By Jim Palmer
She clutched the letter jacket to her face and wept softly as she remembered the once strong adolescent boy she would never hug again.
He awoke each day —now six weeks removed from her funeral—thinking the sting of the loss would be lessened.
The doctors told him he had four months to live and he couldn’t imagine how he’d get his affairs in order in that little time.
The fall itself actually hadn’t been so bad. There was a sharp pain in her back but then everything got very still, very calm – would she ever walk again?
On the other side of town, a tumor had been removed successfully and the doctors said that the patient would recover completely. Two miles away a plane landed safely and ‘Daddy’ was coming home from twelve months at war. Three blocks away, on the eleventh floor of the county hospital, a woman could not believe the news—not only had her mother emerged from the coma—she also was speaking. Next door in the rehabilitation unit a young woman was coming to the realization that weeks of therapy had resulted in her being able to stand without the use of a walker or cane.
Why are these stories so typical? Why do they occur at random times and in random places across the country, even around the world? Why do some live long lives and die at a ‘ripe old age’ while others are snuffed out before birth? Why are some seemingly born to live lives of adversity and pain while others live in comfort, luxury, and opulence?
I simply do not know. There are some things that only God knows. But I do know that these lives – all of them – have meaning. I know that lives can be changed for good or for bad by our own actions or inactions. I know that just because something “is” today does not mean it “will be” tomorrow, nor should it necessarily be. I know that there is a God in Heaven who cares (1 Peter 5:6-7). The God who made it all – and made it all very good (Genesis 1:31) knows that the world of sickness, pain, and death we live in today is no comparison to the world of splendor He made originally. Like the Israelites were captives of the Babylonians, so too, we are captive to a world of death and decay. But, He knows and wants us to try to grasp the fact that He has much better plans in store for those who remain faithful to Him (Jeremiah 29:11).
So, as we look into the topic of “finding the meaning of life” lets begin by acknowledging the fact that within the limited space permitted, it would be impossible to try to be exhaustive. Nevertheless, let’s consider an overview from God’s Word.
Our life is about glorifying our Creator. The apostle Paul, in Acts 17:22-31, engages the philosophers of Athens in a discussion of life’s origin and meaning. He notes that God is the Creator of life (vs. 24), the Sustainer of life (vs. 25), has provided our Redeemer (vs. 31), and as such, we should seek Him (vs. 27-28) and acknowledge Him in obedience (vs. 29- 30). That we are here to glorify God is above debate and is acknowledged by the Old Testament prophets and kings. Ezekiel 18:4 tells us our souls belong to God. Isaiah 43:7 reminds us that we are to glorify Him. And, a most noted and quoted passage regarding the meaning of life is found in Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.” Giving God glory is done by, in loving humility, acknowledging His presence, promoting His cause, and honoring His commandments by obedience.
We should serve God by serving others. Life is filled with choices we must make on our own (Joshua 24:14-15). In doctrinal matters, we must serve Him doctrinally (by the standard supplied in His Word). In cases where we are commanded to serve others but not told how (Matthew 25:31-46) we should choose a method that befits our particular skill set or talents. As we take action to alleviate both physical and societal ills, our ultimate goal should be to help others secure the hope of a Heavenly home by teaching them the Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20). If we determined individually to seize opportunities to serve God by serving others, the changes we would witness in our everyday lives would be no less than revolutionary. Feelings and thoughts of integrity, trust, and camaraderie would replace feelings of moral decay, suspicion, and an ‘everyone out for number one’ mentality. Margaret Mead once wrote, “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” Will you be one of the few?
We are to be making preparation for that for which we were made – an eternal destiny in a Heavenly home. The theme of Matthew 25 could be ‘preparation’. The wise virgins had their lamps readied with oil and went in to the wedding with the bridegroom. The wise servants took the talents (given to them by their master) and traded with them to gain more. In both instances action was required. Preparation is a necessity. Let us, like those listed in ‘Faith’s Hall of Fame’ in Hebrews 11 treat our time here as though we are pilgrims or strangers. For we are (1 Peter 2:11). Let us seek those things which are above and set our minds on that which is above (Colossians 3:1-2). Let us take the appropriate steps to make our call and election sure so an entrance may be supplied abundantly into the Everlasting Kingdom (2 Peter 1:1- 11). Let us throw off every weight of this world’s sinfulness and make it our goal to live this life with a burning desire to see Heaven’s shore. In doing so, we will willingly cast aside anything that might keep us apart from God. The benefits will be sensational. No longer will we be beholden to the fads, the whims, and the misjudgments of the world. Instead we will live lives in peaceful harmony with our Maker. Indeed, it is a peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
Life on this Earth with its ups, its downs, its mundane days, and its times of excitement, ultimately comes to the same end for everyone. Despite the differing paths in getting there, life in this world and in this body ends in death. For those who have bought into the ‘wisdom’ of the humanists, atheists, and evolutionists, the search for meaning in life (apart from God) is an exercise in futility and despair.
Even at its absolute best, life on this earth will pale miserably in comparison to the glorious splendor of the hereafter. If the meaning we assign to life begins and ends with our days here, we are of all men most miserable. However, ours is a message of hope – for it comes from a loving Father. We can overcome whatever life throws our way knowing that this is not ‘the end’. We can enthusiastically strengthen our hearts and minds with the knowledge that our Creator desires us to lay hold on eternal life. We can have confidence in knowing “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). As we consider our daily walk, as individuals, may we seek out ways to glorify God, serve others, and prepare ourselves for an Eternal reward– and in doing so, discover the meaning of this life
