The Meaning Of Our Lives - Romans 11:36

   
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
 - Romans 11:36

    What is the meaning of our lives? Mankind has forever pondered the subject. Volumes upon volumes in the greatest libraries in the world have attempted to answer that mind-numbing riddle. So how can I hope to answer this most profound inquiry in a mere few paragraphs? Because the answer to that perplexing question has been with us since the dawn of man. The answer to this question lies ever before us. We just seem to overlook the answer in our egocentric drive for supremacy. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” - Romans 1:20-21.
    Certainly, if the question were parsed with “in our lives,” rather than “of our lives,” there would be ready responses. Giving my children and spouse a safe and secure home. Achieving my educational or financial goals within a set time frame. Such things may very well have meaning in our lives, but again - what is the meaning OF our lives?
    During our hurried day to day existence we never even pause for a moment to think beyond our immediate concerns. Get the kids off to school. Get to work on time. Get the laundry done. Get the lawn done. Get dinner on the table. Get the bills paid. The list of things that occupy our minds seems endless; yet we seldom, if ever, wonder what the meaning of our lives is. “So he answered and said, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” - Luke 10:27.
    Worse are the answers you get from various people if you ask them, “What is the meaning of your life?” The very concept is too troubling for most people to even consider it. What? You actually want me to think?! Can’t I just “shoot from the hip?” I’m afraid not . . . not this time. I want you to think about it for a moment. Take your time and think about it - what is the meaning of your life? Are our lives significant? Do we have meaning? Or are we all subject to the dark finality of nihilism’s ‘black hole?’
Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more; it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
-Macbeth - Act 5, Scene 5

    I think not. You see, if Nietzsche is right and there is no God, life is meaningless and then we die. As I said, “I think not!”
    There are only three kinds of people in the world today. One kind believes in a spiritual cause and effect, but not a God. Unless they recognize the futility of their inane beliefs they will end up like the second group. That second group isn’t spiritual at all and doesn’t believe in God. Without acknowledging their God and Creator with due repentance their lot has been cast. Lastly, there are the few of us who recognize God’s saving grace for mankind. We not only believe in God; we believe He has designed us for a purpose so that we’re not just crawling along in the dust like so many maggots. Man has a place and a purpose. And like the Westminster Catechism says, that purpose, our chief, and highest end, is to glorify God!
    Think about it for a moment. How many people do you know that simply don’t believe man has a purpose other than to be born, eat, drink, reproduce (if he so chooses), and die? Is that the greatest aspiration of man? Is this our greatest hope? Because if climbing Mount Everest is our greatest ambition, or if traveling to other planets is our greatest goal, or if achieving the “three-minute mile” is our ultimate objective, then we have done no more than King Solomon predicted - “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.” - Ecclesiastes 1:14.
    Life without meaning is like a paragraph without form - simple words strewn upon a page without point, without significance. All it amounts to is nonsense, as do our lives, without meaning! We become nothing more than insects or fish or birds - creatures without lasting influence. But Christ tells us we are more than that. “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” - Matthew 6:26.
    The meaning of our lives, the value, must be the exaltation of Christ the King. All glory and honor must be given to Christ if we are to ever achieve human significance and worth. We must lift Him up in worship. We must pray in His holy name. Then and only then will we realize the true validation of and meaning of our lives.