The Meaning of LIfe | Introduction
I’ve written the following section with the hope that my loved ones will read it one day, ideally before I pass away.
I wrote this because I’m deeply frustrated with the current portrayal of the Gospel within Christianity. We've been given two extreme views: either that we're sinners doomed to hell or that entering heaven is as simple as saying a prayer.
Today’s Christianity often depicts God as either a stern Judge eager to condemn us or a benevolent Santa Claus who fulfills our wishes and welcomes us into His family regardless of our behavior.
I’m also weary of the manipulation, the lack of genuine faith, and the focus on filling churches rather than helping God fill Heaven with souls.
I hope to provide a clear yet comprehensive depiction of the Gospel.
I hope to convey God's story simply and straightforwardly,
presenting it in a way that paints a coherent picture. I aim to
explain the grand picture, hoping it will assist you in assembling
the smaller pieces. At least, that is my hope.
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The Beginning
The Who, What's, and Why's of Our Existence
The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him." ~ Romans 8:16-17
Who is God?
God exists as three distinct Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is known as the Trinity—one God in three Persons. God is Spirit and does not have a human form (John 4:24). Jesus is God incarnate, and the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, indwelling and empowering all believers.
God is the ultimate cause of everything. He created all things without needing anything or anyone else. He is the reason for existence and the force that sustains life. God is the ever-present power upholding all creation. He is the source, definition, and embodiment of love and truth. There is no other source of life, and none is like Him (Isaiah 46:9). God is our Creator, Lord, Master, Ruler, King, Father, and the foundation of our lives.
Who Are We?
We are God’s creation, a manifestation of His love, made to live for Him. True life begins in Him and extends into eternity. Without God, we may be physically alive but spiritually dead.
Children of Light or Darkness
Discovering life in God reveals our identity as His children, with God as our Father. In Him, we find life, purpose, and meaning. Our relationship with God allows us to understand our purpose and who He created us to be.
If we reject God as our Father, it shows that we are not His children but rather aligned with darkness. In this case, God becomes our judge, and we are subject to His wrath. Without God, we encounter darkness, death, and a life devoid of true purpose.
Life for Those in God’s Family
God designed His family with Himself as our Father and us, His children, living together in His Kingdom. Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches," illustrating the relationship between Himself, God’s children, and God the Father.
We are the branches connected through Jesus, our vine and link to God. We were created through and for Jesus. Through Him, God’s Spirit flows into us via the Holy Spirit, producing the perfect fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Jesus is the vine, the source of nourishment and life for the branches. The branches draw their sustenance and vitality from God through the Holy Spirit. The vine is the only source of life for the branches.
The Father’s Love
God created us with the capacity to love, think, and act, but it is through the nurturing love of God the Father that we learn to do these things rightly. Just like a loving father, God molds us into the image of His Son and leads us toward the purpose He has planned for us.
God’s Design - A Perfect Family Relationship
God desires us to live in His Kingdom as one perfect family. His design is for us, His children, to live under His guidance, submitted and surrendered to Him, united by His love, truth, and trust. God intends for us to be a beautiful family, united by His love. This family was meant to exist in a paradise free from evil, pain, fear, hurt, or tears—a glorious tree bearing the fruit of God.
The Perfect Imperfection
God's desire was for an ideal family, but this was not His original creation. The Bible tells us that everything God created was good, not perfect. As an all-knowing God, He knew we would fall, and much of what He created was temporary, serving specific purposes within His plan to save us. It was good because it fulfilled those purposes. However, before this family could become the glorious, fruit-bearing tree God envisioned, we, the branches, needed to mature and blossom.
God loves us deeply, and among all His creations, we are the most important to Him—not because we are inherently special, but because God is love, and He is remarkable. Everything He created serves the purpose of helping us understand the depth of His love, His vastness, and the reality that we cannot live without Him. Humanity needed to learn and understand this truth, but how?
Next | Imprisoned - How were we meant to recognize and understand the truth?
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Imprisoned in Spiritual Death
How we spiritually died.
God the Father, Adam, and Eve in the Garden
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." ~ Genesis 2:17
God the Father lived with His children, Adam and Eve, in the serene beauty of the garden. He instructed them not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, but they disobeyed, exposing human nature.
