Walking near the beach at sunnet
Do you ever wonder; why are we here?’ ‘What is the purpose of life?’ well you are not alone. Millions of people have continually asked the same question. Does the answer exist? Where can we find it? Science? Or The Bible? Consider;
Why ask the question
Humans are not like unreasoning animals. We have a capacity to learn from the past, to plan for the future, and to look for a purpose in our life.
What do some say the answer is?
Many feel that the primary purpose of life is to gain wealth or fame and thus achieve happiness.
What does that answer imply?
We set our own priorities in life. God’s will is less important than our desires.
The problem
The pursute of these things – wealth, fame, academic, carrier all lead to much unsatisfaction that happiness eludes those who fevantly chase after these things
What Does Science Say?
First I must point out that in all my research, I found a number of conclusions
- Science has no unifying agreement about life’s purpose.
- Scientists are not really sure of what the purpose of life really is so in every case they use the word ‘perhaps’
- No scientific method has produced a result different from the bibles practical suggestions
Below are some assumptions of scientific methods about the purpose and direction (future) of life:
-
Man may exist just to gather and share ideas/information:
a school of thought believe that the existence of man has been centered on gathering and passing on knowledge, then that must be why we are here. They say that mans insatiable quest for knowledge evolved the different methods (mems) of communications aimed at improving the efficiency at which we can pass and retain or store information. Mems evolve and old once are replaced by more efficient mems – so from speech to the internet (technology) as a means of gathering and passing information (mem). So to them, life is a self replicating algorithm that copies itself processing information about the world on how to survive. Evolution leads organisms to become better information gatherers so man has evolved tech to help process more information (example is the evolution from drawing to cameras-which process information better to camera phones which can tag names and other basic information to our images). So ultimately man exists to gather information about life.
The Future
The future seen by this school is that the quest for information will ultimately wipe man of the surface of the planet. We risk a machine take over
The Problem
First, The lack of purpose: If they were to be right, then man has no destination but lives to endlessly search for information. That is no purpose at all you will agree.
Secondly, mans future is bleak, a sure doom waiting to happen. I personally find that quit disturbing.
-
Life Exist To Aim Towards Self Optimization:
this school believe that life exist to constantly evolve into more efficient forms. So the purpose of life is to get better. To them, this is what drives evolution.
The Future
We are crackling away! These scientists fear that there is just a limit to how much organisms can optimize themselves. The assumption is that man is at this point. ‘We sit at a knife-edge’ they say, ‘a critical point – the bother of disorder (crackling away) because we have optimized ourselves beyond knowledge. That is why just a little change in the genetic makeup; that is a step towards further optimization is often disastrous.
The Problem
Like the other the purpose they paint is an endless search for self-improvement that is unending and non-directional since we hardly have any control over how we evolve. This also lacks any defined purpose
Secondly, it is just too pessimistic about what the future holds as it only sees one advantage of evolution: We Think!
Thirdly, it seems to live our future to chance as they assume that since we think that we could possibly figure out how not to crackle away. But purpose can hardly be left to chance it is planed and we then work towards them.
-
Setting a Goal And Working Towards It:
this school believe that to find life purpose is to find a goal (a purpose) and work towards it. To them, a fixed purpose frees us from worrying about the obstacles we face in our quest to achieve the goal but keeps us focused on the goal ahead
The Problem
Goals could either be good or bad and attaining the wrong goals leads to an unsatisfying life –it is proven facts that goals such as drive for wealth, higher learning, security do not bring such things as contentment, happiness, and satisfaction. So goals cannot be used to equate satisfaction.
-
Finding the Meaning Of Life And Believing In It.
The Problem
It leaves no clue as to what the purpose of life is. If I may say is just avoided the problem by telling you to go solve the people. So you ask what is the purpose of life and it tells you to go find and believe whatever you feel the purpose of life is…. The solution is Laughable at the least.
Science has been on the edge when it comes to the purpose of life. So where can we find further answers?
What does the Bible teach?
King Solomon gathered enormous wealth and pursued pleasure but found that those things brought no lasting sense of purpose. He identified what brought real purpose in life when he wrote: “The conclusion of the matter, everything having been heard, is: Fear the true God and keep his commandments. For this is the whole obligation of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) What do keeping God’s commandments involve?
Part of God’s purpose for us is that we enjoy life. Solomon wrote: “With a man there is nothing better than that he should eat and indeed drink and cause his soul to see good because of his hard work. This too I have seen, even I, that this is from the hand of the true God.”—Ecclesiastes 2:24.
God also wants us to love and care for our family. Note the simple, practical guidance given to each family member.
- “Husbands ought to be loving their wives as their own bodies.”—Ephesians 5:28.
- “The wife should have deep respect for her husband.”—Ephesians 5:33.
- “Children, be obedient to your parents.”—Ephesians 6:1.
If we apply those Bible principles, we will find a measure of happiness and contentment. However, the most important thing we can do is learn all we can about our Creator and draw close to him as our Friend. In fact, the Bible invites us to “draw close to God.” It then makes this remarkable promise: “He will draw close to you.” (James 4:8) If you accept this invitation, your life will take on real purpose-believing in the existence of a supreme being who really cares for you and knowing what he wants for you (his purpose) brings you a clear purpose that you can work towards, and when attained, leads to inner joy contentment, satisfaction and peace of mind.
What Did Jesus Say About the Purpose of Life?
Jesus had no doubt about the purpose of his life. He said: “For this I have been born and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.” (John 18:37) Jesus spent his life teaching people the truth about God and His purposes.
Our life will take on real meaning if we follow Jesus’ example. In fact, Jesus invites us to learn from him. (Matthew 11:29) Consider just two ways in which we can do so.
Jesus taught that for us to be happy, we must be “conscious of [our] spiritual need.” (Matthew 5:3) We can satisfy our spiritual need if we take in knowledge of “the only true God, and of the one whom [he] sent forth, Jesus Christ.”—John 17:3.
Jesus commanded his followers to teach others about what they had learned. He said: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.”—Matthew 28:19, 20.
Those who satisfy their spiritual need by studying the Bible and applying what they learn find that their life changes for the better. They gain the conviction that their life has real purpose when they start helping others learn about God (giving).
The Question That Arises
Is there then a creator that loves, cares and has a wonderful purpose for us? What Do You Think?
THE SIMPLIST 