What Pleases the Lord?

Doesn't it seem that the troubles in this world that Jesus Christ warned us about have increased exponentially over the last few years? If this world, and everything in it, were all that "there is," how sad, depressed, and worried we should be at this time in our nation's history.

No matter what happens regarding the Obama ineligibility issue, I can STILL have the peace that surpasses all understanding because I belong to Jesus. No matter what transpires here on this earth, God is STILL on the throne of heaven - and His ultimate plan for our salvation and the salvation of His people - the Jews - will come to pass.

Non-believers often scoff at Christians for believing in the prophecies of the Bible. They don't believe in Christ, or the Rapture, or Christ's Second Coming. However, we have the proof that we need because God's Written Word has never failed us - and never will fail to achieve what is written in prophecy regarding the end times. With over 300 prophecies about Jesus (many of which have already been fulfilled - the rest to be fulfilled at his second coming) in the Bible, we can trust our Lord and Savior to do exactly what he has spoken through the Scriptures.

Who do YOU trust in this world?

Don't you find it very difficult to trust ANY politician these days? I think that the last presidential politician that I found quite trustworthy was Ronald Reagan. No one is perfect, but President Reagan was probably THE most trustworthy and when compared to our Founding Fathers through individual faith, hope, love, governance, and adherence to our U.S. Constitution, Reagan can be looked up to, highly regarded and fondly remembered for his pride, patriotism, security, and love for America.

Conservatives were thrilled with V.P. candidate Sarah Palin. She reflected many of the beliefs and policies of Reagan. How awesome it would have been to have her serve as vice president! She is a future, conservative candidate who will hopefully bring our nation back toward the Founding Father's original intent.

Today, I feel as though we are hopelessly surrounded by liars, cheats, usurpers, Marxists, Communists, socialists, licentious liberals and downright immoral politicians. And, those who should speak out against this onslaught of misery apparently refuse to do so.

Why?

Probably hundreds of reasons.

Perhaps the biggest reason is because they don't want to lose their jobs and source of income. The second reason is that they don't want to lose their power and prestige; therefore, they will go along with the crowd in order to keep the status quo - no matter how damaging, debilitating, and dangerous this will be - to our people, our military, our economy, our laws, our morality, our rights, our religious rights and freedoms, and our future as a nation.

The United States of America was built upon a love for God and the Judeo-Christian laws, ethics, and values. How very far we have drifted from the original intent of our Founding Fathers! If any one of our nation's founders could come back and see how our nation is being governed today, they would never believe it! Imagine how absolutely appalled they would be!

This nation was created as a Constitutional democratic republic. But we cannot survive as such unless we are a moral, God loving and God-fearing (revering) peoples.

In a previous comment thread, I shared the fact that one of the first acts of our new Congress was to suppress the Republican minority from influencing legislation and decisions over the next four years. This is just the tip of the iceberg, my friends. Look out and hold onto your wallet - we are about to be tsunami ed into economic, moral, and foreign policy turmoil by Big Government that wants nothing to do with republicanism nor conservative values. To them, the Constitution of the United States of America is either "just a piece of paper" or "a document that can be usurped" because a popular politician mesmerized and manipulated millions of voters through the use of appealing to their feelings rather than towards what is right, true and good for our nation. The Media of Mass Deception, unfortunately, helped keep the truth about Obama and his ilk from public scrutiny. Now, we are stuck with the possibility of a usurper being sworn into the highest office of the land.

I have no idea what will transpire between now and January 20th. Either SCOTUS will uphold our Constitution, or they will renege on their sworn oaths to do so and allow Obama into the White House.

I was thinking about what Christians will be doing over the next four years. It is quite possible that the Internet will come under Marxist government control and blogs like mine will be undermined or even shut down. It is quite possible that the "Fairness Doctrine" will eliminate conservative talk radio. Free speech will become "politically correct speech only" allowed.

I think that Christians will not only be suppressed from sharing the Bible (via "hate-crimes" legislation that is actually "thought crimes" in action) verses that "offend" some; but also will come under persecution as well. It is already happening. It will only get worse. The ACLU will see to it that Christians are silenced from openly sharing the gospel. Wait and see!