God's Love Allowed Us Free Choice
God loves His children, and true love must offer free will. He did not create us as robots or prisoners, so His Kingdom had to have an open door. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, along with Satan's rebellion, provided the means for free choice, introducing the potential for darkness and evil.
No One Seeks After God, No, Not One (Romans 3:10-17)
We can't solely blame Adam and Eve for their tragic choice because any of us would have done the same. It's in our nature to reject God, driven by a naive desire for independence. God created us with the ability to think, but our selfishness and desire to be our own gods distort our reasoning. Our nature assumes we can live and save ourselves without following God's guidance.
Every one of us has rejected God and His commandments at some point, and many continue to do so daily.
Lacking Belief - Humanity Becomes Prodigals
Through their actions, Adam and Eve questioned God’s authority and sought to be their own gods. They revealed a lack of understanding and trust in God's vital importance. Their rebellion was a foolish, immature choice.
This echoes the parable of the Prodigal Son, where the foolish son questions his need for his father's love and kingdom by demanding his inheritance and leaving.
Knowledge of Good and Evil
I recall when my child, much like Adam and Eve, was eager to play with something that wasn’t a toy. I told her no, and she agreed, but I noticed the mischievous glint in her eyes. The moment I turned my back, she quickly touched the forbidden item, revealing her natural inclination to rebel. Similarly, Adam and Eve demonstrated our human nature to resist goodness and God.
Evil Discovered
My child’s action showed that she had learned something about disobedience. I could almost see the realization forming in her mind. Like Adam and Eve, she experienced the reality of rebellion.
When Adam and Eve rejected God, they opened the door to the opposite of God’s light—darkness and evil.
Note: You cannot counter truth or question it meaningfully; God is truth. Questions directed at God should come from a place of genuine curiosity to learn, not to rebel. If we believe in God and trust Him, our questions should seek understanding, not defiance.
Immaturity Revealed
Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.” ~ Luke 15:12
When Adam and Eve questioned God, they displayed immaturity. This was evident in their response after eating the forbidden fruit—they hid and played the blame game. Their rebellion was essentially asking, “Who died and left you in charge?”
People today often struggle to take responsibility for their actions, much like Adam and Eve, who blamed others.
Think of the Prodigal Son, who, when faced with the lowest point in his life, chose to return to his Father and seek forgiveness. Many people today would instead blame God rather than take ownership of their choices.
“Youth is wasted on the young.” ~ George Bernard Shaw
Adam and Eve's immaturity can be likened to that of a teenager. Teenagers, despite having the capacity for love, learning, and creativity, often lack the wisdom to use these abilities wisely.
Ironically, as I’ve grown older and gained wisdom, I no longer have the youthful energy to fully utilize what I’ve learned.
Spiritual Death
God warned Adam and Eve that if they ate the fruit, they would die. But when they disobeyed, they didn’t immediately fall over dead. So, what died?
God created us with both a soul and a spirit. Physical death occurs when we leave our temporary, decaying bodies behind. Spiritual death, however, is the separation from God that leads to the death of our spirit.
Humanity lost the spirit of God within us and became purely flesh, relying on our own limited understanding. This left us vulnerable to evil, Satan, and the shortcomings of our reasoning.
Imprisoned on This Earth
Imagine a perfect family disrupted by one rebellious member. To protect the harmony, measures must be taken. Likewise, God separated Himself from Adam and Eve to preserve the purity of His divine family. I will elaborate more on this later.
With Satan’s influence, humanity sought independence on this earth. In response, God stepped back, allowing us the freedom to make our own choices. This separation from God left us orphaned, alone, and subject to Satan’s influence. Earth became our prison, and Satan, our warden.
What would become of us with our newfound independence?
Next | The Old Testament Life - Life without God.
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The Old Testament Life
Adam and Eve Depart from the Garden.
Life without God.
After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.” ~ Luke 15:14-16
Remember when you were young and eager to live on your own? We often think we know everything, only to realize how little we actually understand. We imagine that having a car, an apartment, a good job, a loving spouse, and a six-figure salary will make our lives perfect. However, once we step out on our own, we quickly face the reality of independent living. This mirrors humanity's need to experience life apart from God.
