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What is the significance of your life?
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8/8/2009 11:05:35 AM
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Life is a search for significance!The biggest question a person faces as they live their lives is, "What is the meaning of life?". This question as haunted scholars, philosophers, scientist, religions and every living person that is old enough to ask it. Wikipedia.org state that "The meaning of life constitutes a philosophical question concerning the purpose and significance of human existence. This concept can be expressed through a variety of related questions, such as Why are we here?, What's life all about? and What is the meaning of it all? It has been the subject of much philosophical, scientific, and theological speculation throughout history". (read more)
In the psychological arena, psychologist hypothesize that the answer is hidden deep in the basic center of our mind and may be biological in nature. Noted Psychologist, Dr. Yong-Lin Moon hypothesizes that "even if two people have similar positive emotions and traits at the same time, it is possible for their levels of perceived happiness to differ depending upon the contextual meaning of their experiences". He suggests that people's "frames of meaning for life may have both a neuro-biological and cognitive origin".
The meaning of life is intertwined and deep routed with questions related to existence, consciousness, happiness, purpose, ethics and values of good & evil. Driving forces of this "need to know" mentality cause a person to consider concepts of life, death, the afterlife, the soul and the existence of God. Scientist tend to be more indirect in seeking answers to the question. They evaluate life's meaning by an extensionally outward approach. Since science deals with tangibles such as universal laws, nature and the world around them, they prefer a testable, "touchable" approach. Scientist see the answer as interrelated to external facts about the universe.
For our discussion we will take a more personal approach. We will use reason, emotion and our will; the core elements that make up our soul. As a christian, I am bound to provide you with the only logical explanation to answer the question: Divine design! Their is no way that such a deep routed question that effects all of our inner being then to answer it from the creature / creator position. It is my belief that this hunger for significance is put in us (the creature) by the God (the creator) to cause us to seek the truth and in so doing, find Him!
The road to significance You can find many so-called answers to the "meaning of life" in this world. Most will lead you down the wrong road. As Trinity said in the movie The Matrix, "You been down that road Neo, you know where it goes". But there is a road that most contemporary folks find outright ridiculous or too difficult a choice at the very least. It is a narrow road full of twist and turns. The path is often an uphill climb. The view along the journey tends to be vague and blocked by the worlds haze of confusion on most days. But the road is the right road! It is the one that enlightens your path. It gives meaning to who you are and answers the questions: Why am I here and how do I find quell my insatiable, inner desires to know the truth? What truly is the purpose of my existence? How will I ever find real love, acceptance, joy and peace?
Now the question is put to you: How strongly do you want to know the answers? Will you stay on the road that is known or will you have the courage to test the true road and see that it is good! You must follow this road as it is the only road that will give your life the significance you so long for inside. Your chose! The detour is just ahead! Will you take it or continue to coast down hill on the road to loneliness and despair? What is the road you ask? It is found in Jesus who declares to you: I Am the Why, the Truth and the Life! (john 14:6). His road is the only way to go! But it takes courage and commitment to go against the peer pressure telling you that this road has no answers and is a dead end or is it?
What the Bible says about significanceLuke 10:23-25"And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"
Here Jesus make a profound statement to his disciple. He tells them that they have, in a sense, found the meaning of life as it was desired by prophet and kings; the very elite of society up until His day. Note that the terms prophets and kings do not only include the Jews who worshiped God, but also those of Egypt, Babylon, Greece, the Meade's & Persians (Iraq & Iran of today) and even the Romans of their day (all of Europe of that time)! All these people had a deep desire to know why they existed. They wanted to know so badly that they worshiped anyone or anything that they thought my give them insight into who they were as individuals: i.e. significance! They worshiped many god's and even made up gods out of inorganic objects such as the sun, moon, planets, stars, rocks, wood and yes, even paper! They practiced asceticism by committing acts such as self-mutilation, sacrificing virgins, killing others to prove their god was the stronger (wars) all to try and earn favor from their gods. It is interesting that we still have wars today for the same reasons, although our contemporary gods are individuality, power, wealth, world domination and self pride!
Jesus, however told His disciples that they had found the True answer! They had "seen" & "heard"! The light went on in their heads metaphorically! They had seen the Light! "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."(John 8:12) Isn't it true that when we learn a valuable truth it is as if a light goes on in our head? That imagery is the best and only way we can explain that phenomenon. We feel, enlightened, deeply & irrevocably informed, satisfied in the highest sense of the word. Well, the disciples experienced that. They found their true identity and purpose and understood the meaning of life as it was revealed in the words & deeds of Jesus as he walked on this earth. Infact, that is the very nature and experience of millions of Christians down through the last 2,000+ years! It is magnified 100 fold in what we mean when we state that we have been born again! We have found a new beginning to life without those haunting question: Why am I here? What is the meaning of my life? What is my purpose for being? Does my existence have any true significance? And the answer we have found is a resounding YES!!! That shakes the very universe around us! We are fulfilled!
But what about the road?Is the path of truth and easy path to follow? Nope! Jesus warns all who seek for significance to count the cost! He warns: Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. (Matthew 7:13-15)
The journey IS hard! The road is full of vermin who would like to deceive you and hinder you so you will be as despicable and lost as they are. They will tell you lies and mislead you with only one goal as their motivation; to get (and keep you) off that path! Oh and there is a cost as well: And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me (Jesus) cannot be My disciple (Luke 14:24).
You see, it cost Jesus His life on the cross to bring you this freedom and the eternal benefits that come with knowing Him, so He expects you to be willing to make the same self-sacrifice of your mind, will and emotions to Him. The Good News: You don't need to worship inanimate objects, you don't need to self-mutilate your body and you don't need to sacrifice a virgin! Come to Him just as you are and he will set you free: Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.(John 8:36). |
Summary
We are being
warned! God is showing us what His purpose for this
world entails. As we get closer and closer to the end,
the world has become more and more sinful! And
unfortunately, this condition will worsen till He
returns and redeems us from ourselves. Don't let sin,
self or Satan who has invaded our planet separate you
from the free gift of salvation that Jesus extends to
you in His invitation to be born-again:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send
His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that
the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes
in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe
is condemned already, because he has not believed in
the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18)
Are You Ready? If not get ready, "Repent
for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand"!
Click to Read:
Luke 13:3;
Ephesians 2:8-9;
Romans 10:8-13;
Acts2:38
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