For video #2 in our “Truth About” series, we examine the question of our purpose. Specifically, are we here for a reason, or are we nothing more than a temporal “blob” with no meaning or value? What is our purpose?
How we answer what some call “the most important question of all time” greatly impacts how we live our lives. To some, how we answer that question may even determine whether we believe our lives are even worth living. “The Truth About Our Purpose” aims to answer that question, and determine, “Do we have a purpose?”
A Cosmic Accident?
Today, many people believe that we are a cosmic accident. That we arrived by way of some kind of primordial soup. Humans exist by nothing more than random chance. If that’s true, we are the product of chaos without any purpose or value.
Consequently, many seek to find their own purpose with life slogans such as “do whatever makes you happy.” While those sentiments sound good on the surface, they fail to bring any true purpose to our lives.
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 1:2-4
What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?
A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.
Solomon tried to fill his life with happiness by way of everything in life. He looked for purpose in money, relationships, fame, and power, yet after acquiring these things he was still empty. He recognized that when everything was said and done, it is vain.
The great wise king understood, if we are just a cosmic accident, we have no real purpose. Our life ends, and we cease to exist.
What if we are not an accident?
We can see from creation itself that all things point to the evidence that there is a creator. Something cannot come from nothing, yet in the scientific theories of our origins, something exists before creation to start the process of life. But where did that thing come from?
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1
There must be a transcendent creator, a design who exists outside of the things we see and know. In the same way a architect, painter, or sculptor exists outside of the things he or she creates.
Irreducible complexity
Michael Behe describes irreducible complexity, a system in which all the parts must evolve at exactly the same time. If one part fails, so does the entire system. Examples of organic mechanical parts such as the flagella of bacteria with a functioning motor are examples of these in biology. If one part is not aligned properly or if a piece is missing, the motor does not work. There are examples such as this everywhere in creation.
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Romans 1:19-20
Evolution does not account for all of the irreducible complexity we see in this world. Even on a galactic scale, the rules of irreducible complexity still apply where hundreds of factors depend on things taking place at the same time. If these factors were not present together, life on earth would not be possible.
Where some see chaos in the world, we see order and design.
This Gives You Purpose
If it is true that God spoke all things into existence, it is also true that God created you. He personally formed and fashioned you. This fact gives you not only great purpose, but great value.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
The creator of the universe loved you so much that not only did he fashion you, but he became a part of his creation to die for you. Your life is worth living because your life is worth dying for!
Solomon’s Conclusion About “What is Our Purpose”
Solomon looked at all the evidence after pursuing everything in this life. He recognized that one day God will take our life back, and we will give an account for our actions. What we do in this life does make a difference! We are not simply products of chaos, an accident. Our true purpose, the only one worth pursuing was to “Fear God and keep his commandments”.
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 13:13-14
God loves you enough to die for you, will you love Him enough to live for Him?