Life from the Beginning
Humanity craved independence from God. But how could countless souls thrive without divine love and guidance? How could a world of self-proclaimed gods coexist peacefully? The answer is simple: it’s impossible.
Life in Those Days
The Old Testament depicts a world marked by violence, greed, and moral decay. Society was often a battleground of selfish desires, with conflicts, betrayals, and idolatry being common. These destructive patterns, deeply rooted in human nature, continue to cast a dark shadow over the world today.
We Cannot Live for Ourselves
Without God's love and guidance, we inevitably self-destruct.
The Fruit of the Spirit
God’s love nurtures everything we need to thrive. Our relationship with Him enables us to bear the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Only through God's love can we find these qualities. While we have the capacity and a measure of faith given by God to bear this fruit, our selfishness and emptiness often corrupt it, resulting in something subpar at best.
Love
Love is the essential component of human life. Without God the Father, there is a devastating void. God embodies perfect love, an infinite resource. When we connect with this divine love, we learn what it truly means, how to love others, and how to love unconditionally.
Building a Life/Kingdom
As finite beings, we see only a fraction of the whole picture. Unable to build a healthy and sustainable life on our own, we often rely on theory, imitation, and wishful thinking. What we create usually serves our selfish desires and self-preservation, resulting in fragile constructs like sandcastles that time will inevitably wash away.
Purpose and Plan
Our chosen paths are often based on theory, imitation, and wishful thinking. We embark on these journeys, hoping they don’t lead to a dead end. But without God, they inevitably will.
Chaos Births Evil
Imagine millions of people searching for what truly matters: love, identity, value, purpose, understanding of the world, and a sense of direction. Instead of looking to God for these things, they pursue them independently, resulting in a never-ending struggle where everyone seeks answers.
In our search for meaning, we also face Satan, our greatest adversary. He is a cunning foe who exploits our spiritual emptiness, tempting us with counterfeit solutions and alluring paths that promise fulfillment but lead to despair. Like a skilled dealer, he offers addictive idols that trap us in a cycle of dependency. When these fail, he turns to cruelty, trying to drive us away from God through suffering and doubt.
Satan’s ultimate goal is to distract us from our true source of hope. By turning our focus inward and outward, he keeps us from looking toward God. His strategy is to keep us entangled in deception until it’s too late to escape.
The Illusion of Success
Many people who believe they have achieved success or satisfaction in life are in grave danger, having fallen prey to Satan's deceptions. They fill their lives with the pursuit of material possessions, fame, and other idols, becoming blind to the harsh reality of their earthly imprisonment. Even if they manage to turn their prison into a palace, they will eventually lose it all and recognize the grave mistake they’ve made. These individuals find happiness in the fleeting pleasures of this world, all while forfeiting a true life in God.
Where Evil Comes From
This vicious cycle breeds frustration, anxiety, bitterness, and rage. Immature and unwilling to accept responsibility, we project our anger outward, blaming the world for our discontent. This inner turmoil fuels wars, conflicts, abuse, and violence, as we inflict on others the pain we feel within.
Trapped in a paradox of self-love and self-hatred, we become pawns in Satan’s game. Like sheep, we follow him into darkness, trampling and abusing one another. Our moral compass deteriorates, and sin becomes normalized, plunging us deeper into the abyss.
A Cry for Help
“During those many days, the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God.” ~ Exodus 2:23-24
In the Old Testament, the people eventually grew weary of living in a chaotic world and cried out to God for salvation. The Israelites were exhausted, and from this, we can learn why God allowed us to fall into this prison.
The people desired tangible improvements in their earthly lives rather than spiritual renewal. God needed them to realize they needed salvation not only from Satan but also from themselves and the world they had imprisoned themselves in.
God descended in a cloud to assist the people, requiring them to follow numerous laws, rules, and animal sacrifices to dwell with Him. This was meant to show what life would be like if they remained in their natural state. The wrath and judgment in the Old Testament demonstrated that they could not coexist with a Holy God in their natural flesh.
