What is the meaning of life?
Well, according to many scientists and common people who don't believe that there is an Almighty God, life has NO meaning at all ! If a person is lucky, he/she might live some 80 to 90 years, dies and then dissapears in eternity. If he/she was well known, his/her name might be remembered for centuries, but the person himself will have no profit from it: DEAD = DEAD !
What is the origin of that thought?
What does the Bible have to say about it:
“For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but by reason of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” (Romans 8:20-22 ASV)
Due to the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden, Satan has subjected all creation to vanity (other translations speak of "futility"). Therefore all non-believers are under the influence of this master of meaningless vanity.
So, it's quite logical that people, who don't believe in the God of Israel, consider life meaningless. This can result in gloom, sadness, depression, despair. In the U.S. of America every year some 30.000 people take their own life.
This means: every month some 2.500 victims. In other words: every 17 seconds someone has ended his/her life.
Several motives can be brought up, but I ca!n imagine that people, who consider life meaningless, will take this drastic step much sooner than born again Christians, who of course also can suffer depressions a.s.o.
When a baby is conceived it will be, if all goes well, some nine months in the womb to be prepared for life as we know it. Wouldn't it be extremely disappointing for this baby if, after all these months of "solitary confinement" with some tribulation at the end, there would be NOTHING outside mother's protecting body?
Wouldn't it be extremely disappointing for you and me when after this life, with all its ups and downs, there wouldn't be a continuation?
Could it be that this life, just as the period in the womb, is a preparation for a period called eternity? The unborn child doesn't know what is outside its "hotel", we can't look beyond the three dimensions which are known to us......
How does one react to the idea that life is meaningless, that all will be over after a x-number of years?
What to do in the meantime?
Live life according to the rules of the society in which he/she was born or live life without any rules: lots of food, booze, sex a.s.o. as the apostle Paul already "suggested":
“If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is there to me, if the dead rise not? "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"” (1 Corinthians 15:32 KJ21)
What's the use of having all kinds of noble thoughts when life has no meaning?
If life is meaningless and God doesn't exist so there won't be any form of resurrection from the dead: by what authority can one person claim the right to rule the other? If there's no God "good" and "bad" aren't anything else than human inventions which can be adjusted when needed. What was defined as "wrong" some 50 years ago is now accepted as "normal"...
That's one of democracy's nasty side effects: the majority determines the standard !
How do people, believing that there is no God, face the approaching death?
Well, some do that in a heroic way, some will do that kicking and screaming like f.i. the well known philosopher Voltaire, a prominent during the "Enlightenment": he was disgusted with the church but when he was dying he asked for a priest. His "friends" denied him that wish so he entered eternity cursing with great desperation. His nurse said: "For all the money in Europe I wouldn’t want to see another unbeliever die! All night long he cried for forgiveness."
Isn't that odd?
When there's no God, you wouldn't have to be afraid of death?
Switch off the lights, end of story...
The author of the letter to the Hebrews wrote about this fear of death:
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same, that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death — that is, the devil — and deliver those who all their lifetime were subject to bondage through fear of death.” (Hebrews 2:14-15 KJ21)
This part of Scripture speaks of the redeeming by Jesus Christ through which mankind can be freed from this anxiety. So it's not odd at all, if you haven't put your hopes on the God of Israel and His Son, to be "scared to death" of death.
Perhaps death isn't the end...
Reborn Christians don't have this fear of death because they know that, already here on earth, they did receive eternal life. Their body will die and will become mortal REMAINS but their souls will meet Jesus, their Redeemer.
What do you think of this example:
Tertullian lived in the ancient city of Carthage in what is now Tunisia, sometime around 200AD. Very little is known about his life - that little comes either from writers two centuries later1, or from the scanty personal notes in his works. Much of it has been asserted to be untrue anyway by some modern writers.
