The Meaning Of Life

Existential Nihilism' is the philosophical theory that considers life to be entirely meaningless. It quite simply believes that all that we do in life is futile and holds no meaning or purpose other than that which we give to it. How does one arrive at this conclusion? In contemplation I found that this was the inevitable outcome of any reflection or pondering on the subject as long as the thinker in question did not believe in the existence of a sovereign God.

Need I even explain how the atheist arrives at this conclusion? It is so because he has only this visible, finite reality to refer to while he attempts to construct meaning out of life. For what is life if death is the final end? Is it not only a million fleeting moments bound up in the life of each particular individual? Joy and happiness mingled with pain and sorrow, both last for a brief while. As swiftly as one comes, the other overcomes it. Men toil and labour to secure their lives but death quickly strikes and nullifies all they have done for they are quickly forgotten. If this is all there is to life, then it is indeed meaningless. I would even call it wretched. 

One philosopher who followed this train of thought concluded that it is better to kill yourself right away, such is the futility and wretchedness of life. On the other extreme, others have concluded that the answer is to forget all of life's meaninglessness and live only in the moment. This has interestingly become a widely accepted philosophy today, especially among young people, summed up in the popular catchphrase, 'YOLO' (You Only Live Once). The general idea I assume is to live life as if there is nothing beyond death. To enjoy each moment and have a blast, without worrying about the future or any deep, serious questions.

This philosophy I would say, is not only absurdly foolish, but also highly dangerous. There is nothing more unwise or perilous than to live life as if there is nothing beyond death. For when we do so, we are sacrificing our eternal well-being for something so brief and temporary. Since no man can prove beyond doubt that there is no God to whom we must give account for our lives, I would say it is much wiser to assume the existence of an infinite authority. Solomon, who was the wisest man on earth, wrote these lines in the book of Ecclesiastes:

"Remember your Creator

in the days of your youth,

before the days of trouble come

and the years approach when you will say,

“I find no pleasure in them”

"and the dust returns to the ground it came from,

 and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.

“Everything is meaningless!"

Here is the conclusion of the matter:

Fear God and keep his commandments,

for this is the duty of all mankind.

For God will bring every deed into judgment,

including every hidden thing,

whether it is good or evil.

Now let us go back to where we concluded that life is indeed meaningless since I have digressed a little from what I intend to say. Yes, life is wretched and miserable if we view it from the vantage point of the finite. Any reasoning or contemplation on these lines will only lead to this grim conclusion. Thus, we must understand that this earthly life can NEVER give us true happiness or lasting joy. Even the best and most beautiful of the things that we enjoy will NOT endure. And the sooner man realises this the better, for he can finally look for something beyond the visible to find meaning in his life.

Solomon on whom God lavished the riches of wisdom and understanding, the man who concluded that life is meaningless also uttered this profound statement- 'God has put eternity into the hearts of men.' The human soul was destined for eternity, we instinctively know that our souls will continue to exist after death. Do we not see how quickly the days and moments pass by on the wings of time while we are left behind as if the soul is trapped in the boundaries of time and space? C.S Lewis once said, "If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world." Yes, we do have a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the deep yearning for meaning and purpose in our lives. This desire can only be satisfied by an encounter with the TRUE and LIVING God. The meaning of life that man has fruitlessly searched for is clearly revealed in the Bible, which is the Word of God.

Eternity is defined as 'infinite or unending time' or as 'timelessness'. A near opposite of this term would be ephemeral which means 'lasting for a very short time'. So although pitiful and grim, our life on earth is ephemeral and will last only for a very short time. As the Bible says, "For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!"

2 Corinthians 4:18 says, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." To find meaning in life, we must look beyond what is seen. Only in the context of the infinite can we find reason or purpose for the finite. 

For some reason, God in his infinite wisdom and according to his special purpose has imposed on each man a period of trial and testing- this mortal life on earth. God created humanity for a mysterious and glorious purpose. And this divine purpose required that we live under the bonds of sin, mortality and suffering for a short span of time. 1 Corinthians 6 says, "Do you not know that the Lord’s people will judge the world?" "Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!"

God created man sinless and pure, but he did not create him incapable of sin. In fact, he placed temptation right under his nose. He created man free, giving him the choice of right and wrong. The first Adam failed the test and mankind was thrown under the chains of flesh and death. But the second Adam, Jesus overcame the world and gave us eternal life. And because of his glorious triumph over sin and death, we who believe in his name also share in this victory. Thus, God wanted man to choose not to sin. This is called 'Freewill', the power to choose among alternatives. If we reflect on the necessity and outcome of freewill, we will realise that without this function, man would be incapable of either good or evil. The logic behind this is very simple. Unless I actually discern what is good and CHOOSE to act accordingly, I would not really be responsible for what I have done. i.e If I am incapable of sin, then I am pure and holy only because it is not within my power to be anything else. To put it from another perspective, without evil, there can be no good and vice-versa. In fact, God meant man to OVERCOME sin while on this earth. This is the very purpose of earthly life. It is a trial by fire and patient endurance is that to which He has called us - "A call for the endurance and faith of the saints."

Just like the most precious and valuable of jewels are those which have been refined by fire and purified from all adulteration, the glorious purpose of God for the sons of men requires that we be tried and tested and purified from all dross. For Jesus was made perfect through suffering. The Bible says, "In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire —may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

I have often thought that God must have some magnificent destiny for man in eternity because such is the mystery and intricacy of the threads in his plan. And indeed the Word of God says so as well. He calls us by many names- 'A chosen people', 'A royal priesthood', 'His chosen desire', 'His glorious inheritance' and 'His treasured possession'. Romans 8:17 says,"Now if we are children, then we are heirs— heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Thus like Christ, we endure suffering and temptation on earth that we might fulfill God's purpose and reign with him forever.

So as we live this earthly life with its trials and temptations, it's cruel blows and daily drudgery, we must not forget that this will pass away soon. As the hymn writer wrote,"Be still my soul, the hour is hastening on, When we shall be forever with the Lord." Remember always that this life will last only for a very short time. One day we will wake up as from a dream and behold the the dawn of the cloudless morning. "As it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him." When we think of where and how we are going to spend eternity, is this short and fleeting life such a price to pay? Like a scribbled paper is scrunched up in the hand and thrown away, so God will cast off the folds of time and space so that what is in heaven might be revealed on earth. In Romans 8: 22-24 it says,"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." 

Yes, we wait patiently for the times to reach their fulfillment, so that we might be liberated of this mortal life. Like Paul says in the Epistle to Timothy, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day —and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

Revelation 21: 3-5 says, "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away". He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”

Yes the time is soon coming when everything will be made new. Until then, let us hold fast to the truth that we love and wait eagerly for that bright and cloudless morn when Eden is finally restored.

Finally, if any of my readers do not share in this glorious hope, I would beseech you to repent and believe in the name of Jesus Christ that you too might reign with him eternally. For this is what God tells you today, "The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life." 

"He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"