Meaning in life is only understandable by knowing God and immortality. Does a painting know it’s painter, a book it’s author? Does a human being know it’s creator? Do we have a way to know the creator? The Bible will tell us the way. It is the word of God, proven in history, fact and experience to be trustworthy.
Skeptical? Let us assume that it speaks truth, and perhaps you will find that it answers our questions most reasonably and better than any other source.
The first book of the Bible, Genesis, explains the history of our relationship with God, who created all things declaring them good. “let us make man in our image” Genesis 1:26 This is the first glimpse of the trinity. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit existent in one relational and personal God. Humans were created for relationship with God. We need to be in relationship with God to know meaning and life.
St. Augustine writes of God “Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee” – Confessions Book 1 ¹
C.S.Lewis -The Weight of Glory ²
A sincere search for meaning through a relationship with God would lead us to Jesus Christ, who said
“No man come to the father but through me.” John 14:6 . Jesus, the author of life, knows death is the enemy of life. Any meaning we think we have is vanity if we end in death.
Adam and Eve had a relationship with God. “And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31 They were created to be immortal beings. “but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” Genesis 2:17
Adam and Eve knew only good, they knew no evil until disobeying God. Genesis 3:7 Their decision to rebel, brought sin and corruption and death into the world. Genesis 3:17. They became confused, unable to fully know God, meaning and eternal life.
“Thus by one man sin and death came into the world.” Romans 5:12.
We have since been trying in vain, with all forms of religion “to get ourselves back to the garden”. Lyrics from “Woodstock” by Joni Mitchell ³
But God, in His mercy and grace made a way to restore us to relationship, meaning and life in Jesus Christ,who said:
“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved… I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. John 10:10
Jesus gives us the meaning of life in this declaration, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Matt 22:37
Adam brought us sin and death but Jesus brings us righteousness meaning and life. We need to know God’s Love and His gift of life in Jesus to understand the meaning of life.
“For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Cor 15:21-22
¹ Confessions, Book 1, by St. Augustine – Cyber Library
² C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory – Video from Crosswalk
³ Lyrics –Artists: Joni Mitchell “Woodstock”
Dr. John Lennox – brilliant presentation https://youtu.be/88WMQVpHZCU
Momeaning 