The Meaning of Life
Allow me to share some
personal reflections on the real meaning of life. Amidst the pressures of
studies, physiological changes, relationships, etc., many young people ask themselves,
“What does life really mean to me?” Many of my friends and I too asked and looked
for it. Some of us found it in the wrong places.
God
has already told us the meaning of life. In Eph 1:4-5, "For he chose us in him before the creation
of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us
to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure
and will.” So what is the point of life? What is God's purpose in creating you?
It says here that you were made to be loved by God.
Even more, God has made you part of the story of the universe. Most of you know the Star Wars story. On one side, there was Luke Skywalker, Hans Solo and the Jedi Knights. On the other were the forces of Darth Vader and the Sith Lords. It was a classic story of good versus evil. If the Jedi Knights lost, the universe was plunged into fear and darkness. The movies were very inspiring and I remember being thrilled by the trilogy. Don’t you want your life to be part of a good story? The good news is that your life is just that - a story of good versus evil. It is a story where God has given you a part to redeem his creation. You are part of history yet to be written.
In catechism class, you learn that the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. Forever! That sounds great does it not? History is moving forward. You have an appointed future and you are moving toward an appointed destiny. Life is not a cycle. It is not a treadmill where you keep running and running but yet fail to move forward. You had a beginning and now a destiny awaits you. Life is a road that leads you to blessing in an eternal relationship with God.
In conclusion, your life now is preparation for eternity. That is why Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 3:11, "He has set eternity in the hearts of men." You were made to last forever. That means every situation in your life is preparing you for eternity. Life is a prep school, a trial run, a dress rehearsal for the future. So it is not just here and now that matters. What you are doing now is preparation for the future. That is why you need to study hard now. Wherever you are now, God wants you to do your best now so that he can use your life as part of his story. He does not want you to just drift along because then you will not develop character and you miss out on playing a part in His story. You may not be a straight A student. That’s not the end of your world. What is more important is to do your best in your studies now. Not being as gifted as others does not mean God does not accept you. However, whatever you do, you need to give of your best because God is preparing you for his story – one that has cosmic implications. It is playing a useful part in that story that ultimately gives meaning to your life.
Even more, God has made you part of the story of the universe. Most of you know the Star Wars story. On one side, there was Luke Skywalker, Hans Solo and the Jedi Knights. On the other were the forces of Darth Vader and the Sith Lords. It was a classic story of good versus evil. If the Jedi Knights lost, the universe was plunged into fear and darkness. The movies were very inspiring and I remember being thrilled by the trilogy. Don’t you want your life to be part of a good story? The good news is that your life is just that - a story of good versus evil. It is a story where God has given you a part to redeem his creation. You are part of history yet to be written.
In catechism class, you learn that the chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. Forever! That sounds great does it not? History is moving forward. You have an appointed future and you are moving toward an appointed destiny. Life is not a cycle. It is not a treadmill where you keep running and running but yet fail to move forward. You had a beginning and now a destiny awaits you. Life is a road that leads you to blessing in an eternal relationship with God.
In conclusion, your life now is preparation for eternity. That is why Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 3:11, "He has set eternity in the hearts of men." You were made to last forever. That means every situation in your life is preparing you for eternity. Life is a prep school, a trial run, a dress rehearsal for the future. So it is not just here and now that matters. What you are doing now is preparation for the future. That is why you need to study hard now. Wherever you are now, God wants you to do your best now so that he can use your life as part of his story. He does not want you to just drift along because then you will not develop character and you miss out on playing a part in His story. You may not be a straight A student. That’s not the end of your world. What is more important is to do your best in your studies now. Not being as gifted as others does not mean God does not accept you. However, whatever you do, you need to give of your best because God is preparing you for his story – one that has cosmic implications. It is playing a useful part in that story that ultimately gives meaning to your life.
So the meaning of life is to blindly follow the superstitions of a bunch of desert nomads from five thousands years ago? No thank you, I'll take the real world any day.
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