What Is The Purpose Of Life?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesWhile I was working in one of our local high school libraries this past week, I listened to a presentation by the principal of the school to freshmen and sophomore students. In the presentation, he was encouraging the students to (1) stay in school; (2) don’t be late for class; and (3) study, study, study.
He then spoke briefly regarding the question, “What is the purpose of life – Why are we here?” He mentioned the fact that life is fleeting, our time on earth is short, and soon we will be with the flowers (the ones on top of our grave). He then pointed out that the purpose of life is to be determined by each individual — each individual learning what their purpose is through secular education.
While it is true that each individual has to determine the purpose of life, is that purpose discovered through secular education alone?
Noah Webster once stated and correctly observed that “Education is useless without the Bible” (see paragraph under heading “Later Pessimism”).
Dear reader, secular education alone is not enough to discover the purpose of life. Only God’s inspired Word can give us the real purpose for our existence.
In Isaiah 43:7, the inspired writer pens these words:
“Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”
Our Lord stated in Matthew 5:16:
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (cf. John 15:8).
Looking at these two inspired passages, we can conclude that the purpose for our existence (or life), is to “glorify God” (cf. Acts 4:21; Acts 11:18; Romans 15:5-9; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 2 Corinthians 9:13; Gal. 1:21-24; 1 Peter 4:16).
We glorify God when we (1) fear [reverence] Him and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV; cf. Hebrews 12:28; 1 John 2:3-6), and (2) when we honor [esteem] and help our fellow man (1 Peter 2:17; cf. Romans 12:10) as our Lord did (Acts 10:38; cf. Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:16-21).