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Response
What is the purpose of life? How can one discover purpose, fulfillment, and satisfaction in life? How can one achieve something of enduring significance? Many individuals have not paused to contemplate these crucial inquiries. They reflect back years later and ponder why their relationships have deteriorated and why they feel so unfulfilled, despite potentially attaining their objectives. As highlighted in the book of Ecclesiastes, numerous aspirations unveil their hollowness only after investing years in their pursuit (Ecclesiastes 1—2).
In our humanistic society, individuals frequently lose sight of life’s meaning. They chase after various things, believing that therein they will discover significance and purpose. Some of these pursuits encompass business triumph, riches, healthy relationships, intimacy, amusement, and altruism. People have attested that, even though they accomplished their aims of wealth, relationships, and gratification, there remained a profound emptiness within them, a void that nothing could seem to satisfy.
The author of Ecclesiastes sought the meaning of life in numerous futile endeavors. He articulates the emptiness he experienced: “Meaningless! Meaningless! . . . Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless” «Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. », (Ecclesiastes 1:2). King Solomon, the scribe of Ecclesiastes, possessed immeasurable wealth, unparalleled wisdom, hundreds of consorts, opulent palaces and gardens that aroused kingdoms’ envy, the finest cuisine and wines, and every conceivable form of entertainment. At one juncture, he expressed that whatever his heart desired wasTed pursued, «And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor. », (Ecclesiastes 2:10). However, he summarized life “under the sun”—life lived as though all there is to life is what we can see with our eyes and experience with our senses—as meaningless. What explains this void? God created us for something beyond what we can experience in the here-and-now. Solomon said of God, “He has also set eternity in the hearts of men” «He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. », (Ecclesiastes 3:11). In our hearts, we are aware that the “here-and-now” is not all there is.
In the book of Genesis, we find a clue to the meaning of life in that God created mankind in His image «And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. », (Genesis 1:26). We were specially made by God, and that gives us intrinsic value; nothing can give us greater value. Made to reflect His image, we have a purpose: to glorify God; nothing can give us greater satisfaction.
Before mankind fell and the curse of sin came upon the earth, the following things were true:
1) God made man a social creature (Genesis 2:18-25)
2) God gave man work «And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. », (Genesis 2:15).1) God created man to care for it and maintain it. (Genesis 2:15)
3) God had communion with man «And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. », (Genesis 3:8)
4) God granted man authority over the earth «And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. », (Genesis 1:26).
These truths hold significance concerning the purpose of life. God’s intention was for humanity to find fulfillment in life, but our state (particularly in relation to our communion with God) was negatively impacted by the fall into sin and the subsequent curse on the earth (Genesis 3).
The book of Revelation reveals God’s plan to restore the purpose of life to us. God will bring an end to this current creation and establish a new heaven and a new earth. During that time, He will renew complete communion with redeemed humanity, while the unredeemed will face judgment and be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). The effects of sin will be eradicated; there will be no more sin, sorrow, sickness, death, or pain «And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. », (Revelation 21:4). God will reside among humanity, and they will be His children <«He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. », (Revelation 21:7). Thus, we come full circle: God created us to have fellowship with Him; man sinned, breaking that fellowship; God restores that fellowship in the eternal state. To go through life achieving everything we set out to achieve only to die separated from God for eternity would be unthinkably tragic! But God has made a way to make eternal bliss possible «And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. », (Luke 23:43) and life on earth satisfying and meaningful. How is this eternal bliss and “heaven on earth” obtained?
The meaning of life restored through Jesus Christ
The real meaning of life, both now and in eternity, is found in the restoration of our relationship with God. This restoration is only possible through God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who reconciles us to God (Romans 5:10; Acts 4:12; John 1:12; John 14:6). Salvation and eternal life are the gift of God when we trust in Jesus Christ as Savior. Once salvation is received by grace through faith, Christ makes us new creations, and we begin the journey of growing closer to Him and learning to rely on Him.
God wants us to know the meaning of life. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” «The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. », (John 10:10). A “full” life is one that is meaningful and devoid of aimless wandering.
The meaning of life is wrapped up in the glory of GodIn calling His chosen ones, God declares, “Bring all who acknowledge me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them” «even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. », (Isaiah 43:7, NLT). The purpose of our creation is for God’s glory. Whenever we prioritize our own glory over God’s, we turn into idolaters and lose sight of life’s true meaning. Jesus stated, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25). Furthermore, we are assured: “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart” «Delight thyself also in the LORD; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. », (Psalm 37:4).
