Return to 4th Quarter 2024 articles.

How Can We Explain the Existence/Purpose of Life?

There seem to be more nonbelievers in the world than there are believers. How do people who do not believe in God and Jesus live their lives? Do people without Christ have a meaningful purpose in living? What is their standard for right and wrong? Do they live by “the Golden Rule” (do to others what you would have them do to you — Matthew 7:12)? How do they treat others? Are there natural consequences for bad behavior, bad choices, or just bad luck? What happens to them when life gets difficult?

When work is hard or unsatisfying, and money does not pay the bills, or when friends and family hurt you or disappoint you or leave you, or worse, when a loved one dies, or you have serious health problems, how does a nonbeliever handle all the ups and downs of life? Some people turn to alcohol, drugs, sex, porn, gambling — anything to drown their sorrows. If there is no purpose in living except for self-gratification and self-fulfillment, and life gets hard, lonely, or painful, why go on? If there is no life after death and no eternal consequences for this life, why not end your life when it becomes too hard to bear?

In contrast, Christians have a God-given reason to be alive, no matter their circumstances. All Christians have a purpose in their lives given by God (Ephesians 3:10-12). Most of us cannot preach or teach, but we still have a role in spreading the good news about salvation in Jesus Christ and having a relationship with our Creator in this life and eternally. It is up to all of us to spread God's message of love, forgiveness, joy, and hope. God gives us purpose. He created us to do good deeds (Ephesians 2:10), serve others, and help as many as possible to go to heaven with us.

— Cynthia Clayton

Picture credit:
© Julie Marcussen

Scripture links/references are from BibleGateway.com. Unhighlighted scriptures can be looked up at their website.