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coram_deo 07-Sep-21, 18:57	What Is The Meaning of Life? For the atheist, this is a very difficult question to answer. For the atheist, this life is all there is, and, once they die, they think all that awaits them is eternal loss of consciousness, the grave and the return to dust. No objective and omniscient review of their life, no answers to the “big questions” that man has wrestled with for millennia, no cosmic justice. Just nothing. And nothing in its purest sense - not just the absence of matter, not just the absence of identity, but the absence of consciousness. For the atheist, the end of his life, even a life devoted to serving and helping others, is the same as the end of a serial killer’s life, the same as the end of Adolf Hitler’s life: the loss of consciousness, the grave and the return to dust. For the childless atheist, his legacy is short-lived - perhaps his life will live on in the minds of his spouse, siblings and friends, but once they die, so too, in the atheist’s way of thinking, does the memory and remembrance of him. And in the atheist’s belief system, no reunion of the atheist and his family members and friends will take place for their lives and consciousnesses also are eternally snuffed out. But what of the believer? What is the meaning of life for him? Well, the believer knows this life is not all there is. The believer knows that once he dies, he will be with God and family and friends who passed on before him who were believers. His life will undergo a review at the Judgment Seat of Christ - not to determine if he gains entrance to Heaven. That was determined back on earth when he accepted and believed in Jesus Christ. No, the Judgment Seat of Christ will simply be a review of the believer’s life for the purposes of edification and reward - not punishment. And the believer will receive a glorified, that is, immortal body at the time of the Rapture. Believers who died before the Rapture will receive their glorified, immortal bodies first, followed by believers who are alive at the time of the Rapture and who are taken off the earth and into Heaven. The Rapture is perhaps best captured by these verses written by the Apostle Paul: “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.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) What gives the believer’s life meaning? I think it’s whether he bears lasting fruit, fruit that has eternal value. That’s why I think Jesus Christ gave this instruction to His disciples before He ascended into Heaven: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20) In the Old Testament, before Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, Solomon wrestled with the meaning of life, writing his thoughts and attempts to find meaning in life in the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon, considered the wisest man who ever lived, could not find the answer apart from God. Ultimately, after failing to find meaning in life apart from God, Solomon reached this conclusion: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) But Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes centuries before Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, Resurrection, ascension into Heaven and His establishment of the New Covenant. Now, a life with meaning is spent in reverence and worship of God because that gets us through difficult times and causes us to bear eternal fruit: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5) I believe the “fruit” Jesus Christ is speaking of in those verses from the Gospel of John is eternal fruit - the saving of souls by bringing people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I think that is a life with purpose and a life that has eternal ramifications and eternal rewards. When Jesus Christ started His earthly ministry, He called Peter and Peter’s brother Andrew to follow Him by saying, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” From the Gospel of Matthew: “And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.” (Matthew 4:19-20) I don’t think God intended believers to lead people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ out of a sense of duty or obligation, though. There are many believers (me among them) who enjoy talking about the Holy Bible and the Gospel of Jesus Christ because it’s Good News (gospel means Good News) and good news is meant to be shared. This is a weak analogy, but if you were listening on the radio to your favorite baseball team play a game and your team’s pitcher pitched a no hitter, would you keep that news to yourself? Suppose you came upon a group of your friends who also liked that team but who were leaving work and didn’t know the outcome of the game. Would you keep news of the no hitter to yourself? But I think God calls believers to do more than share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. While that is most important, we are also called to help others (most of us do that instinctually, but it’s part of a believer’s calling as well.) From the book of Hebrews: “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) A believer who communes with God on a regular basis through reading the Holy Bible and prayer will do this almost without thinking because it becomes his nature. And it becomes his nature through the power of God’s Holy Spirit within him. