Life Without The Knowledge Of God Leads To Emptiness
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
Eccl. 1:1
Ecclesiastes is a book of the Bible, one of the Wisdom books, that explains how life in this world can be meaningless. Solomon, one of the great kings of Israel, got to pursue everything and anything he wanted to in life.
His conclusions after everything is: Life is vain, empty, and worthless without God. In this world, we will experience life under the sun as one marked by brokenness.
All the riches, learning, and experiences in life end up being empty. Whether people try to live a good life or not, the conclusion is the same: Life goes on. Everything starts from dust and returns to dust .
This is why Jesus says in Luke 12:22-23 :
And he said to his disciples, Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
Jesus says that life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Life is not an endless pursuit to get more.
Meaning in life comes from a deeper place than just the physical world and the things that we are usually so busy living to get more of. People who are in countries going through the devastation of war or famine have very little food and clothing. Yet, people still find meaning in life and the will to survive.
Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
Luke 12:31
Looking for Meaning in the World
Benefits Of Gods Redemption For Humanity
As previously stated, God made a perfect covenant with us to redeem us from the slavery of sin, which was the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary, where he gave his life and freed us from all guilt. Here the true plan of God for humanity was reflected and shaped and made known to us the character.
In this way, humanity would benefit from eternal life by accepting Jesus Christ as our only and true Savior.
But God also revealed to us the lie of Satan, who tries to deceive and persuade humanity to live free and far from Gods perfect laws.
It encourages us to act disobedient and not to believe in the Holy Scriptures.
Therefore, today we can see the world wrapped in sin, pain, and rebellion, in which death wants to reign in the universe as a whole.
But for those of us who do believe in Gods purpose, redemption and his love have saved us from falling into the lies of the evil one, and we also recognize that Gods laws are eternal and immovable and eternal, for which what he has promised, he will fulfill it in time. As can be seen in the following quote:
But now, freed from sin, and made servants to God, you have as your fruit sanctification, and finally eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, while the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. No one can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will cherish the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money
What Is Forgiveness By God
Humankind has a sinful nature. Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, and humans have been sinning against God ever since.
God loves us too much to let us destroy ourselves in Hell. He provided a way for us to be forgiven, and that way is through Jesus Christ. Jesus confirmed that in no uncertain terms when he said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” . God’s plan of salvation was to send Jesus, his only Son, into the world as a sacrifice for our sins.
That sacrifice was necessary to satisfy God’s justice. Moreover, that sacrifice had to be perfect and spotless. Because of our sinful nature, we cannot repair our broken relationship with God on our own. Only Jesus was qualified to do that for us.
At the Last Supper, on the night before his crucifixion, he took a cup of wine and told his apostles, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” .
The next day, Jesus died on the cross, taking the punishment due us, and atoning for our sins. On the third day after that, he rose from the dead, conquering death for all who believe in him as Savior.
John the Baptist and Jesus commanded that we repent, or turn away from our sins to receive God’s forgiveness. When we do, our sins are forgiven, and we are assured of eternal life in heaven.
Recommended Reading: Loneliness Bible Verses
Bible Verses That Speak Of Redemption
Redemption is liberation from the slavery of sin and it is given to us by the perfect sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross of Calvary, where he gave his life for us so that we would have life and life in abundance. In the bible we can find many passages that tell us about the importance of redemption in our lives:
- Ephesians 1: 7 In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins according to the riches of his grace
- 1 Corinthians 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us the wisdom of God, and justification, and sanctification, and redemption.
- Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people for his possession, zealous for good works
- Galatians 2:20 With Christ I am crucified together and I no longer live, Christ lives in me
What Is Fear Of Death
Thanatophobia is commonly referred to as the fear of death. More specifically, it can be a fear of death or a fear of the dying process. It’s natural for someone to worry about their own health as they age. It’s also common for someone to worry about their friends and family after they’re gone.
Read also
Also Check: The Bible Books In Chronological Order
Many Answers Much Confusion: Meaning Of Life In The World System
Google the question what is the meaning of life, and you will get as many answers as there are philosophies. To save you the time, heres a brief selection of how the world answers the important question on what the meaning of life is
Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life. It is a waste to be asking the question when you are the answer. Joseph Campbell, 20th century Comparative Religion Scholar
For me life is continuously being hungry. The meaning of life is not simply to exist, to survive, but to move ahead, to go up, to achieve, to conquer. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Former Governor of California, Actor
You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life. Albert Camus, 20th century philosopher
Opinions on the meaning of life vary greatly in the World System. In this small collection of answers from worldly-wise people, they cant even agree with each other. The reason they dont get it is because they dont understand telos of people.