So what are we to do over the next four years?

I found a blog post (via "Dave" at Digg) that shares what is most important for Christians in this life. Through Scripture verses, it shares "What Pleases God." I found it very informative and comforting. I hope and pray that reading it will bless you and give you hope - the real kind - not the fake "hope" that has been touted by a politician whose views change direction every time the wind blows.

Jesus is the Rock of our salvation. Nothing can take us away from being His. He is the genuine Hope that lives within all believers. One day, we will each see him face to face at the culmination of all of history. When my work here on this earth is done, He will call me home. The excitement in my soul and spirit as I look forward to that day makes me shout, "I can't wait to see my Lord!" Meanwhile, I will continue to work at what pleases the Lord!

In Christ's service,

Christine

*******
Copy of post at "Beef on the Grill" blog:

Thursday, November 08, 2007

What pleases God? Let the Scriptures speak…

I read in Ephesians 5:10 where it says in the NIV, “and find out what pleases the Lord.” What pleases the Lord?

Hebrews 11:6: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 13:16: …and do not forget to do good and share with others for with such sacrifices, God is pleased.

Romans 12:1-2: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Psalm 69:30-31: I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.

Micah 6:7-8: Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.


I Timothy 5:4: But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

I Timothy 2:1-3: I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior,

Colossians 1:10-13: And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

I Thessalonians. 4:1-12: Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Galatians 6:7-8: Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Romans 15:2-4: Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

1 John 2:17: The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.


Posted by Judi Seehusen at 10:49 PM

(some bold mine)


Hat Tip: Judi at Beef on the grill blogspot

For The Cause Of Jesus Christ

A young African martyr wrote these words in his prison cell before he died:

"I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed, the die has been cast, I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made--I'm a disciple of Jesus Christ--I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure--I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I won't give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up for the cause of Jesus Christ.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows, work till He stops me and when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear."

Some awesome, inspirational truth written by a man who was truly dedicated to Jesus Christ!

Source: Erwin Lutzer, Where Do we Go From Here? (Chicago: Moody Press), p. 47.

The Blacksmith's Shop

After reading just a few of the short articles in Max Lucado's first book, On the Anvil, I can certainly see why he has become one of the most read and beloved inspirational Christian authors over the past two decades!

The introduction of the book sets the stage for everything else that follows. His presentation is an awesome allegory that explains what harm sin has done to our souls and how our Master, Jesus Christ, calls us out of that "junk pile." Lucado demonstrates that Jesus uses certain tools to shape us towards our calling in life.

The Blacksmith's Shop

In the shop of a blacksmith, there are three types of tools.

Outdated,

Broken,

Dull,

Rusty.

They sit in the cobwebbed corner, useless to their master, oblivious to their calling.

There are tools on the anvil:

melted down,

molten hot,

moldable,

changeable.

They lie on the anvil, being shaped by their master, accepting their calling.

There are tools of usefulness:

sharpened,

primed,

defined,

mobile.

They lie ready in the blacksmith's tool chest, available to their master, fulfilling their calling.

Some people lie useless:

lives broken,

talents wasting,

fires quenched,

dreams dashed.

They are tossed in with the scrap iron, in desperate need of repair, with no notion of purpose.

Other lie on the anvil:

hearts open,

hungry to change,

wounds healing,

visions clearing.

They welcome the painful pounding of the blacksmith's hammer, longing to be rebuilt, begging to be called.

Others lie in their Master's hands:

well tuned,

uncompromising,

polished,

productive.

They respond to their Master's forearm, demanding nothing, surrendering all.

Wow! What a metaphor for describing one's journey towards salvation in Jesus Christ! Can you relate to this in your own life? I sure can!

I thought long and hard about where I am on that "tool" list. I think that I am halfway between still "lying on the anvil" and "lying in the Master's hands." The Holy Spirit's leading has helped me to be well tuned to God's Word, and uncompromising in it's application to life today. However, I need to confess and admit that the Lord is still working on me to be "polished" and "productive."