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21) And I think believers will learn the answers to life’s big questions once they are in the Presence of God. “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.” (1 Corinthians 13:12) And there is “cosmic justice.” Believers who by definition have had their sins forgiven by accepting and believing in Jesus Christ will be in Heaven with God for eternity. People who rejected Jesus Christ won’t. I’ve heard atheists say they wouldn’t want to live for eternity, that it’d be too boring. But I believe God (and therefore Heaven) exist outside of time. There is no past or future, only the eternal now. I think that’s what is meant by these verses from 2 Peter: “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 8:9) The same concept is expressed in Psalm 90, which was written many centuries earlier: “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.” (Psalm 90:4) So eternity won’t be boring and we’ll all spend it somewhere. And I believe the atheist, agnostic and all those who reject Jesus Christ suffer the same fate because their sins haven’t been forgiven. As the saying goes, Good people aren’t in Heaven. Forgiven sinners are.
coram_deo 07-Sep-21, 20:35	Great article on the same question. I especially like (and agree with) #5 under “7 Aspects to the Meaning (Goal) of Life According to the Bible.” From Christianity.com What Is the True Meaning of Life? The meaning of life, according to the Christian faith, is ultimately found in Jesus Christ. We are the beloved children of God, created by our heavenly Father to reflect His glory, walk in His love, and do His will in our lives. We, humans, are born in this world without knowing exactly who we are (identity), where we come from (origin), why we are here (meaning), what to live for and how we should live (purpose), and where we are going (destiny). The question about the meaning of life has been raised in every generation and investigated throughout history. There have been different views on this matter from different people and cultures. Our understanding of the meaning of life is important because it shapes our way of life. Secular and Christian Views on the Meaning of Life So, what is life all about? Love. Wealth. Happiness. Self-development. Wisdom. Influence. Service. Those are some popular answers we might have heard, and although some views are biblically relevant, could life have a deeper meaning? Suppose life is about all the above-mentioned, would someone then be truly fulfilled after achieving all those good things (Matthew 16:26)? How about people who, unfortunately, could not do likewise? For instance, war victims, natural disaster casualties, stillborn babies, etc. – was it fair to conclude their lives were simply meaningless? Of course not. Just because someone has had (or done) more good things in life does not necessarily mean their life is more meaningful than those who do not. More fortune does not simply represent more meaning. The author believes before we examine the meaning of life, we need to first embrace the miracle of life. Science has shown evidence for the existence of the Creator. The vastness of the universe, the wonders of nature, the complexity of living organisms all testify there must be a supremely intelligent Designer, who set everything precisely in order. In light of this, life cannot be without meaning – and it must revolve around the Maker of all things (John 1:3). The real meaning of life must, therefore, be viewed from the lens of, and be found in, the Life-Giver. Meaning of Life in the Bible King Solomon: Fear God and keep His commandments. Solomon, the son of David and King of Israel, is described as the wealthiest and wisest man of his time (1 Kings 3:12-13). Yet, despite all the power and pleasures he had, he felt an emptiness, and everything seemed meaningless. He confessed there is something beyond earthly life that God has put in the human heart and that God the Creator is always in control, even though no one can perfectly understand His work (Ecclesiastes 3:11). He also implied that life could mean enjoying the gift of God (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13), and after all what matters in life is our reverence and obedience to God because His judgment is sure (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). Job: Trust in God, no matter what. Job was among the most prosperous men in the Bible, known for his life example of a blameless, sincere man who suffered. He is perhaps the man who has gone through the highest “highs” and the lowest “lows” in life by enjoying, then losing his family, health, and wealth. Amid his suffering, Job desperately cursed his birth (Job 3), but he still had faith in the redeeming power of God (Job 19:25). After all his painful experience, Job’s eyes were opened to know God more personally. His relationship with God was renewed (Job 42:5), and “the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10). Through Job’s life, we can learn about God’s sovereignty over the suffering of His saints. Life for Job could mean a journey of knowing God and trusting Him in every moment, especially the darkest ones. Jesus Christ: Seek and save the lost. Jesus Christ came to this world with a clear mission: to seek and save sinners (Luke 19:10). Jesus is God himself who lived on earth in a human body (Colossians 2:9-10), and he is the only mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5). He identified himself as the way [to the heavenly Father], the truth, and the life; and clearly indicated that knowing him is equal to knowing God Himself (John 14:6). Although his life was relatively brief (about 34 years), his impact is tremendously incomparable because he dedicated his life to doing the will of God by finishing the work of redemption on the cross (John 4:34, 19:30). Jesus is the Son of Man who came to serve and offer his life for the salvation of mankind (Mark 10:45). The purpose of his life is to give us abundant life in him (John 10:10). Paul: Know Jesus Christ. Paul, formerly known as Saul, is the real example of a man whose life was radically transformed after an encounter with Christ. He used to persecute Christians but after his conversion, he became the apostle of Christ. He is the author of 13 books in the New Testament (possibly 14 if we include Hebrews), which lays out important foundations of Christian faith we believe today. Life for Paul means Christ – he fully committed his life by faith in Jesus, to bear fruit for the kingdom of God (Galatians 2:20, Philippians 1:21-22). His ultimate goal is to know Jesus and experience the power of his resurrection through his suffering and death (Philippians 3:10-11). Life is like a running race as he aimed for the prize: an imperishable crown from the Lord on the judgment day (1 Corinthians 9:24-25, 2 Timothy 4:7-8). 7 Aspects to the Meaning (Goal) of Life According to the Bible 1. To display the glory of God. Among all the creation, only humans were created in the Creator’s image. The first of God’s blessing to humanity is fruitfulness, to multiply and fill the earth and govern it (Genesis 1:26-28, Psalm 8). Notice that work is a blessing from God, not a curse. Our work is supposed to be a display of God’s greatness, and therefore in everything we do, we are to do it with the right motive: for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). 2. To seek the kingdom of God. Our first and foremost priority in life is to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness, to do what He wants us to do (Matthew 6:33). We pray according to God’s will when we ask for His kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). The kingdom of God is about living in truth, peace, and joy through the work of His Spirit in our hearts (Romans 14:17). 3. To proclaim the works of God. Before knowing Christ, humans live an empty, sinful life. But once we trust in Christ, through his work on the cross, God sets us free from the slavery to sin, saves us from eternal death, and we are given a new identity to declare the wonderful things He has done (1 Peter 1:18-19, 2:9). We are uniquely created by God and equipped with natural talents and abilities to accomplish good works, which God has called us to do (Ephesians 2:10). 4. To grow in the knowledge of God. The ultimate goal of human’s pursuit of wisdom and knowledge is to understand God, the greatest of all (Proverbs 9:10). Since we believe in Christ, we are born again and become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our desire is renewed: to always honor and please God, bear good fruit, and know Him better(Colossians 1:10). The knowledge of God leads us to worship and love Him more. 5. To believe in the Word of God. Knowing that Jesus is the perfect representation of God, the best thing we can do in life is to believe in him. Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1), the Beginning and the End, the Almighty God (Revelation 1:8). We not only need to know him but also to believe in him because faith helps us when we cannot understand. Jesus himself said that believing in him is the only work God wants from us(John 6:29). As we abide in him, the source of grace and truth (John 1:14), we continue to live by faith in the power of God (Romans 1:16-17). Believing in Christ means we have everything we need. 6. To share the love of God. The Bible tells us to live with eternal values: faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13:13), which can only be found in Christ. As we have been fulfilled with God’s love, we must also share it with others, through bearing one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) and discipleship (Matthew 28:18-20). Naturally, we were born with self-centeredness, however by His love, we are supernaturally transformed into a new person with a Spirit-driven ability to love God and others (Luke 10:27). God’s love (agape) is unconditional and throughout this life, we learn to love like He has loved us (1 John 4:8). 7. To imitate the Son of God. It is the culmination of all the goals we have in life. Here, the sinful desires of humanity to be like God (Genesis 3:5) are replaced with the divine invitation to imitate His Son, Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:48). We are a reflection of God’s glory, created in His image, and being converted by the Spirit into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18). Life is a process of becoming more and more like Christ in which we exercise our endurance by fixing our eyes on him, the author, and the finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). What Does This Mean The meaning of life, according to the Christian faith, is ultimately found in Jesus Christ. In him, the questions about identity, origin, meaning, purpose, and destiny are answered with profound hope. We are the beloved children of God, created by our heavenly Father to reflect His glory, walk in His love, and do His will in our lives. Life on earth is a journey of our transformation to become more like Jesus, who has delivered us from evil, sin, and death, until the glorious day when we spend eternity with him. www.christianity.com

