Life is Messy!
“What do you think is the meaning of life,” she asked.
Just because I have been asked this question does not mean that I know the answer, because my answer may be different from someone who is not as Bible-oriented as I am.
My family knows that I have a fetish for Bibles. I truly believe the Bible is God’s message to His people. But that’s me. Not everyone feels that way.
All that aside, no one can really tell the actual definition of the meaning of life from their own knowledge. To some, it may all be about happiness, health, wisdom, building a family, and leading life as it seems meant to be.
For others, it is about accumulating wealth, but for many, it is all about love. Many people would say the meaning of life is to be happy and successful, to have plenty of money, a prestigious family, a big house, and an expensive car; maybe two or three; a vacation get-away or perhaps a private plane, and the ability to wrap their bodies in designer clothes, famous name shoes, handbags, Rolex watches, and diamonds and rubies.
But those are mostly just things. I surely don’t set myself up as an authority, but for me, understanding, or learning to understand God’s creation, is most important to discover the meaning of life. This requires faith because it is impossible for me to prove anything we cannot see. The best we can do is to examine the evidence. (Hebrews 11:1-3).
I believe in the Creator, God, the great “I AM.” I believe He is the Three-in-One heavenly being of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that Jesus was the blood sacrifice for the sins of mankind, and that his forgiveness brings with it the hope of our eternal home in heaven. That hope is found in the name of Jesus and no other. (Acts 4:12).
Because I am a believer who has repented of my sins and have been baptized, I have the promised Holy Spirit in my heart and mind to give me guidance, and specific gifts of service, and He helps me to understand God’s word. I believe everyone has a physical body, spirit, and soul; and that the soul is everlasting.
Almost every human being in every culture or language believes in an afterlife. Their location and life on this great big ball of earth may be different, and they may speak different languages, but the Bible teaches that this earthly life is not all there is.
However you say Jesus in your own language, He is the answer. This world is not my home. If I’m wrong, I lose nothing, but if you don’t believe all that, and you’re wrong… you have lost everything.
To this point, I have been writing in generalities… generic for ordinary humanity. Now my answer is specifically from God’s Holy Spirit: [1]
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8).
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” (Luke 10:25-28).
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14).
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. (James 2:8).
Only a few verses out of thousands of verses, but you get the idea. God wants His creation to love Him and to love each other. In His three persons, God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit; those verses are His meaning of life.
This isn’t in the Bible… but it is certainly true! Life is messy! But it can be a beautiful mess.
Blessings,
Sandra
[1] Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.