There are people whom I know who are definitely well tuned, uncompromising, polished, productive. People like John MacArthur, Dr. David Jeremiah, various Christian authors like Max Lucado, Pastor Miles McPherson...to name a few. I see them preach from the pulpit. I hear about their missionary work. I read their awesome books. Yes. They are polished and productive and able to reach out and encourage other Christians to do the same.

In Chapter One, Lucado shares what it is like to be in "the pile of broken tools."

To find me, look over in the corner of the shop,

over here,

behind the cobwebs,

beneath the dust,

in the darkness.

There are scores of us,

broken handles,

dulled blades,

cracked iron.

Some of us were useful once, and then...many of us never were.

But, listen, don't feel sorry for me.

Life ain't so bad here in the pile...

no work,

no anvils,

no pain,

no sharpening,

And yet, the days are very long.

Are you broken too?

Do you think God might be calling you "off the pile"? What would that require of you?

When I first read that, I though that Lucado was speaking about the unsaved. Then, I realized that he was speaking about Christians!!

"Some of us were useful once, and then...many of us never were."

Ouch!! Convicting words...Amen?? The rest of the article includes the portion that I had included in a previous post.

We are all somewhere in the blacksmith's shop.

We are either on the scrap pile,
IN THE MASTER'S HANDS ON THE ANVIL,
Or in the tool chest.

Some of us have been in all three.

In this classic collection of inspirational reading, best-selling author Max Lucado takes us on a tour of the blacksmith's shop - examining every tool and looking in every corner, from the shelves to the workbench, from the water to the fire...

And I'm sure that somewhere you'll see yourself.

Yes. I have seen myself as all three kinds of tools - useless, longing to be rebuilt and called, and responding to the Master's forearm.

Perhaps the "polished" and "productive" part is included in the process of sanctification? It is a lifetime journey...is it not?

I think that Christians can have their moments of being polished and productive. However, attaining true excellence in such an area is something to continually strive for. We don't want to rest upon any "laurels" now do we?

I used to feel guilty when I felt like I wasn't doing as much as I have witnessed my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ were doing for the Lord. I would think to myself, 'am I too lazy'? What else should I be doing? As Pastor Miles often says, "Do Something!"

Reading Lucado's next paragraph helped me.

We'll discover what Paul meant when he spoke of becoming "an instrument for noble purposes." And what a becoming it is! The rubbish pile of broken tools, the anvil of recasting, the hands of the Master--it's a simultaneously joyful and painful voyage.

I realized that to be an instrument of noble purposes requires constant "becoming." We have never "arrived," so to speak.

I have felt both the pain of Christian evangelism, as well as the simultaneous joyfulness along the way of this voyage. Of course, I am so blessed to live in the U.S. where pain and suffering is minimal compared to the persecution that Christians endure in much of the rest of the world. Therefore, to whom much is given, much is required.

For those who make the journey -- who leave the heap, enter the fire, and dare to be pounded on God's anvil--a grand privilege awaits: to be called one of God's chosen instruments.

SEE YOU IN THE SHOP

I'm willing...are you?

Be A Light Where God Asks You to Go

Weekend, October 13 & 14

Beyond the Gates: Surrender in Thailand

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

Recommended Reading

Exodus 3:1-4:17

Ash and Anji Barker, and their little daughter, Amy, moved from Melbourne, Australia, to the Klong Toey slum community in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2002. No strangers to the challenges of ministering to the urban poor, they were met with initial challenges in Bangkok that seemed overwhelming. Within six months, Ash contracted an illness the local doctors couldn't identify; and while taking care of him, Anji began suffering with the early stages of dengue fever. Two deathly ill parents watched their daughter entertain herself trying to understand Thai cartoons on the television. The words to the hymn "I Surrender All" kept ringing in Ash's ears: "All to thee my blessed Savior, I surrender all."