From

Message

coram_deo
07-Sep-21, 18:57

What Is The Meaning of Life?

For the atheist, this is a very difficult question to answer.

For the atheist, this life is all there is, and, once they die, they think all that awaits them is eternal loss of consciousness, the grave and the return to dust. No objective and omniscient review of their life, no answers to the “big questions” that man has wrestled with for millennia, no cosmic justice. Just nothing. And nothing in its purest sense - not just the absence of matter, not just the absence of identity, but the absence of consciousness.

For the atheist, the end of his life, even a life devoted to serving and helping others, is the same as the end of a serial killer’s life, the same as the end of Adolf Hitler’s life: the loss of consciousness, the grave and the return to dust. For the childless atheist, his legacy is short-lived - perhaps his life will live on in the minds of his spouse, siblings and friends, but once they die, so too, in the atheist’s way of thinking, does the memory and remembrance of him. And in the atheist’s belief system, no reunion of the atheist and his family members and friends will take place for their lives and consciousnesses also are eternally snuffed out.

But what of the believer? What is the meaning of life for him?

Well, the believer knows this life is not all there is. The believer knows that once he dies, he will be with God and family and friends who passed on before him who were believers. His life will undergo a review at the Judgment Seat of Christ - not to determine if he gains entrance to Heaven. That was determined back on earth when he accepted and believed in Jesus Christ. No, the Judgment Seat of Christ will simply be a review of the believer’s life for the purposes of edification and reward - not punishment.

And the believer will receive a glorified, that is, immortal body at the time of the Rapture. Believers who died before the Rapture will receive their glorified, immortal bodies first, followed by believers who are alive at the time of the Rapture and who are taken off the earth and into Heaven.

The Rapture is perhaps best captured by these verses written by the Apostle Paul:

“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.”

(1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

What gives the believer’s life meaning?

I think it’s whether he bears lasting fruit, fruit that has eternal value. That’s why I think Jesus Christ gave this instruction to His disciples before He ascended into Heaven:

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

(Matthew 28:19-20)

In the Old Testament, before Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry, Solomon wrestled with the meaning of life, writing his thoughts and attempts to find meaning in life in the book of Ecclesiastes.

Solomon, considered the wisest man who ever lived, could not find the answer apart from God. Ultimately, after failing to find meaning in life apart from God, Solomon reached this conclusion:

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

But Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes centuries before Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, Resurrection, ascension into Heaven and His establishment of the New Covenant.

Now, a life with meaning is spent in reverence and worship of God because that gets us through difficult times and causes us to bear eternal fruit:

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

(John 15:4-5)

I believe the “fruit” Jesus Christ is speaking of in those verses from the Gospel of John is eternal fruit - the saving of souls by bringing people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I think that is a life with purpose and a life that has eternal ramifications and eternal rewards.

When Jesus Christ started His earthly ministry, He called Peter and Peter’s brother Andrew to follow Him by saying, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

From the Gospel of Matthew:

“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”

(Matthew 4:19-20)

I don’t think God intended believers to lead people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ out of a sense of duty or obligation, though. There are many believers (me among them) who enjoy talking about the Holy Bible and the Gospel of Jesus Christ because it’s Good News (gospel means Good News) and good news is meant to be shared.

This is a weak analogy, but if you were listening on the radio to your favorite baseball team play a game and your team’s pitcher pitched a no hitter, would you keep that news to yourself? Suppose you came upon a group of your friends who also liked that team but who were leaving work and didn’t know the outcome of the game. Would you keep news of the no hitter to yourself?

But I think God calls believers to do more than share the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. While that is most important, we are also called to help others (most of us do that instinctually, but it’s part of a believer’s calling as well.)

From the book of Hebrews:

“Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

(Galatians 6:2)

A believer who communes with God on a regular basis through reading the Holy Bible and prayer will do this almost without thinking because it becomes his nature. And it becomes his nature through the power of God’s Holy Spirit within him.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

(2 Corinthians 5:17-21)

And I think believers will learn the answers to life’s big questions once they are in the Presence of God.

“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.”

(1 Corinthians 13:12)

And there is “cosmic justice.” Believers who by definition have had their sins forgiven by accepting and believing in Jesus Christ will be in Heaven with God for eternity. People who rejected Jesus Christ won’t.

I’ve heard atheists say they wouldn’t want to live for eternity, that it’d be too boring. But I believe God (and therefore Heaven) exist outside of time. There is no past or future, only the eternal now.