He was born a member of the educated classes, and clearly gained a good education. Life in his times wasn't very different in some ways to the modern day - he indulged his passions as he saw fit, including sex, and like everyone else attended the games where gladiators killed each other and criminals were eaten alive, for the enjoyment of the spectators.
But among the sights he saw, was that of Christians being executed this way. He was struck with the courage with which stupid and contemptible slave men and little slave girls faced a hideous death, against all nature; and after investigating, became a Christian himself, and turned his budding talents to writing in defense of this despised and victimised group.
Tertullian was the first Christian writer to write in Latin, and was described three centuries later as writing 'first, and best, and incomparably', of all the writers to do so. (by the unknown author of 'Praedestinatus'). His writing is aggressive, sarcastic and brilliant, and at points very funny even after 2000 years. He was deeply conscious of his own failings, and had a burning desire for truth and integrity. He was described by Jerome as celebrated in all the churches as a speaker; and his works bear the marks of the need to keep an audience awake! His erudition was immense. Much of what he wrote is lost, but what remains gives a picture of wide reading, which was celebrated even in antiquity. (extract from "The noddy guide to Tertullian" (http://www.tertullian.org/readfirst.htm))
Christ told the Jews (and us!) not to be afraid of physical death:
“And fear not them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul;...” (Matthew 10:28a KJ21)
but to be aware of the Creator of heaven and earth:
“...but rather fear Him that is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28b KJ21)
If a person willingly denies the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, he/she will one day come to stand before the throne of the Almighty for there will be a resurrection of the dead and there will be a Judgment day:
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the Judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27 KJ21)
(if you want to read more about this resurrection, please read my articles 8 and 10)
How different is life for someone who does put his/her trust in the God of Israel and knows Messiah Jesus as his/her Redeemer. The Almighty doesn't change and remains faithful to his promises:
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17 KJ21)
“"For I am the LORD, I change not...” (Malachi 3:6a KJ21)
What God has promised will happen!
The Almighty promised that a Deliverer would be born in Bethlehem and that birth still is celebrated each year as Christmas:
“"But thou, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto Me He that is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."” (Micah 5:2 KJ21)
Messiah Jesus has paved the way to the Father for us by dying at the cross of Calvery. He is the High Priest who has redeemed us with the Almighty by His sacrifice. All who believe this will live for ever:
“"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 KJ21)
That is the hope anchored in the souls of true and sincere Christians!
So, what really is the meaning of life?
The apostle Paul wrote the following words, inspired by God:
“God who made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of Heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands. Neither is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things. And He hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation, that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might feel after Him and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us.” (Acts 17:24-27 KJ21)
So man lives on earth to seek God!
How wonderful it is that the Eternal over and over promises that He will be found if we sincerly seek Him:
“But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29 KJ21)
“I love them that love Me, and those that seek Me early shall find Me.” (Proverbs 8:17 KJ21)
“And ye shall seek Me and find Me when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13 KJ21)
Our beloved Saviour repeated this amazing promise:
“"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8 KJ21)
Why do we have to seek and find God?
Because God always wanted to live in harmony with His creation of which we are part of. Read the following words, written by Paul:
“for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-24 KJ21)
The punishment for sin and not believing Jesus and His redemption isn't hell, as we use to call the "lake of fire", but the shortcoming of the glory of God!
What will happen when someone does find God?
The Holy Spirit will come and show him/her his/her guilt towards God:
“And when He is come, He will reprove the world concerning sin, and concerning righteousness, and concerning judgment:” (John 16:8 KJ21)
What is sin?
The English preacher John Bunyan, author of the well known book "The Pilgrim's Progress" which he wrote while being in jail because of his believe in Jesus Christ, described sin this way:
"Sin is the dare of God's justice,
the rape of His mercy,
the jeer of His patience,
the slight of His power,
and the contempt of His love!"
