I was at a prayer session via Zoom last night when a lady
asked "What is the meaning of life". It was an opening cue she uses
when she shares the gospel but I thought she was serious about THE question.
She got me thinking of a response. I can understand coming from someone who
have no faith in God but for a Christian? I didn't share my thoughts then because
I wasn't asked but here is what I had wanted to say then: "Ask Moses or any
of the Israelite in the wilderness en route to Canaan land." Why?
Imagine you and I being part of Moses' camp. Here we are in
the wilderness with nothing but bare necessities and no idea where we are going. All we know is we are heading to Canaan land which wasn't very far off (fourteen
day journey actually) but we don't seem to be getting there. Rather, we are
camping here and there and the days had turned into weeks, into months and into years!
How would you have felt had you been in Moses' camp? We know from the Bible the
Israelite complained and rebelled couple of times due to a sense of
lostlessness, of hopelessness and what seem to be a meaningless venture. That's
how people feel without God. That's why post people ask: "What's the
meaning of life?" How do you think Moses will answer? I can't speak on
behalf of Moses but here's what I think. Life is a preparation for the
afterlife.
Ever since the fall of mankind, not only mankind but our
planet too had been judged, a result of cause and effect. Today, earth is
weighed down heavily by the sin of mankind and sin is raging like the Corona
virus. Unlike Corona which will eventually be dealt with when God's mercy
eventually shows up in time to come, sin on the other hand will always remain. And how is sin affecting mankind and earth
today? The earth groans (that's when calamities and pandemics hit) and death is
inevitable. Not just physical death but the second death (eternal separation
from God). That's why we hope in God and
His future plans which include a new earth where sin will no longer ravage
and destroy and where death is no more.
22 We know that the whole creation has been
groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 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. 24 For
in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at
all. Who hopes for what they already have?" (Romans 8).
This hope we have in God is what this life here on earth is about.
A preparation, a transition to that which is to come. Like Moses and the Israelites, though the wait is long and difficult, the wilderness was never meant
to be their ultimate destination. God was preparing them to be able to not only
inherit Canaan land but to also handle life there. Let me remind us once again
this hope, this reason for living our lives well here and now ...
“Do not let your
hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My
Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that
I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I
am. 4 You
know the way to the place where I am going.” (John 14).
"My
Father's house = Universe
"Many
rooms" = Solar Systems
There's this song
ringing in my heart now: "This world is not my home. I'm just a passing
through. My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue. My Savior beckons
me from heaven's open shores. And I can't feel at home in this world
anymore".
Live well and
don't just live for now. Live for eternity. That's God's plan for mankind. That
is the meaning of life.