Ash reflected on the decision they had made to minister to Bangkok's urban poor. "Who am I to do such a task?" he had prayed. "I know I am lots of things, Lord, but I am no [Saint] Francis or [Saint] Patrick." And he seemed to hear the Lord say, "You don't have to be someone else. Just light the candles I give you to light."

When you consider going beyond your own gates for the sake of others, you're only responsible to be a light where God asks you to go.

The greatness of a man's power is the measure of his surrender.

William Booth

Read-Thru-the-Bible

Luke 19:1 - 20:47 ;

Luke 21:1 - 22:71

HT: Turning Point Online

Return Unto Me, says the LORD

This is really sad to read. Only about 30% of young adults ages 18-30 keep attending church, despite the fact that they attended regularly with their parents during their youth and teen years.

Lots of reasons why they fall away stated in this article's sidebar.

The good news is that Proverbs 22:6 is correct about making the effort to "train up a child." God's Word does not return void. Some may depart for a while (in similar ways to the "Prodigal Son" account), but the research shows that many return to the faith in their 30's. Getting married and having children can spur some back towards the faith.

Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Excerpt from article:

The news was not all bad: 35% of dropouts said they had resumed attending church regularly by age 30. An additional 30% attended sporadically. Twenty-eight percent said "God was calling me to return to the church."

The survey found that those who stayed with or returned to church grew up with both parents committed to the church, pastors whose sermons were relevant and engaging, and church members who invested in their spiritual development.

Perhaps those who experienced a period of time away from church can attest to the fact that it served as an important spiritual growth lesson. The article shares that those who left, later realized their need to return to the Lord. The Lord was calling them back to faith! And Jeremiah reiterates that returning back to God with their whole hearts is key.

Jer 24:7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I [am] the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.


HT: Christian Business Daily

Can America Survive Evolutionary Humanism?

Jury duty this morning...isn't that special? But I did find a great article that all should read!

Linda Kimball asks: Can America Survive Evolutionary Humanism?

Linda writes:

Next, materialist epistemology and metaphysics dispossesses man of soul, free will, conscience, mind, and reason, thereby dehumanizing (animalizing) man and totally destroying not only the worth, dignity, and meaning of human life, but the possibility of freedom. The essence of this annihilation is captured in the following quotes:



Man is “but fish made over…” declared biologist William Etkin (Pushing the Antithesis, Greg L. Bahnsen, p. 224). And his life is but a “partial, continuous, progressive, multiform and continually interactive, self-realization of the potentialities of atomic electron states,” explained J.D. Bernal (1901-1971), past Professor of Physics at the

University of
London (The Origin of Life, Bernal, 1967, xv). Furthermore, “The universe cares nothing for us,” trumpets William Provine, Cornell University Professor of Biology, “and we have no ultimate meaning in life.” (Scientists, Face It! Science and Religion are Incompatible,” The Scientist, Sept. 1988)



Man... “must be degraded from a spiritual being to an animalistic pattern. He must think of himself as an animal, capable of only animalistic reactions. He must no longer think of himself…as capable of ‘spiritual endurance,’ or nobility.” By animalizing man his “state of mind…can be ordered and enslaved.” (Russian Textbook on Psychopolitics, “Degradation and Shock,” Chapter viii)



Finally, Evolutionary Humanism posits the notion that despite the fact that man is “but fish made over…” there are in fact, some exceptions to this rule. For it happens---by chance of course---that some lucky ‘species’ and ‘races’ of the human animal are more highly evolved (superior) and therefore enlightened than the others, who are---unluckily for them---less evolved and as a consequence, subhuman. Paired to this view is the idea that if a species or race does not continue to evolve (progress up the evolutionary ladder), it will become extinct. Together, these ideas lead logically to the deadly conclusion that in order to preserve the fittest of the species---or the spiritually evolved, as is the case with Spiritual Communism--- it is morally incumbent upon the superior to replace (via the science of eugenics and population control) and/or liquidate the subhumans. In his book, “The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex,” (1871) Charles Darwin foresaw this eventuality:



“At some future period…the civilized races of man will almost certainly exterminate, and replace, the savage races throughout the world…the anthropomorphous apes…will no doubt be exterminated.” (Descent, 2nd ed., p. 183)



In practice, the materialist worldview is a hellish recipe for catastrophe, as was amply demonstrated by the 20th century’s two most blood-soaked political movements--- pagan Nazism and atheist Communism. Both rejected God, and both were animated by Darwinism

HT: MND

Before It's Too Late

I was prepared to type out today's T.V. broadcast of the final sermon from Turning Point Ministries series called "Searching for Heaven on Earth." But I discovered that you can watch the entire broadcast online!

