthwhile and fun, and because of the World Cup, there seems to be joy and happiness.
The World Cup is a hope, a dream, and a vision for the Korean people. Through the World Cup, Korea became known to the world once again and instilled pride and pride in the Korean people.
In particular, Koreans living in Japan, the co-hosting country of the World Cup, were able to gain courage and live their lives through this World Cup. In addition, the World Cup played a significant role in all aspects of Korea's politics, economy, society, education, and culture. The World Cup provided an opportunity to develop one step further.
However, I see some people worrying about this.
“What kind of fun will we have when the World Cup is over? Whether sleeping or standing or sitting or standing, I was obsessed with the World Cup, and I lived waiting for the World Cup game every day. go?"
Since the World Cup occupies such a large proportion to Koreans these days, we need to deal with the impact and repercussions that may occur to the people after the World Cup in advance. Of course, there will be people who are not very interested in this World Cup and are not interested in it.
No matter how hot the World Cup is, some women will lose interest and lose the fun of conversation when football is talked about. And to those who were born in a foreign country or have lived abroad for a long time and do not feel the existence of Korea and the preciousness of their country, the World Cup may sound like a story about someone else's house.
But today, the World Cup has become too important for almost all Koreans. Of course, the team lost to Germany 1:0 in the semifinals, which cooled the heat a bit.
In particular, as a pastor, I had this thought.
"If the Korean team goes to the final, when is the match date...?"
I looked it up and found out that the date was none other than 8:00 PM on a Sunday evening. And here in Canada it was 5 am on a Sunday. I was worried. “What if the members don’t even come to the Sunday worship service to watch the World Cup soccer?”
While driving a car, I suddenly saw a sign that said 'religion'. The pastor was surprised when he looked closely at the signboard with interest. The signboard read "Soccer is our religion !"
In other words, for the British people, football is a kind of religion that goes beyond a hobby or entertainment. When the quarter-final match between England and Brazil was held in this World Cup too, the sight of many British people giving up their hands and enthusiastic about soccer made the saying "Soccer is our religion !" came to mind.
In other words, their faith was lost to football. His passionate passion for God disappeared and it was as if soccer became his first love and idol. He said that he became a Christian in name only, although he had almost everything about football like an expert, but didn't really know anything about the Bible.
For them, Sunday worship may be missing, but watching an important soccer game cannot be missed. So, indeed, the saying "Soccer is our religion!"
Furthermore, I was concerned that the words "Soccer is our God!" And there is concern that this phenomenon will not only happen in the UK but also in Korea.
Not long ago, I was watching the Korean news and read an absurd article that my husband was watching World Cup soccer on TV, but he killed his wife after an argument because his wife interrupted him. And while watching the World Cup soccer, I thought about this after seeing an article that some people died of heart attacks. "If such a dead person is a Christian, what is the value of that person's death?"
Guys, I want to ask you. What is religion to you?
Who is God? For whom do we die and for whom do we live? Have you ever been, like people crazy about soccer, saying that soccer is religion, soccer is God, and soccer is everything in life? And isn't it said that life without soccer is steamed bread without rice, a desert without water, and a furnace without fire? Aren't you saying that without soccer, all the fulfillment and hope in life would disappear and my life would have no meaning?
If soccer is taken away from people who are crazy about soccer like this, that person will lose the will to live. And if you don't watch football, it might be as catastrophic as a husband killing his wife.
Ladies and gentlemen, if it is not just football, but any sporting event, any TV program, hobbies, or entertainment, if this is enough, isn't it a significant problem as a Christian?
In other words, a phenomenon such as a syndrome should not occur. What's more, it's a big deal if it's like drug withdrawal. In other words, there is a lot of potential for the World Cup syndrome or World Cup withdrawal phenomenon in Korea now. So, after the World Cup, many people's hearts become empty and helpless, lose the meaning of life and become easy to wander. And to appease this emptiness, you run the risk of seeking another powerful stimulus: alcohol, drugs, sex, or violence.
In today's text, a woman appears. It was about noon, and Jesus was tired from his journey and was sitting by the well and resting. Then this woman appeared and tried to draw water.
When Jesus comes and asks for some water, the woman wonders and asks. “Why, as a Jew, do you ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?”
Then Jesus said: "If you had known the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him. He would have given you living water. Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give will never thirst. No, the water I will give will become in him a spring of water springing up to everlasting life.” (John 4:10, 13-14)
Hearing this, the woman answered. “Lord, give me this water so that I will not be thirsty or come here to draw water!”
Then Jesus asks an unexpected question. "Go and call your husband." The woman was furious at this question. Because this woman had changed her husband five times. And now she was living with a man who wasn't even her husband, that is, to satisfy her own pleasure.
But when you say to bring your husband, how many times do you have to bring your husband? The woman is perplexed to herself and says, "I have no husband." and I answered. In other words, it is a confession that there is no one who can fill the emptiness and desires of one's heart. In other words, if you drink the water of the world, you will continue to be thirsty.
Today, Koreans drink the World Cup water and enjoy it for a while. Moreover, as the Korean team advanced to the semi-finals, the water of the World Cup has a great effect. The World Cup refreshed the frustrated minds of the Korean people, rejoiced the gloomy minds, turned the negative minds into positive ones, and instilled courage and hope.
However, after a while, the heat of the World Cup will cool down. The World Cup is not eternal water. If the World Cup is held again in Germany four years later and the Korean team's performance deteriorates, the World Cup becomes a bitter memory.
Just as the five husbands could not fill the emptiness of this woman and made it even more empty, no one in the world, no entertainment, no hobby can fill our emptiness and emptiness. I'm thirsty again. And that thirst is getting worse and worse. Just as after taking a drug, when the energy of the drug runs out, it becomes empty. Behind the worldly passion and worldly joy there is a greater emptiness.
At this time, if you do not fill this void with the living water that Jesus gives you, you will lose the worth and motivation to live and easily go down the path of corruption.
Therefore, you must taste the living water that God gives you while worshiping. We must read the Bible, meditate on it, sing praises, and taste the happiness of heaven. You must find rewarding while doing various services in the church, which is the body of the Lord.
And by believing in Jesus, you must receive the joy and reward that Jesus gives you at home, at work, and here in a foreign land. Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, fill the emptiness of your heart with the joy that comes from Jesus.
We have gained joy, courage and hope through this World Cup.
A sense of national love was born. However, after losing to the German team in the semi-finals, a small emptiness in my heart came to me. And when the World Cup is over, the emptiness will only grow bigger. And we must fill that void with the eternal living water of Jesus.
Amen!!!