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Throughout the Ages, men (male & female) have asked the question
"What is the Meaning of Life?". I of course am no different. I’m
sure that you have come up with your own theory, but let me share with
you my interpretation of the information that I believe to be true.
For life to have meaning, there must be a creator,
and that creator must have a plan and a purpose, so let’s consider the
main philosophies that permeate modern thinking on this subject.
Atheists believe that there is no creator. Therefore
there is no plan or meaning to life. So we can easily dismiss anything
that they have to say on this subject, because according to them, they
are basically pond scum with lips.
Agnostics proclaim that they don’t know anything.
Need I say more?
Yogi Philosophies (Hindu, Buddhist, ect.) claim a
sort of spiritual "Big Bang", where God (or the Godhead)
exploded into all these little parts that became us, and that as we
spiritually evolve, through many incarnations, we work our way back
together, to become once again the Great Nothingness of Nirvana.
Then there are the major religions of the world:
Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. All three of these state that there is
a God, a Creator, and that He is the God of Abraham. Judaism and Islam
seem to focus on the afterlife. That what happens to you when you die,
depends on what you did to please God while you were alive. What you
should do to please God while you are alive, seems to vary, depending on
whom you ask. Although Christian’s may seem to hold the same belief,
Christ’s teachings tell a very different story.
Since I am a Christian (yea, like you didn’t
know?), I will continue my contemplation from that perspective.
Most Christian’s will tell you that the goal of
life is to secure a spot in Heaven, and avoid a spot in Hell. Well, that
may address "A Goal of Life", but it does not explain
"The Meaning (or Purpose) of Life". What I find amazing is
that most Christians know what the meaning of life is, but they don’t
know that they know.
How many times have we Christians referred to
ourselves as "The Children of God"? We do it all the time, but
the reality of it seems to pass right by us. Without choking you with
too many Scriptures, let me just say that Jesus was the firstborn among
many brethren (Romans 8:29). Jesus was not only God in the flesh, but he
is also our Big Brother. Ok, here are a few scriptures to choke on, but
I just have to include them:
(John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them
gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on
his name
(Romans 8:14) For as many as are led by the Spirit
of God, they are the sons of God.
(Romans 8:19) For the earnest expectation of the
creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
(Phil 2:15) That ye may be blameless and harmless,
the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse
nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
(1 John 3:1) Behold, what manner of love the
Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:
therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
(1 John 3:2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God,
and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he
shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Jesus was the first to rise from the dead. He said
that He will return, and that when He does, the rest of us will follow
suit.
(Matthew 24:30 & 31) And then shall appear the
sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the
earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of
heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a
great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from
the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
(1 Thes 4:13-17) But I would not have you to be
ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow
not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God
bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that
we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not
prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from
heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump
of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive
and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet
the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
So, what does all that mean? I believe it is quite
simple. The Meaning of life, is this; "God wants children". I
know this may sound like heretic doctrine at first glance, but think
about it. If a man wants children, he must find a female that is
willing, and impregnate her egg with his seed. The Children of God, are
those that God has impregnated with His seed (remember the parable of
the sower, matthew chapter 13?).
I believe every human is like an egg that has the
potential to become impregnated by God, and become something new, a new
creature, a Child of God. Just as a mother has a womb for the child to
develop in, so the earth is our womb. Not only have we believers been
Born Again when we receive Christ, But on that great day when he
returns, and we are raised from the dead, we shall be Born Again again.
So, now that I know that my destiny is to eventually
become a fully manifest Son of God (at the resurrection), the new
important question becomes, "how should I live my day to day
life?".
WHOA, WAIT JUST A DARN MINUTE!! All that stuff that
Jesus talked about, you know, loving God with all your heart, mind, and
being, loving your neighbor as yourself, turning the other cheek, and
all that other stuff, really starts to make sense now. The value in my
day to day life is not based on fame, fortune, or world accomplishments,
but the purpose of my day is to allow God to develop His nature within
me. I am a work in progress. And not only that, but every person that I
come across, has the opportunity to do likewise.
Then what is my full destiny and purpose? Just like a
child in the womb, that does not know what wonders await it in the
outside world, I can only guess at the wonders and the life to come. It
is enough for me to know that there is a new existence for me yet to
come, that I can’t even imagine. As Paul wrote:
(Cor 13:12) For now we see through a glass,
darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know
even as also I am known.
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