Introduction:
What is
the meaning of life? Without doubt, this is one of the most challenging, and
yet one of the most fundamental, questions the mind can consider.
People
throughout history have pondered the purpose of life. Philosophers spin
theories. Poets write songs. Young people drop out of society to "find out
what it's all about." Older people may remain within the
"establishment," but they still wonder.
Obviously
life is real. No one can deny that the world exists and people exist. You live,
eat, sleep, breathe, and move. But do you understand why you exist?
Please
consider with me the challenging question of life. What is it really all about?
To answer this question, we will look at three specific questions.
Question #1: Where Did You Come From?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
How do
you explain the origin of the human race? Since we are alive, it is natural to
wonder where we came from. One reason many people are confused about the
meaning of life is that they do not understand the origin of life. To know why
we are here, we must know where we came from.
Many
People Hold Mistaken Ideas about the Origin of Life.
===================================
A
commonly accepted explanation for the origin of life is organic evolution - the
hypothesis that man evolved from "lower animals," which in turn came
from simpler life forms, all the way back to the first microscopic life, which
sprang accidentally from non-living matter. But this theory has major problems.
Where
did the first living thing come from?
***********************************
What
caused life to begin where there had never been life before? Science has repeatedly
demonstrated that life comes only from life. This is a law of science called
the "Law of Biogenesis." The opposite of this law would be
spontaneous generation - life beginning spontaneously from non-living matter.
But science has repeatedly proved this cannot happen.
So
every living thing must come from a previous living thing. You received life
from your parents, who in turn received it from their parents, etc. The same is
true for all living things.
But
evolution requires that, when you go back far enough, non-living matter somehow
came to life by chance where there was no life before. Evolution requires
spontaneous generation in complete violation of scientific evidence. So
evolution cannot explain even the origin of the very first form of life.
Where
is the evidence that all modern kinds of living things came from an original
kind?
*****************************************************
Living
things can adapt to their environment, but where is the proof they can develop
into entirely different kinds of organisms such that all kinds came from one
original kind? Years of human experience and scientific experimentation confirm
that living things reproduce "after their own kind." The offspring of
a fish is another fish, not a snake, bird, or man.
Scientists
have searched for years for the "missing links" - fossils of
organisms that were halfway between the kinds of plants or animals we have now.
Millions of fossils have been found around the world. If evolution is true,
there should be thousands of fossils of missing links, but there is no evidence
of these remains anywhere. Why not?
Why is
man so unique from animals?
******************************
If man
evolved from animals and is really an animal but just slightly more complex,
why do we have characteristics so vastly different from animals?
Why do
people appreciate beauty in art, music, and poetry? Do animals create new
paintings, sculptures, symphonies, and books of poetry that they and other
animals can enjoy?
Why do
men have a conscience and a sense of morals? Why do we feel guilty when we have
done wrong, even when we have not been caught or punished? Do animals naturally
possess these spiritual qualities? Why do only people wonder about such issues
as where we came from? Do animals debate even such issues as creation vs.
evolution?
Why do
we possess rational thought so much higher than animals? We can find minute
variations in degrees of "intelligence" among animals, but there is a
vast gulf between any animal and man. Men build machines and tools to work for
us, train animals, use fire, perform mathematic and scientific calculations,
read and write, and pass our knowledge on to others.
If we
developed from the animals, why are there no animals that possess these
characteristics almost as much as we do? If we develop from the animals, why
are we so different from them? Evolution is not an adequate explanation.
Consider
the Bible Explanation for the Origin of Life.
===============================
Genesis
1:11,12,21-28
*******************
All
kinds of life were originally created by God in six days. God is an eternal,
living, all-wise, all-powerful Creator (cf. Exodus 20:11; Hebrews 4:4).
Instead
of life coming from non-living matter, life came from life - the eternally
living God. Living things reproduce after their own kind, because God created
them that way. And man is unlike the animals, because he is "in the image
of God." We did not evolve from animals, but we share God's nature.
Acts
17:24,25,28
**************
The
world and everything in it were made by God. He is the source of life and gives
all the blessings that are necessary to life. Here is an explanation for the
origin of life that fits what we see around us, fits the nature of man as
compared to animals, and we will see that it provides a satisfying explanation
for the meaning to life.
There
is sufficient evidence to compel any honest person to believe God exists and
the Bible is His word. We do not have time here to examine all the evidence,
but we encourage those who have doubts to investigate it. We simply observe
that the Bible explanation makes far more sense than any other alternative, and
that those who do not accept the Bible really cannot satisfactorily explain their
own existence!