Please read what the prince of preachers, Charles H. Spurgeon, said about sin and redemption in this part of his sermon "Scarlet Sinners Pardoned and Purified":
“Oh!” says another, “I would not mind about hereditary tendencies, but my difficulty is that I have been habitually
committing sin.” And oh, I admit, my dear Brothers and Sisters, that it is an awful thing to get caught in the meshes of an evil habit! When you first sin, or after you have sinned a few times, it is like a cobweb all around you and you cannot easily get clear of it. That cobweb soon comes to be a net and it is not easy to cut your way out of it and, after a time, the cords become bands of iron and steel — and what are you to do, then? How can you break loose from such chains? The habitual drunk — how shall he tear himself away from the cup that is ruining him? The man who has fallen into vicious habits, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?” If so, then he that is accustomed to do evil may learn to do well. But the Holy Spirit will help you to break off every sinful habit at once. I have known Him do it with many. I have especially noticed this — that swearers, and it is somewhat curious to note this fact, men who had for years never spoken without an oath — when they have been converted, from that moment they have never been tempted to utter an oath during the rest of life, such clean riddance can the Holy Spirit make of that habit! Some other sins cleave to a man and make their presence felt, at times, but when the Holy Spirit comes in, He drives out these old habits and forms new ones. “The expulsive power of a new affection” is very great — and when the Spirit of God puts the love of Christ into the soul in the place of the love of sin — that new affection drives out the old habits and the man is set free, even, from sins in which he has long indulged!
You know that scarlet and crimson are colors very hard to get out of any fabric. Neither the dew, nor the rain, nor any ordinary processes of bleaching will get out the scarlet. I have heard that certain old rags cannot be used for anything except making red blotting paper because you cannot get out the color which the material takes in — and as to anything crimson, you might destroy the fabric before you could possibly extract the dye. But God knows how, without destroying the fabric, to take out 50 years of crimson habits and not leave a stain behind! He can make you perfectly pure and clean! He can make you a new man — your flesh shall be as the flesh of a little child — I mean that your whole conduct will prove that you have been born again!
The verses below, from the book of Isaiah, already proclaimed the merciful God:
“"Come now, and let us reason together," saith the LORD. "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18 KJ21)
Read what the apostle John wrote about it:
“This then is the message which we have heard from Him and declare unto you: that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:5-9 KJ21)
The Creator of heaven and earth gave a wonderful promise to everyone who sincerly seeks Him:
“"I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” (Isaiah 43:25 KJ21)
When a convinced sinner cries out to Jesus and asks for redemption, He will come and do so:
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20 KJ21)
Messiah Jesus will enter his/her life, all sins will be pardoned AND forgotten, there will be a spiritual rebirth and there will start a loving relationship which will never end!
Such a reborn Christian will receive eternal life and a peace in his/her heart which will withstand all storms on the sea of life. Storms will come, were it only to fathom the depth of the new reborn's love. However, when Jesus is allowed to be the Captain of his/her ship, he/she will run no risk:
“The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.” (Nahum 1:7 KJ21)
The Christian shouldn't panic and jump out of the ship, but persist in his/her trust in the Captain. If his/her love is true and sincere he/she can affirm the following words from Scripture:
“but in all things commending ourselves as the ministers of God in much patience: in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,” (2 Corinthians 6:4 KJ21)
So, the meaning of life is: seek God, find Him and have a wonderful everlasting relationship with Him.
However, the seeking cannot stop after rebirth. A Christian has to seek the Lord on a daily basis to stay close to Him and build a close relationship. Out of this relationship he/she can work on the mission Jesus gave to all His disciples:
“Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you...” (Matthew 28:19-20a KJ21)
The Messiah knew that mankind never was able to do this alone, so He promised:
“...And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20 KJ21)
Every day our Redeemer is with His disciples in order to help them spread the gospel. Therefore don't be afraid to speak of Jesus and His redeeming sacrifice, He is with you.
Now, if you have read the whole article and haven't yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, please think about the meaning of your life.
Do you want your life to be meaningful?
Sincerly seek Jesus, He will let you find Him, He promised!
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