Every day, millions of people try to find meaning in their lives by chasing pleasure, working endlessly, or acquiring as much wealth as possible. Yet without God, these pursuits turn out to be meaningless and empty. In the series, Searching for Heaven on Earth, Dr. Jeremiah will take you on a life-changing journey through Solomon’s findings in the book of Ecclesiastes.

Watch today's entire broadcast online here! You also have the opportunity to purchase the entire series Searching for Heaven on Earth at that website.

Even if you haven't seen, heard or read each segment of this series in the book of Ecclesiastes, this final sermon can still stand on it's own to minister to you. It is truly, a great conclusion to a fabulous, encouraging, wisdom-filled Bible study series!

Meaning IN Life (part 2)

[Note: For the first segment in this series called, "Searching For Heaven On Earth," go here for the outline. You can look up the verses in the outline and get an idea of why Ecclessiastes 1:1-11 discusses "The Futility of Life."]

SEARCHING FOR HEAVEN ON EARTH
Dr. David Jeremiah

“Sorting Out Your Life”
Ecclesiastes 1:12 - 2:26

February 11, 2007

“vanity”-emptiness or without meaning
“under the sun”- the context for Solomon’s research
“profit”-what is left over

I. The Experiences of Life Under the Sun – Ecclesiastes 1:12 - 2:10

A. Searching for Meaning in Wisdom
Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

Ecc 1:12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

Ecc 1:13 And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised.

Ecc 1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Ecc 1:15 What is crooked cannot be made straight,
And what is lacking cannot be numbered.

Ecc 1:16 I communed with my heart, saying, "Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge."

Ecc 1:17 And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

Ecc 1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief,
And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Dr. Jeremiah shared a bit about a phenomenol student named Karen Chang. She lives in Fremont, CA and had a perfect score on the SAT's. She was a straight A student and a typical teen. However, she admits that she can be a bit of a procrastinator. Her teachers nick-named her "wonder woman."

Here was a young teen girl who held such a marvelous ability to gain knowledge and retain it. However, when a reporter asked her, "What is the meaning of life?" she answered, "I have no idea. I'd like to know that for myself."

In his poem, Choruses from The Rock (1934), T.S. Eliot states:

"All our knowledge brings us nearer to death,
But nearness to death no nearer to God."

Here's the first stanza, so you can better see the context of the quote:

The Eagle soars in the summit of Heaven,
The Hunter with his dogs pursues his circuit.
O world of spring and autumn, birth and dying!
The endless cycle of idea and action,
Endless invention, endless experiment,
Brings knowledge of motion, but not of stillness;
Knowledge of speech, but not of silence;
Knowledge of words, and ignorance of the Word.
All our knowledge brings us nearer to death,
But nearness to death no nearer to God.
Where is the Life we have lost in living?
Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?
Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?
The cycles of Heaven in twenty centuries
Brings us farther from God and nearer to the Dust.

Sounds like he got his inspiration from Solomon!

Ecc 1:17 And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.

Ecc 1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief,
And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

If education alone could bring meaning, then every person with a PhD would be happy!

Trouble is, smarter people with a sinful nature are those who learn to do evil in a new way.


B. Searching for Meaning in Wild Living
Ecclesiastes 2:1-3

Ecc 2:1
I said in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure"; but surely, this also was vanity.

Ecc 2:2
I said of laughter--"Madness!"; and of mirth, "What does it accomplish?"

Ecc 2:3
I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.

Notice how Solomon tried amusement, mirth, pleasure, laughter, wine and madness. Such things failed to bring him happiness.