If you look to the world for the meaning of life, you wont find a satisfactory answer. Because the world always seeks the answers to lifes basic questions apart from the purpose of all life and meaning: the one true God.
What Is The Purpose Of Life According To The Bible
Now, we come to the gist of the matter. What is the purpose of life?
The purpose of life is to prepare us for our incredible and magnificent destiny to become the very sons and daughters of God!
This is the plain truth, my friends and dear readers! God has created us because HE IS CREATING A FAMILY! God is family, and He wants to expand His family to include you and me! We will be like God, and we will share the same level of existence as they have!
We are born because God is building a family.
Do you grasp the ENORMITY and immense meaning of this? The very PURPOSE of life is for us to become SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD! We will be like a god! Think about that for a second! The purpose of life is greater or even ASTRONOMICALLY higher than any of our wildest imagination! Just like what the Apostle Paul wrote:
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not WORTHY to be compared with the which shall be revealed in us .
He further adds:
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him .
In short, the reward of God for those who truly follow Him is INDESCRIBLE! Our human and finite mind can never even grasp how it is like to be a spirit and divine being in the FAMILY OF GOD!
Also Check: Praying Without Ceasing Meaning
What Is The Purpose Of Life
Christians believe that life is not an accident. There is a purpose and meaning to every life.
Read time: 3 minutes, 25 seconds
Life is not an accident. There is a purpose and meaning to every life. Christians believe that God created the Earth and everything that lives on it. God knows each person individually, from the baby that tragically lives just a few minutes to the great-grandmother who celebrates her 100th birthday. God created all people and he loves them. He made people to worship him and to enjoy a relationship with him forever. God wants us to love him and each other. In the Bible books, Mark and Luke, Jesus Christ was asked what were the most important things a person should do. He replied, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength love your neighbour as yourself.
The Bible says that God made people in his image.
Jesus Christ told a story during his three years of teaching, which illustrates just how God thinks of people. The story, known as the Prodigal Son, tells how a father enthusiastically and joyfully takes back a rebellious son who has frittered away his inheritance and is now destitute.
Continued below…
How should we live?
I have comethat they may have life and have it to the full.
A Broken Jesus For Broken People
Here is brokenness that makes the worst of life bearable the brokenness of Jesus Christ. Were forever known, held, loved, understood, and befriended in our brokenness and whatever it entails. Jesus comes near because Hes been there too. You no longer need to bear anything thats breaking you alone.
The meaning of brokenness in the Bible is deep and rich. Its varied but closely related aspects touch all sides of our brokenness, reminding us that God is no stranger to our human experience. As we awake more and more to his presence and working in our lives, we can find hope in knowing our brokenness isnt pointless. On the contrary, its worth something of immeasurable value. It will drive us further into the heart of the One who makes us whole.
Want to dig into the Word and study more truths like these? to check out our program!
Read Also: Read The Bible In Chronological Order
Importance Of Knowing Your Purpose
Finding the purpose of your life is very crucial. Having a purpose gives you meaning, direction, and fulfillment. One will never experience how to live this life truly without knowing the purpose of our existence.
Are we just a mere cosmic accident caused by a random evolutionary process?
Thousands of people are living and dying each day. Most of them will die without even knowing the purpose of life. What a sad and depressing world we are living now.
Some people would somehow find their purpose in life. However, this kind of purpose is something that will only satisfy them during this lifetime. Some would accept their purpose as saving the planet, running for the presidency, feeding the hungry, finding a cure for different illnesses, getting rich, exploring the world, climbing mountains, dying for their country, and making this world a better place to live.
At the end of the day, there is a spiritual void in our hearts that will never be filled with these worldly pursuits. It is very clear that no amount of physical things would be able to assuage our spiritual thirst. Every single person has an element of spirituality because God has put ETERNITY in our hearts .
Life without God is meaningless. Life without God is a life without real purpose. Our real purpose can only be found in God, and theres no other place.
It is astonishing to see people filling the spiritual void in their hearts with the wrong things in life. At the end of the day, they still feel empty.
What Does The Bible Say Is The Purpose Of Our Lives
Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made, .
