What is Life?
What is Life? Is it time? Is it energy? Like many other 4-letter words, life can mean many different things, depending on the context in which you use it. It can simply be the state of being alive, or it can refer to everything that is accomplished during the course of one's existence. It has been the subject of many debates, and still manages to be a phenomenon which reduces scholars to scratching their heads. Scientists can study the body and see how we are alive, but no one really seems to know why. Curiosity has always been a part of life, and I would venture to say that apathy is one of life's greatest opponents. It has never been enough to simply know something is true, it is necessary to find out why. Why does the tide rise and fall? Why does a cut stop bleeding on it's own? Why does a baby have a soft spot on the top of it's head? All questions start with an observation, but it is human nature to want to know the reason.
Some answers are scientific, and can be studied to find the answer. The moon causes the tides. Blood coagulates. Babies' skulls compress during birth. Observe. Answer. Done. But what about the other questions about life? What about the classic "why are we here?" Another variance of the same question is "what is our purpose?" Everyone has an answer, including admitted ignorance, but in spite of all our scientific advancement, it remains a question that cannot be answered by a telescope or a microscope. People need purpose as much as they need reason. Purpose gives us authority. If your purpose is to interrupt an assassination, then no one can stop you. It's your mission. You've been given authority through your purpose. But by who? Or even what? Circumstances? Plausible. But circumstances can only give you purpose for one particular mission, not for an entire life. And while circumstances may be blamed for our existence, I doubt you could derive the purpose of life from circumstances. It would be too vague, and the definition too broad. Besides, circumstances change. Does that mean our purpose changes? I think not.
Here's another question: Does everyone on earth have the same purpose? Somehow, it seems that everyone seems to think so, even though we can't figure it out once and for all. Not even Christians agree on what the purpose of life is. Some say that God put us here to worship him. I agree with that, if you take worship to the full extent of it's meaning. If some were to take that literally, they would sing hymns all day with their hands in the air and say they were fulfilling their purpose. That excludes a lot of other commands though. Worship is not just an action, it is a lifestyle, and under that definition I believe we are here to worship God. But I still feel like that is a rather vague definition. How do you explain in simple terms what it means to worship God with your life? How about this definition? We are here to make life better for everyone else on this earth?
It's a simple sentence, and you have to carry it out to its full meaning, but I believe it encompasses everything that we are meant to do with this life. Make life better. Love others? Yes. Evangelize? Absolutely. Help the poor? It's all in there. But what about God? How does he fit in? Remember, God doesn't need us. We need Him. You can't keep loving a dying world without God's love being poured into you. Sure, the celebrities do it. They also get a hefty tax break, and everyone applauds. That's their reward. Have you ever noticed how good you feel when you serve? Have you noticed how often the preacher talks about giving to the poor? The closer you draw to God, the clearer you can see him pointing at those around you. People. Neighbors. Nations. You can't just read your Bible and pray and be ok. You were meant to do. Your purpose is to help others. If you are not doing that, you are missing the point of Life. "What you do for the least of these, you have done for me." Does that sound like a God that only wants a relationship? Yes, He wants a relationship, but that relationship should guide you in helping others.
So, in closing, read your Bibles. Pray. Seek God's face with all your heart. Get to know Him, because he's awesome. Just don't be surprised that as you get know Him, he starts to open your eyes and heart to the people around you.
Some answers are scientific, and can be studied to find the answer. The moon causes the tides. Blood coagulates. Babies' skulls compress during birth. Observe. Answer. Done. But what about the other questions about life? What about the classic "why are we here?" Another variance of the same question is "what is our purpose?" Everyone has an answer, including admitted ignorance, but in spite of all our scientific advancement, it remains a question that cannot be answered by a telescope or a microscope. People need purpose as much as they need reason. Purpose gives us authority. If your purpose is to interrupt an assassination, then no one can stop you. It's your mission. You've been given authority through your purpose. But by who? Or even what? Circumstances? Plausible. But circumstances can only give you purpose for one particular mission, not for an entire life. And while circumstances may be blamed for our existence, I doubt you could derive the purpose of life from circumstances. It would be too vague, and the definition too broad. Besides, circumstances change. Does that mean our purpose changes? I think not.
Here's another question: Does everyone on earth have the same purpose? Somehow, it seems that everyone seems to think so, even though we can't figure it out once and for all. Not even Christians agree on what the purpose of life is. Some say that God put us here to worship him. I agree with that, if you take worship to the full extent of it's meaning. If some were to take that literally, they would sing hymns all day with their hands in the air and say they were fulfilling their purpose. That excludes a lot of other commands though. Worship is not just an action, it is a lifestyle, and under that definition I believe we are here to worship God. But I still feel like that is a rather vague definition. How do you explain in simple terms what it means to worship God with your life? How about this definition? We are here to make life better for everyone else on this earth?
It's a simple sentence, and you have to carry it out to its full meaning, but I believe it encompasses everything that we are meant to do with this life. Make life better. Love others? Yes. Evangelize? Absolutely. Help the poor? It's all in there. But what about God? How does he fit in? Remember, God doesn't need us. We need Him. You can't keep loving a dying world without God's love being poured into you. Sure, the celebrities do it. They also get a hefty tax break, and everyone applauds. That's their reward. Have you ever noticed how good you feel when you serve? Have you noticed how often the preacher talks about giving to the poor? The closer you draw to God, the clearer you can see him pointing at those around you. People. Neighbors. Nations. You can't just read your Bible and pray and be ok. You were meant to do. Your purpose is to help others. If you are not doing that, you are missing the point of Life. "What you do for the least of these, you have done for me." Does that sound like a God that only wants a relationship? Yes, He wants a relationship, but that relationship should guide you in helping others.
So, in closing, read your Bibles. Pray. Seek God's face with all your heart. Get to know Him, because he's awesome. Just don't be surprised that as you get know Him, he starts to open your eyes and heart to the people around you.
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