Finding purpose & meaning
No doubt there have been hundreds of ‘How To’ books written over the years. When considering specific ‘life questions,’ like our purpose & meaning, we would be best served if we diligently search the ultimate ‘owner’s manual’ … provided by the very Author of life Himself, in this all time best seller, the Bible! Otherwise known as, Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.
Concerning the choice to continue to live for the ways of the world, in comparison to going all in for Jesus, the Apostle Paul says this in Philippians 3:6-11, “I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!”
1 Peter 2:21-25 says, “For [as a believer] you have been called for this purpose, since Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you may follow in His footsteps. He committed no sin, nor was deceit ever found in His mouth. While being reviled and insulted, He did not revile or insult in return; while suffering, He made no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges fairly. He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross [willingly offering Himself on it, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; for by His wounds you [who believe] have been healed. For you were continually wandering like sheep, but now you have come back to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.”
I sincerely hope you can imagine what it’s like to experience 24/7 harmonious companionship (becoming one with Christ), as well as having Him literally always watching over the very essence of your being (as the Guardian of our souls)!
When God originally created man, our purpose was to glorify Him in everything we do … to enjoy His fellowship … be in good relationships with those around us … to be faithful in our work, and have dominion over all the earth. Unfortunately, when we fell into sin, that close communion and fellowship with God was broken. Only by restoring and redeeming that intimate fellowship with God, through faith in Jesus, can purpose and meaning in our lives be rediscovered.