One of the deepest and yet most basic of questions that has crossed everyone’s mind at least once is pondering the meaning of life. Why are we here? What is our purpose? It is a question that every follower of Christ should already know, as it is stated quite plainly in His Word – though the answer may surprise you.
God has shared with everyone who has eyes to see and ears to hear what the meaning an purpose of life is, and today we will be studying this answer straight from the Word of God, and by seeing what the true meaning and purpose of life is, we can shed the distractions of meaningless pursuits and have a truly fulfilling and divine life.
If you were to gather a group of believers and ask them what the meaning of life is, you would probably get all different answers ranging from “Love people”, “enjoy life”, “share Jesus”, and so forth. And what I am about to say next may shock you… they are all incorrect answers! Yes all of them. This is not my opinion, because my opinion is nothing, but it is based on scripture. God Himself tells us what the meaning and purpose of life is in Ecclesiastes 12:12-14, three verses which perfectly sum-up the meaning and purpose of life. Let’s read them now:
“And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
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.”
Now if you have been coming here for a while you already know what this means, but I will explain it again for the benefit of new visitors. The phrase “Fear God”, does not mean dread or terror as if God were some sort of ogre, but it means “reverence and worship”. We are to revere and worship God, and by doing so we will keep His commandments – which for us today does not mean “follow the law to earn God’s favor”, but instead it means follow God’s advice, because His advice will bring you life and keep you safe.
Many people still have this belief that they are required to earn God’s love through good works and well-doing, but this is a misrepresentation of God. The truth is that God will always love you no matter what. And it is because God loves you so very much that He desires the best for you in every area. He wants every single part of your life to prosper to the fullest and for His divine nature to shine throughout your entire being – and it’s because of Jesus’ sacrifice for you that this is possible.
To accomplish this desire, God has given us advice, which when followed will enable us to experience this life even though we live in a corrupted world. Following God’s advice is called making Him Lord of your life, and there are many believers who claim that He is Lord but never follow His guidance.
This is not a merit mentality, but it is having reverence and worship for God by actually letting Him lead our lives. He desires to guide us into all truth and a life of blessings which we cannot even imagine, but we must put Him first and allow Him to guide us or we will end up confused and wandering and wondering why nothing ever seems to work.
Notice in verse 13 that it says to fear (worship) God and follow His commandments (advice) is the whole duty of man. This is because when we are honestly worshiping God, and following His advice (allowing Him to lead our lives) then nothing else is required, He will handle everything and work everything out for our blessing and benefit. This is our inheritance in Christ Jesus as stated in Romans 8:28:
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
There are a few things to see in this verse. First that it does not say that all things are good. But that all things work together for the resulting good. Also notice that there is a condition here, to those that love God and are called to His purpose. This is one single condition; not two separate ones. Everyone who truly loves God is called in some way or another. Maybe not all to lead churches, but there is a standing call to all believers.
The chief point here is that if you love God, then this promise (as all the others) are yours to claim in Jesus Christ. If God is your Lord and leader of your life, then your life is on solid ground and totally secure because He will lead you into all truth, safety and blessing in Christ Jesus. If however, you are not following God but some other leader (whatever or whoever it may be) then this promise is not for you, and your life will be a constant turbulent storm. Now please understand that this turbulence is not a punishment or judgment from God. In-truth the dangers and turbulence exist already in the world, God wants to protect us from all of it, but by not allowing Him to lead and guide us, we then are moving ourselves into a zone of danger and problems.
My friends, the importance of allowing God to be the God of your life simply cannot be overstated. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus has this to say:
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Now this verse is usually used to teach about the dangers of loving money. However the word mammon used here actually carries a broader definition of “intense desire or greed for anything”. So we can see that this desire or greed can be applied to every area of our lives, not just finances. If you have an intense desire for something other than Jesus, then in the words of Jesus, you are serving a different master. If you find that there is something in the world that you can’t live without, then you are serving mammon.
A few verses down in Matthew 6.33, Jesus explains what we should be seeking:
“But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.”
This makes it clear that it is God that we should be looking for… specifically His Righteousness, not our own. When you seek His Righteousness, it invariably points you to Jesus and His work on the cross for you. And when you see Jesus in all of His majesty and splendor, you will begin to appreciate Him more and want to see Him in even greater detail. This hunger for more of God is one of the signs of a true believer in Christ, someone who has actually seen a glimpse of God and wants more.
It is the truly genuine few and the people hungry for Jesus who will have the courage and faith to put God first in their lives and seek His righteousness, without looking to themselves or others as a distraction. It is also these same people who will continue on without fail and experience the abundant life that God is leading them into, all because they had the reverence and worship for Him and His Word to allow Him to lead their lives. And finally, it is these same people who will receive the truly abundant meaning and purpose of life, along with the blessings that come with it.
The blessing of a truly abundant life are there for every single person to obtain – God’s supply is greater than the demand. Truly the pathway and the door has been set before us and the only requirement for us is to go through it. These are the words of Jesus in John 10:4-10:
“And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
This parable spoke Jesus to them: but they understood not what things they were which he spoke to them.
Then said Jesus to them again, Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
The thief comes 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.”
Notice that in verse 10 Jesus tells us His desire for us, that we should have abundant life in Him. However notice also that this verse is connected with the previous verses, all speaking about knowing and following His voice. The way to have abundant life, and a truly fulfilling life is to be filled with Jesus and let Him be the LORD of your life, leading you, guiding you and caring for you.
And where do we find His voice today? In His Word, the Bible. This is the true meaning and purpose of life, and our lives can only be fulfilling when we ourselves are filled with Jesus Christ.