The Israelites quickly became frustrated by the multitude of religious laws they had to follow. To them, it seemed impossible, and their attempts felt like a burden they could not bear.
Exhausted
God allowed us to end up in this earthly prison so we could realize that there is no life apart from Him. We needed to go through the process of exhausting ourselves—like children do—to mature and ultimately return to our Father. We needed to exhaust ourselves trying to be gods, building our own kingdoms, and following empty religious practices.
But where can we turn once we are exhausted by the futility of this world?
Next | The New Testament Life - How to find salvation.
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The New Testament Life
Our Salvation Comes.
I, the Teacher, was king of Israel, and I lived in Jerusalem. I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under heaven. I soon discovered that God has dealt a tragic existence to the human race. I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind." ~ Ecclesiastes 1:12-14
King Solomon built a magnificent kingdom and spent his life searching for the meaning of life, only to conclude that everything in this world was vanity, like chasing after the wind. His conclusion: "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."
A New Life
Before Jesus came to Earth, God allowed humanity time to understand that life apart from Him is exhausting and impossible. When Jesus arrived, He revealed God's kingdom through His presence, inviting us to come home. Though we had strayed far and fallen deep, God's boundless grace extended an invitation back into His light.
Jesus' Mission
Jesus came not as an accuser but as a revealer. He embodied the perfect reign of God, inviting all to join His journey to Heaven. His mission was to expose the emptiness of a sinful life and illuminate God's standard of righteousness, demonstrating a holy life in God’s kingdom.
Because of the wrongs committed long ago, humanity became separated from God. But Jesus came to restore that relationship. He died to pay the penalty for our mistakes and to open the way back to God.
To be reunited with God, we must acknowledge our wrongs and seek His forgiveness. God is compassionate and desires to forgive us. He will cleanse us from our sins, which involves turning away from our sinful ways and following His path.
Restoration
Imagine a married man who cheats on his wife and leaves her for another woman. If he wishes to reconcile, he must seek forgiveness, repent for his actions, and turn back to his wife. Similarly, we have betrayed our relationship with God. To restore it, we must seek forgiveness, repent, and return to Him.
Forgiveness: We seek forgiveness because we rejected God and brought sin and evil into the world. All sin kills—it kills innocents, destroys lives, and damages our relationship with God. Worst of all, it caused the death of Jesus.
Repentance: We repent because we are sorrowful for our sins and recognize the emptiness of life without God.
Turn Back: We turn away from our sinful nature, our desire to live independently, and this world, choosing instead to surrender to and commit to God.
Born Again
If we are sincere in seeking to return to God's family, our Father will welcome us back. God will revive the spirit within us, and we will be reunited with Him. Jesus bridges the gap, restoring our connection to God. The Holy Spirit then empowers us to bear the fruit of Christ’s life within us.
Sanctification - Our Relationship with Jesus
Sanctification has two aspects: "Positional," which means we belong to God, and "Progressive," the ongoing process of being made holy. In simpler terms, sanctification means we belong to Jesus, so we now follow Jesus.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” ~ Matthew 16:24-26
In being born again, we follow Jesus back to the kingdom, guided by the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Jesus shapes and leads us, helping us discover the purpose and plans God designed for us.
What Will Happen When We Leave This Earth?
Next | Thy Kingdom Come - Standing at the gates of Heaven.
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Thy Kingdom Come: The Judgment Seat of Christ
Standing at the gates of Heaven.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:10
Christians often anticipate leaving this world and entering into heavenly bliss, rejoicing in the presence of Christ in their glorified state. However, there is one more crucial hurdle before the celebration can begin.
While believers recognize that non-believers will face God's final judgment—often referred to as the Great White Throne Judgment, where the evidence of their rebellion will condemn them to an eternity in hell—they may overlook the fact that they, too, will face a form of judgment: the Judgment Seat of Christ.
The Judgment Seat of Christ is where believers will be judged for their deeds and rewarded accordingly. This concept originates from several New Testament passages, particularly in the writings of the Apostle Paul. One key passage is 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV), where Paul writes, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."
