What is the Purpose of Life

QUESTION: What is the purpose of life?

ANSWER:

What is the purpose of life? All life has purpose from the tiniest tear of a baby to the mightiest tree in the forest. Yet, that purpose has seemed to elude people throughout the generations. Our world, with all its diversities, has truly only two classes of people - those who believe and know God and those who do not believe and continue the query.

Pete Seeger wrote a song in 1966 called Turn, Turn, Turn. "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die…" The verses continue with all the reasons for everything and in time, those purposes are fulfilled. That song was based on the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible's Old Testament.

God shows us part of the answer to "What is the purpose of life" in Ecclesiastes. However, the question is still asked by the group who does not believe in God. Believers know that God has a plan and a purpose for all people. He provides cycles of life with a design for each person - the first purpose being to personally know and have a relationship with Him.

In Ephesians 1:11-14 we are told that God chooses us, offers us an inheritance of eternal life with Him; we are "predestinated according to the purpose of Him" and that by believing, we are "sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise" thereby saved for all eternity. We must only discover, accept, and appreciate God's perfect purpose and timing for each life.

Those who are in the class of unbelievers are often lacking any lasting joy or hope in their lives. It cannot be found in money, position and fame, or temporary pleasures. Without joy and hope people are in danger of doubt, feeling lack of worth and despair. Eventually societies see a declined value for life which leads to abortions, euthanasia, and suicide, or genocide. Without God, there is no purpose, nor permanent solutions to life's problems.

But God, through his grace, shows His intent: "According to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence" (Ephesians 3:11-12). In exercising faith in God, we will know His love, and be filled with His fullness. He is "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3:20).