Question
#2: Why Are You Here?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Do you
really understand why you exist? Surely this is a fundamental question that
everyone wants answered. Without meaningful goals, life is senseless and empty.
Lack of purpose leads to unhappiness and even mental disorders. People need a
sense of fulfillment and accomplishment in life.
Many
People Are Mistaken about the Purpose of Life.
================================
This is
one consequence of evolution. If organic evolution is true, then there is no
purpose in life. Life is an accident, and people search in vain for any meaning
to it. So, many conclude that there is no higher purpose than to make life
enjoyable for themselves and others.
Some
pursue riches and material possessions.
*************************************
They
believe material things will make life happy and pleasant. But then they always
want more: a bigger house, newer car, nicer clothes and furniture, etc. They
are never satisfied.
All
people need some material goods, but is this the highest goal of life?
Some
pursue pleasure: entertainment, recreation, travel, etc.
*************************************************
Their
goal in life is "fun, fun, fun." "Wine, women, and song"
(or "drugs, alcohol, and free love"). "Be a party animal."
"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die."
This
philosophy is emphasized by modern entertainment. It is the beer-commercial
mentality: "You only go around once, so reach for all the gusto you
can." "It doesn't get any better than this!" One of them even
names its beer "High Life." But does life really not have any better
purpose than to booze it up?
Many
modern entertainers have achieved "the high life" to the ultimate,
but are they happy? If so, why are so many of them plagued by drug and alcohol
addiction, divorce, mental breakdowns, early deaths, and suicide?
Is that
really a satisfying life?
Some
pursue education.
*******************
They
want to accumulate knowledge and worldly wisdom. Like the Athenians, they spend
their time in nothing else than to hear or tell some new thing.
In all
these areas, there may be some wholesome activities that may have some benefit.
But is there really no higher goal in life than these? Whatever benefits they
activities provide are temporary and incomplete at best. No matter how much you
have, you always want more.
In
fact, modern Americans have achieved these goals to a degree beyond the
imagination of most people of the world and of history. We have gadgets and
toys, houses and lands, college degrees, and every kind of entertainment
imaginable. But do you see evidence that Americans in general are truly
satisfied with life? Society is filled with crime, broken relationships, mental
illness, addiction, and unhappiness. Politicians profess to see
"crises" on every hand.
Many
people in the world never achieve these goals. And those who do achieve them
are still looking for the purpose of life. There must be something more.
The
Bible Teaches the True Purpose of Life
==========================
Ecclesiastes
2:1-11; 12:13,14
************************
The
author experienced every enjoyment of life that some people pursue: wealth,
pleasure, and education as great as anyone who ever lived. Did it satisfy? What
was his conclusion? It was all "vanity and vexation of spirit"
(2:11). The earthly pursuits that most people emphasize simply do not satisfy
in the end.
What is
the real purpose of life? "Fear God and keep His commands" (12:13).
God created man, because He had a purpose for us to accomplish. And He designed
us so that, unless we fulfill that purpose, we have no real sense of
accomplishment. Instead we create problems for ourselves.
What
would happen if you tried to bake lasagna in the clothes dryer? What if you
tried to run your car on Jell-O instead of gasoline? What if you tried to eat
with a shovel and pitchfork instead of spoon and fork? What if you tried to mow
your lawn with fingernail clippers?
Problems
often result when things are created for one purpose, but we try to use them
for a completely different purpose. Likewise, our lives are not satisfactory
when we do not accomplish the purpose we were created for.
Matthew
6:19-21,24,33
*******************
Our
main concern in life must be to work in God's kingdom and have a right
relationship with Him. Other concerns may have some value but are far less
important.
Note
v24. You can have only one master. You cannot put two things in first place in
your life. God requires that serving Him must be the most important thing in
life to us. Each of us must make a choice. Either God will be first, or
something else will be first.
Matthew
22:36-39
***************
The
most important work God intends for us to accomplish life is to love God and
love our fellowman.
John
14:15 - But love for God requires us to obey Him (1 John 5:2,3).
1
Corinthians 14:37 - God's commands are revealed in the Bible.
Lasting
fulfillment in life comes only from obeying God's word and thereby serving God
and man. We will not discuss here all that is involved in serving God, but we
simply emphasize the importance of understanding our purpose in life. Until you
understand the teaching of the Bible, you do not really understand the purpose
of life.
(See
also 1 Timothy 6:6-10; Luke 12:15-21.)