I think that’s what is meant by these verses from 2 Peter:

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

(2 Peter 8:9)

The same concept is expressed in Psalm 90, which was written many centuries earlier:

“For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.”

(Psalm 90:4)

So eternity won’t be boring and we’ll all spend it somewhere.

And I believe the atheist, agnostic and all those who reject Jesus Christ suffer the same fate because their sins haven’t been forgiven.

As the saying goes, Good people aren’t in Heaven. Forgiven sinners are.

coram_deo
07-Sep-21, 20:35

Great article on the same question.

I especially like (and agree with) #5 under “7 Aspects to the Meaning (Goal) of Life According to the Bible.”

From Christianity.com

What Is the True Meaning of Life?

The meaning of life, according to the Christian faith, is ultimately found in Jesus Christ. We are the beloved children of God, created by our heavenly Father to reflect His glory, walk in His love, and do His will in our lives.

We, humans, are born in this world without knowing exactly who we are (identity), where we come from (origin), why we are here (meaning), what to live for and how we should live (purpose), and where we are going (destiny).

The question about the meaning of life has been raised in every generation and investigated throughout history. There have been different views on this matter from different people and cultures. Our understanding of the meaning of life is important because it shapes our way of life.

Secular and Christian Views on the Meaning of Life

So, what is life all about? Love. Wealth. Happiness. Self-development. Wisdom. Influence. Service. Those are some popular answers we might have heard, and although some views are biblically relevant, could life have a deeper meaning?

Suppose life is about all the above-mentioned, would someone then be truly fulfilled after achieving all those good things (Matthew 16:26)? How about people who, unfortunately, could not do likewise? For instance, war victims, natural disaster casualties, stillborn babies, etc. – was it fair to conclude their lives were simply meaningless? Of course not. Just because someone has had (or done) more good things in life does not necessarily mean their life is more meaningful than those who do not. More fortune does not simply represent more meaning.

The author believes before we examine the meaning of life, we need to first embrace the miracle of life. Science has shown evidence for the existence of the Creator. The vastness of the universe, the wonders of nature, the complexity of living organisms all testify there must be a supremely intelligent Designer, who set everything precisely in order.

In light of this, life cannot be without meaning – and it must revolve around the Maker of all things (John 1:3). The real meaning of life must, therefore, be viewed from the lens of, and be found in, the Life-Giver.

Meaning of Life in the Bible

King Solomon: Fear God and keep His commandments. Solomon, the son of David and King of Israel, is described as the wealthiest and wisest man of his time (1 Kings 3:12-13). Yet, despite all the power and pleasures he had, he felt an emptiness, and everything seemed meaningless.

He confessed there is something beyond earthly life that God has put in the human heart and that God the Creator is always in control, even though no one can perfectly understand His work (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

He also implied that life could mean enjoying the gift of God (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13), and after all what matters in life is our reverence and obedience to God because His judgment is sure (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Job: Trust in God, no matter what. Job was among the most prosperous men in the Bible, known for his life example of a blameless, sincere man who suffered. He is perhaps the man who has gone through the highest “highs” and the lowest “lows” in life by enjoying, then losing his family, health, and wealth. Amid his suffering, Job desperately cursed his birth (Job 3), but he still had faith in the redeeming power of God (Job 19:25).

After all his painful experience, Job’s eyes were opened to know God more personally. His relationship with God was renewed (Job 42:5), and “the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10).

Through Job’s life, we can learn about God’s sovereignty over the suffering of His saints. Life for Job could mean a journey of knowing God and trusting Him in every moment, especially the darkest ones.

Jesus Christ: Seek and save the lost. Jesus Christ came to this world with a clear mission: to seek and save sinners (Luke 19:10). Jesus is God himself who lived on earth in a human body (Colossians 2:9-10), and he is the only mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5). He identified himself as the way [to the heavenly Father], the truth, and the life; and clearly indicated that knowing him is equal to knowing God Himself (John 14:6).

Although his life was relatively brief (about 34 years), his impact is tremendously incomparable because he dedicated his life to doing the will of God by finishing the work of redemption on the cross (John 4:34, 19:30).