According to the Bible, our purpose, the reason we are here, is for Gods glory. In other words, our purpose is to praise God, worship him, to proclaim his greatness, and to accomplish his will. This is what glorifies him. Therefore, in this, we find that God has given us a reason for our existence, a meaning for our existence. We were created by him, according to his desire, and our lives are to be lived for him so that we might accomplish what he has for us to do. When we trust the one who has made us, who works all things after the counsel of his will , then we are able to live a life of purpose. How the particulars of that purpose are expressed is up to the individual.
You May Like: Does The Bible Say We Are Born Sinners
Books For The General Reader
- Baggini, J., 2004, Whats It All About?: Philosophy andthe Meaning of Life, London: Granta Books.
- Belliotti, R., 2001, What Is the Meaning of Life?,Amsterdam: Rodopi.
- Belshaw, C., 2005, 10 Good Questions about Life andDeath, Malden, MA: Blackwell.
- Cottingham, J., 2003, On the Meaning of Life, London:Routledge.
- Eagleton, T., 2007, The Meaning of Life: A Very ShortIntroduction, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Fischer, J. M., 2019, Death, Immortality, and Meaning inLife, New York: Oxford University Press.
- Ford, D., 2007, The Search for Meaning: A Short History,Berkeley: University of California Press.
- Hauskeller, M., 2020, The Meaning of Life and Death: TenClassic Thinkers on the Ultimate Question, London: BloomsburyAcademic.
- Martin, M., 2002, Atheism, Morality, and Meaning,Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books.
- Messerly, J., 2012, The Meaning of Life: Religious,Philosophical, Transhumanist, and Scientific Approaches, Seattle:Darwin and Hume Publishers.
- Ruse, M., 2019, A Meaning to Life, New York: OxfordUniversity Press.
- Thomson, G., 2003, On the Meaning of Life, SouthMelbourne: Wadsworth.
- Young, J., 2003, The Death of God and the Meaning ofLife, New York: Routledge.
Ways To Regain Your Purpose
In his classic book The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a poem that included the line, Not all who wander are lost. The same applies to you. Even though you feel like youre wandering without any true purpose, that doesnt mean youre lost. You can regain your sense of purpose and discover what God has for your life.
Here are 6 ways to discover Gods purpose for your life.
GO TO GOD IN PRAYER.
Again, lets start with the obvious. If you feel purposeless, ask God to give you wisdom and direction. James 1:5 states, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Thats incredibly good news. God wants to give you a purpose. He wants to bestow divine wisdom on you. Its not like God is holding out on you to make you miserable. He desires you to have a joyful, ambitious, purposeful life. Ask God for purpose and expect Him to give it to you.
DIG INTO GODS WORD.
The primary way God speaks to us is through the Bible. This means that one of the first things you should do in your search for Gods purpose is to start digging into scripture. Now, you wont find any verses that tell you to become a dance instructor or painter, but you will begin to understand the heart of God.
DETERMINE YOUR GIFTS AND STRENGTHS.
DETERMINE YOUR PASSIONS.
BRING OTHERS INTO YOUR LIFE.
TAKE A SOLITUDE RETREAT.
Don’t Miss: What Does The Bible Say About Cremation Billy Graham
Rejecting God And A Soul
Naturalists until recently had been largely concerned to show thatmeaning in life is possible without God or a soul they have not spentmuch time considering how such spiritual conditions might enhancemeaning, but have, in moderate fashion, tended to leave thatpossibility open . Lately, however, anextreme form of naturalism has arisen, according to which our liveswould probably, if not unavoidably, have less meaning in a world withGod or a soul than in one without. Although such an approach wasvoiced early on by Baier , it is really in the past decade or sothat this anti-theist position has become widely andintricately discussed.
One rationale, mentioned above as an objection to the view thatGods purpose constitutes meaning in life, has also beendeployed to argue that the existence of God as such would necessarilyreduce meaning, that is, would consist of anti-matter. It is the ideathat master/servant and parent/child analogies so prominent in themonotheist religious traditions reveal something about our status in aworld where there is a qualitatively higher being who has created uswith certain ends in mind: our independence or dignity as adultpersons would be violated . One interestingobjection to this reasoning has been to accept that Godsexistence is necessarily incompatible with the sort of meaning thatwould come from being ones own boss, but toargue that God would also make greater sorts of meaning available,offering a net gain to us .