III.
Question #3: Where Are You Going?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Do you
understand what comes after death? You may or may not feel that your life on
earth is secure, but what happens when you die? What will your destiny be when
life is over?
Many
People Are Confused or Unsure about What Comes after Death.
==========================================
We can
be certain that death is coming. We may not like it, but death is a fact of
life.
*
Sometimes people contract cancer or heart disease that is diagnosed as
terminal. But, "Life is a terminal disease." No one stays here
permanently.
*
Criminals are sometimes given a death sentence for their crimes. But we all
live under a death sentence!
* In
college a hippie type roomed in the same house I did. He subscribed to Time
magazine, and one day when the mail came we kidded him saying, "Your Time
has come!" He became upset. But sooner or later, for every one of us,
"Your time will come."
Death
is uncertain only in that we do not know when or how it will come. But there
can be no doubt that it will come.
Death
is sad and fearful for many because they do not know what lies beyond. Or worse
yet, they do know and are not ready to face it! Sooner or later, we all must
face death. What then?
Science
does not even try to answer this question! Philosophers or religious leaders
sometimes speculate that we cease to exist at death or that we will be reincarnated.
But they have no proof.
Here is
another major question of life for which, apart from the Bible, you cannot know
the real answer.
The
Bible Tells Us What Follows Death.
========================
Hebrews
9:27 - It is appointed to man once to die, then comes the judgment. Jesus may
come before we die; but if we die first, we will be raised from the dead when
He returns. Either way, we will face God and be judged for our lives, good or
bad.
Someday,
God will hold every one of us accountable for whether or not we have
accomplished the purpose for which He created us. [John 5:28,29; Ecclesiastes
12:14; 2 Corinthians 5:10]
Matthew
25:31-46 - At judgment, the righteous will inherit the kingdom prepared for
them by God (v34). This is eternal life (v46). The wicked will go into eternal
fire (v41). This is eternal punishment (v46).
Romans
2:6-11 - What determines the reward we receive? Our works. We receive wrath if
we work evil and do not obey truth. We receive eternal life if we continue to
work good. Our eternal destiny depends on whether or not we accomplish our
Maker's purpose!
You may
ask, "How do you know we don't cease to exist after death? How do you know
we won't be reincarnated? How do you know we will be raised and judged?"
Acts
17:30,31 - We can know what comes after death because Someone has already died
and come back to tell us what comes after death. In fact, He will be the One to
judge our lives! [1 Cor. chap. 15]
The
resurrection of Jesus, the miracles of the Bible, and the fulfilled prophecy of
Scripture are the proofs that the Bible is from God. If the Bible is from God,
then we can be sure it tells us the origin and purpose of life and our destiny
after life.
Conclusion
======
Since
you will be judged for whether or not you have accomplished your Maker's
purpose, please consider further:
How can
you receive eternal life?
****************************
Romans
3:23 - The problem we all have is that at times we have failed to do the
Creator's will. We are all guilty of sin (1 John 1:8,10). What can be done
about that?
The
good news is that Jesus came and died to forgive your sins (Romans 5:6-10;
6:23; John 3:16). To receive this forgiveness, you must be willing to live the
rest of your life in His service -
"Repent."
Acts
2:28; 22:16 - If you come to Christ believing in Him, confessing Him, and being
baptized, He will forgive you and make you a new creature so you can have
eternal life (Romans 6:3,4; Mark 16:16; 2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Corinthians
15:58).
Why
continue life without investigating God's way for your life?
***************************************************
Suppose
you are about to buy a house, but a friend promises you that he knows that
house and it is in terrible shape in ways that are not obvious. Suppose he
assures you that you are about to pay thousands of dollars more than the house
was worth. Would you ignore the friend's advice, or would you investigate?
In a
similar way, we are advising you in love that living life apart from obedience
to God may seem pleasurable and attractive, but in the end it will lead to
catastrophe. Surely you need to investigate before it is too late!
Someday
you will wish you had lived your life for God. If you are not living it for Him
now, we urge you to find out what His will requires of you. If you already
know, we urge you to obey while you have opportunity.
The
Bible has the answer to the most important questions of life. There is no need
to go through life wondering "what it is all about." Why not find out
and begin to live according to the purpose for which you were made?
*****************************************************
You are free to keep copies of this material on computer and/or in printed form for your own further study. If you have any other requests about the use of this material, please read our copyright guidelines at www.gospelway.com/copyrite.htm.
Free Bible Study Lessons, Commentaries, and Workbooks