Jesus is the Son of Man who came to serve and offer his life for the salvation of mankind (Mark 10:45). The purpose of his life is to give us abundant life in him (John 10:10).

Paul: Know Jesus Christ. Paul, formerly known as Saul, is the real example of a man whose life was radically transformed after an encounter with Christ. He used to persecute Christians but after his conversion, he became the apostle of Christ. He is the author of 13 books in the New Testament (possibly 14 if we include Hebrews), which lays out important foundations of Christian faith we believe today.

Life for Paul means Christ – he fully committed his life by faith in Jesus, to bear fruit for the kingdom of God (Galatians 2:20, Philippians 1:21-22). His ultimate goal is to know Jesus and experience the power of his resurrection through his suffering and death (Philippians 3:10-11). Life is like a running race as he aimed for the prize: an imperishable crown from the Lord on the judgment day (1 Corinthians 9:24-25, 2 Timothy 4:7-8).

7 Aspects to the Meaning (Goal) of Life According to the Bible

1. To display the glory of God. Among all the creation, only humans were created in the Creator’s image. The first of God’s blessing to humanity is fruitfulness, to multiply and fill the earth and govern it (Genesis 1:26-28, Psalm 8). Notice that work is a blessing from God, not a curse. Our work is supposed to be a display of God’s greatness, and therefore in everything we do, we are to do it with the right motive: for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

2. To seek the kingdom of God. Our first and foremost priority in life is to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness, to do what He wants us to do (Matthew 6:33). We pray according to God’s will when we ask for His kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). The kingdom of God is about living in truth, peace, and joy through the work of His Spirit in our hearts (Romans 14:17).

3. To proclaim the works of God. Before knowing Christ, humans live an empty, sinful life. But once we trust in Christ, through his work on the cross, God sets us free from the slavery to sin, saves us from eternal death, and we are given a new identity to declare the wonderful things He has done (1 Peter 1:18-19, 2:9).

We are uniquely created by God and equipped with natural talents and abilities to accomplish good works, which God has called us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

4. To grow in the knowledge of God. The ultimate goal of human’s pursuit of wisdom and knowledge is to understand God, the greatest of all (Proverbs 9:10). Since we believe in Christ, we are born again and become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Our desire is renewed: to always honor and please God, bear good fruit, and know Him better(Colossians 1:10). The knowledge of God leads us to worship and love Him more.

5. To believe in the Word of God. Knowing that Jesus is the perfect representation of God, the best thing we can do in life is to believe in him. Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1), the Beginning and the End, the Almighty God (Revelation 1:8). We not only need to know him but also to believe in him because faith helps us when we cannot understand.

Jesus himself said that believing in him is the only work God wants from us(John 6:29). As we abide in him, the source of grace and truth (John 1:14), we continue to live by faith in the power of God (Romans 1:16-17). Believing in Christ means we have everything we need.

6. To share the love of God. The Bible tells us to live with eternal values: faith, hope, and love (1 Corinthians 13:13), which can only be found in Christ. As we have been fulfilled with God’s love, we must also share it with others, through bearing one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) and discipleship (Matthew 28:18-20).

Naturally, we were born with self-centeredness, however by His love, we are supernaturally transformed into a new person with a Spirit-driven ability to love God and others (Luke 10:27). God’s love (agape) is unconditional and throughout this life, we learn to love like He has loved us (1 John 4:8).

7. To imitate the Son of God. It is the culmination of all the goals we have in life. Here, the sinful desires of humanity to be like God (Genesis 3:5) are replaced with the divine invitation to imitate His Son, Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:48). We are a reflection of God’s glory, created in His image, and being converted by the Spirit into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Life is a process of becoming more and more like Christ in which we exercise our endurance by fixing our eyes on him, the author, and the finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).

What Does This Mean

The meaning of life, according to the Christian faith, is ultimately found in Jesus Christ. In him, the questions about identity, origin, meaning, purpose, and destiny are answered with profound hope. We are the beloved children of God, created by our heavenly Father to reflect His glory, walk in His love, and do His will in our lives.

Life on earth is a journey of our transformation to become more like Jesus, who has delivered us from evil, sin, and death, until the glorious day when we spend eternity with him.

www.christianity.com

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