After death or upon Christ's return, believers will stand before Him to give an account of their lives. This judgment is not for condemnation, as believers have already been justified by their faith in Christ. Instead, it is a time of evaluation and reward based on the believer's faithfulness and deeds done according to God's will.
The rewards given at the Judgment Seat of Christ will vary in degrees of honor, responsibility, and privilege in God's eternal kingdom. These rewards are often referred to as the "crowns" mentioned in the New Testament, symbolizing the believer's faithfulness and service to God during their earthly life.
It's important to understand that Christians cannot earn these rewards through self-effort. The moment one strives for them out of personal ambition, they become elusive. God's rewards are reserved for those who sincerely walk in faith, embodying Christ's character, and whose actions are motivated by divine love.
Here lies the profound weight of facing Christ's judgment: we are told we will account for both our good and bad deeds. Imagine standing before the very essence of our salvation, Jesus, as all our actions, both commendable and regrettable, are laid bare.
What exactly does Paul mean by "good" and "bad"?
In that moment, we will confront all the times we fell short of engaging in God's work when it was our calling. We will come to grips with the reality that we are responsible for missed opportunities to participate in God's mission. While the ultimate fate of others is not our responsibility, we must ask ourselves if we did everything possible to ensure they had no excuse. Our failures in these moments will be like a weight on our conscience, causing us grief and bringing us to tears—tears that only Jesus can wipe away.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." ~ Revelation 21:4
Next | The Kingdom Home - Finally, home with the Father.
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The Kingdom of God: Home with the Father
Home at last!
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ~ Matthew 6:33
One day, Christians will finally be home in Heaven. Heaven can be a vague reality for those on this side of Heaven, not realizing what we have in store.
The Bible gives us glimpses and descriptions of Heaven. But it doesn't give us all the details about what it's like. Instead, it uses symbols and promises to help us understand its beauty and magnificence.
Presence of God: Heaven is the dwelling place of God (Revelation 21:3), where believers will enjoy uninterrupted communion with Him (Revelation 22:4). "The primary joy of Heaven is being in the presence of God."
Finally, we will be with our Father in Heaven. In the arms of our groom, Jesus. We will live in the light of love where no more darkness exists, No more Satan, flesh, or evil to try and separate us from our God.
Eternal Life: Heaven is a place of eternal life and rest for believers. There will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain (Revelation 21:4).
Imagine no more stress, anxiety, struggle, fights, and or wars. Life can sometimes feel like a constant struggle, but in Heaven, you'll experience true rest, free from the weariness caused by life's challenges and difficulties.
Glory and Splendor: The imagery used to describe Heaven includes themes of dazzling light, precious stones, and streets of gold (Revelation 21:18-21). It's a place of unparalleled beauty and majesty.
Fellowship with Believers: Heaven is where believers unite with others who have also trusted in Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:17). There will be a sense of community and fellowship among believers.
Finally, since we will have tasted the evil of this world, we'll fully appreciate the magnificence of God in Heaven. There, we'll be united in one mind, submitted to His will, with no more conflicts, disagreements, or strife.
Eternal Worship: Heaven is a place of continual worship and praise to God (Revelation 4-5). Believers will join with angels and other heavenly beings in exalting God's glory for all eternity.
We will no longer be trying to worship idols, ourselves, and others, but instead, love each other from the love that God provides. We don't have to have lust, greed, and jealousy. No more people pleasing and being led down dead-end paths by Satan and our flesh. We will thirst no more but be quenched by living water.
New Creation: Heaven will be a new heaven and a new earth, as described in Revelation 21:1, where God will renew all things. It's a place of restoration and renewal, free from the effects of sin and brokenness. In the end, we'll exist in our glorified state, precisely as God intended.
While these descriptions offer a glimpse into the nature of Heaven, it's important to remember that our understanding is limited, and the reality of Heaven far exceeds human comprehension. Ultimately, the promise of Heaven is not merely about its physical attributes but about the joy of being in the presence of God for eternity.
Ultimately, Heaven's paradise stems not from its physical attributes and location—but from the presence of Jesus with us in Heaven. While the Bible gives us glimpses of Heaven, knowing Jesus brings Heaven's reality closer, making it real.
