Text: 1 Peter 3:15
In our text, Peter explained that each Christian needs to be ready to give an answer for what we believe. Giving a defense for the HOPE within us requires an ability to articulate the basics of our faith. In this series, we are going to discuss some basic questions that may arise. This is to help reinforce our own faith and help prepare us to teach others as opportunities arise.
What Is the Meaning of Life?
- Why are we here? – people want their lives to have meaning, but many do not know where to look
- The Bible (especially the book of Ecclesiastes) helps us with the answers we’re seeking
The Desire for Meaning Is Natural
- God “set eternity in [our] heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) – man is not just a highly-evolved animal; we all recognize a “sense” of a higher purpose, that there is more to life than what we see
- Every generation throughout history has had this “sense” – so we would seek for God (Acts 17:27)
Many Look for Meaning in the Wrong Places
- The wise man who wrote Ecclesiastes was the king of Israel at the height of their prosperity – he had all the resources necessary to experiment with any type of enjoyment in life (Ecclesiastes 1:16-2:10)
- In the end, he realized that “all was vanity” (Ecclesiastes 2:11)
Our Purpose Is Simple
- We are to “fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) – this applies to every person; it is our “whole duty” (KJV, ESV); this is why we are here
- God created us [studied this in the first lesson] (Genesis 1:26-27) – we were created for His will (Revelation 4:11)
We Enjoy Peace When We Understand This
- Before recognizing his purpose, the wise man described life as difficult/grievous (Ecclesiastes 2:23) – yet recognizing our purpose and following God’s will allows us to rest easy (Proverbs 3:21-26)
- When we know why we’re here, we can focus on what we ought to be doing (Hebrews 6:11)
Conclusion
- So what is the meaning of life? – it is to fear God and keep His commandments
- We can live with purpose knowing WHERE we came from, WHY we are here, and WHAT we are to be doing