1. He tried amusement

Proverbs 14:13 - Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth [is] heaviness.

Perhaps we could visualize Solomon's palace like a casino, today, in Las Vegas.


2. He tried alcohol

Ecclesiastes 2:3 - I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what [was] that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

C. Searching for Meaning in Work

Ecclesiastes 2:4-6

Ecc 2:4 I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards.

Ecc 2:5 I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.

Ecc 2:6 I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove.

In those previous verses, Solomon said "my" or "myself" six times. It didn't do anything for him.

Why was this so? There was no permanent meaning in the accomplishment unless it's after God!

The key is to not make them (accomplishments) the ultimate goal. It won't fill the longing of your soul. Such a longing can only be filled by God.

Look at the life of Ernest Hemingway. After "having it all" he chose to end his life via suicide. He is quoted as having said, "Life is just one damn thing after another."

Seeking meaning in the three ways described above (in knowledge, wild living, or work) alone is empty. What happens is, people are trying to get more out of them than they can deliver!

D. Searching for Meaning in Wealth

Ecclesiastes 2:7-10

Ecc 2:7 I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me.

Ecc 2:8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments* of all kinds.

Ecc 2:9 So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.

Ecc 2:10 Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them.
I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure,
For my heart rejoiced in all my labor;
And this was my reward from all my labor.

Ecc 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done
And on the labor in which I had toiled;
And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind.
There was no profit under the sun

Dr. Jeremiah desired to express how rich Solomon really was. Take a look at

1 Kings 10:14 -
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold,

The amount of gold that Solomon had was probably valued at 25 million dollars in the days of Solomon. There was gold everywhere! All the drinking vessels were gold. No second place silver in that household! It's nothing compared to the value of gold. Solomons palace was filled with the best of everything; precious stones, exotic spices, gorgeous clothes, the best of foods.

Ecc 2:9 So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.

He had it all! Yet, it didn't bring true meaning and joy to life!

Johnnie Cochran had a saying, "The only value of money is so you don't have to worry about being poor."

But look at Ecc. 2:10-11

Ecc 2:10 Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them.
I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure,
For my heart rejoiced in all my labor;
And this was my reward from all my labor.

Ecc 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done
And on the labor in which I had toiled;
And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind.
There was no profit under the sun.

II. The Evaluation of Life Under the Sun – Ecclesiastes 2:11-23

A. Man's Work Does Not Satisfy Him
Ecclesiastes 2:11-12

Ecc 2:11

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done
And on the labor in which I had toiled;
And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind.
There was no profit under the sun.

Ecc 2:12
Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly;
For what can the man do who succeeds the king?--
Only what he has already done.

B. Man's Work Does Not Separate Him

Ecclesiastes 2:13-16

Ecc 2:13 Then I saw that wisdom excels folly
As light excels darkness.

Ecc 2:14 The wise man's eyes are in his head,
But the fool walks in darkness.
Yet I myself perceived
That the same event happens to them all.

Ecc 2:15 So I said in my heart,
"As it happens to the fool,
It also happens to me,
And why was I then more wise?"
Then I said in my heart,
"This also is vanity."

Ecc 2:16 For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever,
Since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come.
And how does a wise man die?
As the fool!

What has Solomon learned? That all of this doesn't fill the void in his life. He ends up empty. The reason? We are not created that way! The one avenue that gives us pure joy and fulfill is that which leads to God!

Ecc 2:17 Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

C. Man's Work Does Not Succeed Him

Ecclesiastes 2:18-23

Ecc 2:18 Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me.

Ecc 2:19 And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

Ecc 2:20 Therefore I turned my heart and despaired of all the labor in which I had toiled under the sun.

Ecc 2:21 For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

Ecc 2:22 For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun?

Ecc 2:23 For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

[Note: Depressed yet? It will be O.K.! Just keep reading! Relief is in sight...in the very next paragraph!]

What is Solomon's message to us all? What is the point of relaying all this depressing non-fulfillment information to us? Are you thinking...but I am enjoying my life, these things, my work, my wild life, my _______(fill in the blank)!

