Meaning and Purpose

The following statements and corresponding portions of scripture form the basis for our understanding of the meaning and purpose of life.

CREATED BY GOD

God has created mankind and the world we live in and everyone in it belongs to Him. We are not independent autonomous creatures. The essence of our existence is rooted in this truth.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

{26} Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; …. {27} God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. …{28} God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; (Genesis 1:26-28)

God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. (Genesis 1:31)

The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. {2} For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the rivers. (Psalms 24:1-2)

Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. {4} Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; bless His name. {5} For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting, And His faithfulness to all generations. (Psalms 100:3-5)

GOD’S PLANS AND PURPOSES

God has created man with a plan and purpose in mind and it is important that each person understand and embrace this for themselves.

The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, (Proverbs 16:4)

“Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; (Isaiah 46:9-10)

The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation. (Psalm 33:11)

O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness. (Isaiah 25:1)

For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. (Jerimiah 29:11)

Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “Who execute a plan, but not Mine (Isaiah 30:1)

KNOWING GOD

What gives life lasting meaning and purpose is man’s ability to know God.

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (The prayer of Jesus recorded in John 17:3)

And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. (The first Epistle of the Apostle John: 1 John 5:20)

The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist (The Apostle Paul addressing the men of Athens: Acts 17:24-28)

Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. (The Prophet Jeremiah: Jeremiah 9:23-24)

BEING KNOWN AND LOVED BY GOD

The Bible also tells us in a number of places that God knows each one of us and cares for us very much. Understanding this gives our lives even greater meaning and purpose.

The Prophet Jeremiah explained that God knew him before he was formed in the womb:

Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you;” (Jeremiah 1:5)

David writes in the Psalms that God knew him when he was being formed in his mother’s womb:

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written. The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. (Psalm 139:13-16)

Jesus taught the disciples that God is keenly aware of every part of His creation. He said that if a sparrow falls to the ground God knows it and that the very hairs of each persons head were all numbered!

Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.31 So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31)

The Apostle Peter wrote these encouraging words reminding us of God’s loving concern for His people:

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7)

LOVING GOD AND OTHERS

The meaning and purpose in life is greatly enhanced through the loving relationships we can have with God and other people, both now and forever.

…a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the great and foremost commandment.The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Jesus reply to a lawyer; Matthew 26:35-40)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Jesus addressing the Apostles; John 13:34-35)

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (The first Epistle of the Apostle John; 1 John 4:7-8)

What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life– and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us– what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. (The first Epistle of the Apostle John; 1 John 1:1-4)

ENJOYING GOD’S FELLOWSHIP AND CREATION FOREVER

While the world we live in today is beautiful there is a new heaven and new earth yet to come which will be even more glorious and will last forever. It will be there in God’s kingdom that people will be able to live in fellowship with God and others forever. This gives life its ultimate meaning and purpose.

You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. (Psalm 16:11)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7 He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. (The Apostle John’s vision in the book of Revelation; Revelation 21:1-7)

Unfortunately, sin has separated us from God, bringing judgement and death into our present world. Jesus came into this world to demonstrate God’s love for us by rescuing us from these consequences of sin through His sacrificial death on the cross of Calvary. If you have not already done so we encourage you to go to the home page and read through the first three main topics: “God’s Word”, “God’s Love” and “God’s Will”. There you will learn how God has spoken to our world and provided for our salvation from sin, and most importantly, what you must do to be saved.

On this page we have answered the second of three very important questions, “Is there lasting meaning and purpose in this life?”. If you would like to consider the first “Big Question”, “How do we know of the existence of God?” please go to the previous page. If you would like to consider the third question, “What will happen to me when I die?” please go to the next page. May God bless you as you continue to seek Him!