What Is the Meaning of Life?

For many people, the purpose and meaning of life are elusive. Life becomes a never-ending cycle: eat, drink, sleep, work. The pleasures of life seem hollow. Relationships go sour. Many people have nothing bigger than themselves to live for. In despair they conclude, “Vanity of vanities; all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2).

Is there a way out of this dilemma? Is there hope? Yes! It can be found by understanding God’s master plan.

1. God is the Creator of all things and all people. He has a master plan for his creation. Discovering this plan gives purpose and meaning to life.

• “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).
• “God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them” (Genesis 1:27).
• “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Hebrews 11:3).
• “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will” (Ephesians 1:11).
• Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Why is it that many people do not find this purpose and meaning?

2. Man is sinful and in rebellion against God. As a result, he is separated from God and falls under his just wrath against sin.

MAN	GOD
Sinful	Holy
Disobedient	Just
Rebellious	Good

• “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
• “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).
• “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God” (Romans 3:10-11).
• “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).
• “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:41-42).

3. Jesus Christ is the sinless Son of God who suffered God’s wrath in the place of his people.

• “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).
• “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
• “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
• “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

What must I do to be saved?

4. If you repent of your sins and receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord by faith, God will blot out your sins, adopt you as his child, and reserve a place for you in heaven forever.

• “Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin” (Ezekiel 18:30).
• “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).
• “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31).
• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9).
• “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” (John 1:12).
• “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2).

What can I do to show my gratitude for so great a gift?

5. Gratitude is expressed by a life of obedience.

• Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
• “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:4).
• “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:37-39). This is Christ’s summary of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), which in turn is an easily remembered summary of the whole duty of man taught throughout the Bible.

6. Obedience involves worshipping with God’s people. No man can ever be excused from his responsibility to worship Jesus Christ.

• “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him” (Psalm 2:12). “Kiss the Son” means “embrace Him, pay honor to Him, worship Him.” The inescapable conclusion is: worship Christ (evidence of true faith) or perish eternally!
• “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).
• “But Sunday is my only day to sleep in!” “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man” (Proverbs 6:10-11).
• Attend a church where you hear biblical preaching—not the opinions of man. The pastor is under the solemn obligation: “Preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2).

Yes, life does have purpose and meaning—in Jesus Christ! As the apostle Paul discovered, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

Would you like to receive Jesus Christ right now? Pray: “Lord, I know I am a sinner. I have disobeyed your holy law. I have sinned against you in thought, word and deed and justly deserve your wrath. I have no merit of my own but trust in the perfect righteousness of Christ. Be merciful to me and save me now for Jesus’ sake. Amen.”

If you belong to Jesus Christ, your sins have been laid on him, and his perfect righteousness is credited to you. This righteousness alone qualifies an individual to stand in the presence of a holy God.

• “The LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).
• “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Galatians 3:6).

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