I just have one question for now, and I’m hoping for a well-explained answer, either biblically or logically founded.
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE?
From: Aleihs Tazzy
Dear Aleihs
If we are to take the meaning supplied by most dictionaries, we will utterly be misled.
life [l?f]
(plural lives [l?vz])
noun
1. existence in physical world: the quality that makes living animals and plants different from dead organisms and inorganic matter.
The dictionary defines life as the physical existence of humans and other living organisms. This is not the truth (the whole truth)!
Reference: Firstscience.com
There are now more than six billion people living on earth. If we go back to the earlirer part of the 19th century, there were only about six hundred million. Earlier yet, a few hundred millions; and further, a few millions. If we continue to travel back in time, we will end up finding only two human lives on earth. The inevitable conclusion is that before human beings and other forms of life came into existence, life already existed. It came from the original source of life — God.
(Acts 17:26-28) And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, for we are also His offspring.
In the 19th century global population grew by only 600 million, but in the 20th century it grew by 4.4 billion. There are twice as many people today as there were in 1960. Even with a continued decline in fertility rates, the United Nations projects a population of 8.9 billion in 2050. With current trends, world population isn’t expected to stabilize until after 2080. Reference: UNFPA ‘99
So, life existed even before the physical world and human life came into existence. The Bible calls it, 'the life of God."
(John 1:4) In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.
(Ephesians 4:18) Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart…
The question being asked to me is: “What is the meaning of life?” The biblical answer is: Life is the cause of existence of everything there is; and the purpose by which it was made to exist.
The life we have now on earth is both temporal and eternal. Our physical being will cease to exist when the spirit that sustains physical life leaves the body.
(James 2:26) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
The spirit, after leaving the body, returns to the origin of life.
(Ecclesiastes 12:7) Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
We can not understand the true meaning of life without understanding its purpose. A life lived not with its purpose is lived in vain and is wasted.
(Ecclesiastes 6:12) For who knoweth what is good for man in this life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
A life spent for the purpose by which it was meant for is a meaningful life.
(Acts 20:24) But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Life must be lived and be given willingly by somebody who understands its purpose.
(Mark 8:35) For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it.
God gave us life for us to spend in service to Him, with our entire being and faculties.
(Luke 10:27) And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
The end of our earthly life and existence is the beginning of the next phase of life, which is life eternal, after the resurrection.
(1 Corinthians 15:36, 42-43, 51-54) Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die…
…So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
…Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Therefore, the true meaning of life is existence and awareness without end, without death, misery and troubles.
(Revelation 21:4) And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Life is existence without end or death, being lived with its eternal purpose, just like the life of God: the source of temporary life on earth.
(Ephesians 3:11) According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord…
Sincerely in Christ,
Bro. Eli Soriano