The Meaning of Life

Spirituality Column #174
March 9, 2010
Current in Carmel - Current in Westfield - Current in Noblesville
(Indianapolis north suburban home newspapers)

The Meaning of Life (it can’t be that easy … )
By Bob Walters
Author of the book: Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

What is the meaning of life?

Many philosophers, spiritualists, deep thinkers, academics, theorists, Darwinists, humanists, humorists, dreamers, artists, odds-makers, rascals – and more than a few theologians – make the answer to that question more difficult than it needs to be.

The answer, the capital-T Truth, is built into Christian doctrine: life means seeking God, praising God, loving God … and loving other humans as we love ourselves. Our faith in Jesus Christ on the Cross – that He erased our sins so we may have eternal life and fellowship with God in heaven (John 3:16) – is the Truth’s straight path and narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14).

Looking around us, it is hard to imagine this life should be dedicated to God and other humans because so much of it seems to be dedicated to ourselves. Our innate fear of death, our natural appetites (some sinful, some not), a culture that exalts self, even our God-given freedom, all conspire against our trust in Christ’s new covenant and new creation, which divinely calls us not to selfish power, but to selfless, sacrificial love.

God promises this new covenant in the Old Testament (Jeremiah 31:31), and Christ delivers it in the New Testament (Luke 22:20). St. Paul explains that when we allow Christ to live in our hearts, we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). With this comes new meaning for our lives.

Is life’s meaning founded in loving our family, neighbor and nation? Only if we understand it is God Who authored and gives meaning to love.

Is life’s meaning money, wealth, power … or fear? Each can wreak spiritual destruction – as can poverty or ill-health – if loving God is not one’s first priority. Love is an exercise of our God-given freedom; but love isn’t something we create. We think we do, but … we don’t. We can’t.

“God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). Period. Believe it.

A personal relationship with Christ that truly gives one’s life peace, joy and meaning “beyond all understanding” (Philippians 4:7) is not what the above earthly thinkers readily or willingly accept as life’s meaning.

They put too much “me” in meaning, and too much “I” in idea.

Life’s true meaning is only in us if Christ is in us, and if our faith is in Christ, because life’s meaning is Christ.

Know what I mean?

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) quotes the Westminster Catechism of 1647: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him for ever.” Amen.