Created for Relationship

The opening section presents the sermon's main theme: the 66 books of Scripture share one consistent subject—God's love for humanity expressed through Christ's redemption. God's purpose in creation is for people to know Him, love Him, and have relationship with Him. The cross symbolizes Christian faith with two beams: the horizontal beam represents relationships between people, the vertical beam represents relationship between humanity and God. Loneliness results from losing both relationships.

The second section develops the theological foundation of creation. Humans were created not to live in isolation or loneliness but to have relationships with God and with one another. God created the vast universe, earth, seas, and animals, but the pinnacle of creation is humanity, made in God's image (Genesis 1:26-27). This truth is repeated three times to emphasize its importance. Humans alone are created in God's image, which impacts human dignity, human rights, relationships, and human capacity for reasoning. Significantly, God uses "Us" (plural) when creating humanity, referring to the Trinity—three Persons in one essence (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). Because God is Trinity, relationship and love have eternally existed within Him. Thus, when Scripture says "God is love" (1 John 4:8), this is possible because love requires an object. Humans, created in the image of the Trinity, possess the capacity to love and desire relationships.

The third section explains how sin destroys relationships. Humanity was created for vertical relationship with God and horizontal relationship with one another, but sin destroys both. After sinning, Adam and Eve felt afraid and hid from God rather than drawing near (Genesis 3:9-10). Sin also destroyed the marriage relationship, transforming unity into lust and domination (Genesis 3:16-17). Moreover, sin causes people to blame one another rather than take responsibility (Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent). The first sin between humans was Cain's murder of Abel out of jealousy (Genesis 4). Instead of living together, giving to each other, sharing life together, and living for one another, sin causes people to live only for themselves, creating isolation and separation.

The fourth section explains loneliness as a disease and describes its symptoms. Humans were created for relationship, but sin destroys relationships, causing loneliness—the most dangerous disease of humanity, with no medical cure. Loneliness is the cruelest punishment (solitary confinement), yet today's youth feel lonely despite hundreds of social media friends. King Solomon identifies two symptoms of loneliness: "having no one" and "having no one to live for" (Ecclesiastes 4:7-8). The lonely have no one to confide in, share with, or encourage them; they live only for themselves. The cure for loneliness is relationship—two are better than one, able to help each other when one falls, warm each other when discouraged, defend each other when attacked (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). Nothing is more precious than family bonds and relationship with God in life's final moments.

The final section applies the message to practical living. Opening one's heart to create relationships risks injury and disappointment, but closing one's heart to avoid pain leads to hell (C.S. Lewis). Christ loved and forgave His disciples despite betrayal and denial (John 13:1). Though love can be wounded, a heart that loves is redeemed. Therefore, the congregation must open their hearts to receive God's love through Christ and toward loved ones in family and church. This is the most effective medicine to heal the disease of loneliness (1 John 3:14).