The crux of the matter is this:

If all you see is "under the sun" then there is no difference between the wise and the fool! The end result is that they are the same and it doesn't make a difference.

Except! (you knew that was coming....)

Except when you look at eternity!!!

Here's a simple illustration: Do you ever see a hearse pulling a U-Haul?

Of course not!

We have to get through all of this "bad news" to get to the Good News! What is meant in this portion of Scripture, is that you may build what you want, save what you want; but one day you won't be able to manage it.

So, what is the eternal meaning in the accomplishments in life?

We need to step back and get perspective. If we use only our 5 senses, we feel ultimate despair, discouragement and disappointment. Colossians 3:2 tells us the better way:

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

What is the relief from "days that are sorrowful," "work that is burdensome," and the "heart taking no rest?"

Knowing the difference between vanity and the value of eternity!

That verse is worth repeating:

Colossians 3:2 - Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Now wait, it doesn't end there.

(Remember in my hints in the previous post where I stated, "2. ...has both a humorous meaning, and a more serious one, implying that the answer is to enjoy the ride."?)

Don't stop reading now...the next part is really great...I promise!!


III. The Enjoyment of Life Under the Sun – Ecclesiastes 2:24-26

A. True Enjoyment Is a Gift from God
Ecclesiastes 2:24-25

Ecc 2:24 Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God.

Ecc 2:25 For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?*

*2:25 Following Masoretic Text, Targum, and Vulgate; some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, and Syriac read without Him

Ecclesiastes is not a morbid book, it is an exciting book! It's not a message to just "check out."

It encourages us to get our heads straight and realize that everything we have is given by God! When we know this...really and truly believe and know this, then we experience the real thing - true joy. That's the gift from God that we receive that allows everything to make sense!

The gifts that we receive here, while on this earth are not the ultimate. Think of them as just a "down payment" to what He has prepared for us in eternity!

True joy - when we realize it- is a gift from the Lord!

God isn't a kill-joy.

As Jesus said in Jhn 10:10 - "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly."

But the Bible is filled with admonitions not to seek joy over there (where the thief resides).

Why?

Because you will miss it!

You will miss the true joy!

That personal, intimate joy!

When we have the joy that God brings- then we can enjoy the things he gave us!

We need to keep God in our "portfolio," so to speak!

Think of it this way. We are to hold all that we have in an open hand. If you close your hand - God can't bless you!

1 Timothy 6:17
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

Ecclesiastes 2:25

For who can eat, or who else can hasten [hereunto], more than I?*

*meaning: without Him!

The problem with finding meaning in pleasure is that you have to increase the intensity to get the same "buzz."

Look at how some choose to seek pleasure:

Alcohol
Smoking
Drugs
Gambling
Illicit Sex
Pornography

Isn't it true that the more you seek pleasure in these things the more addictive they can become? They are traps in the hand of the Enemy of our souls...and he know it!

But note this well.

We NEVER have to worry about the intensity of pleasure that God gives!!

People often say, "never say never." But in this case it's biblical!!

This is where the third hint that I had previously given in the first post comes in:

3. The only time to do something when it feels good is if it feels good to God!

Remember the movie, "Chariots of Fire?" The Christian preacher who ran in the Olympics stated, "When I run, I feel His (God's) pleasure." It's just one tiny illustration of what it means to do something that you enjoy, while at the same time, it is pleasing to God, too!


B. True Enlightenment Is a Gift from God

Ecclesiastes 2:26

For [God] giveth to a man that [is] good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to [him that is] good before God. This also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.

The enlightenment that I have personally received through knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and through studying His Word, the Bible has given me the greatest joy in my life...especially when shared with family and friends!

Dr. Jeremiah shared some examples.

Do you live in a beautiful house? Don't horde it! Use that gift to share God with others through conducting Bible studies or any activity where you can show others the joy of the Lord!

A person once asked Dr. Jeremiah, "if I win the lottery, should I give it to God?" Jeremiah replied, "you shouldn't be playing in the first place; however, if you ever do win give it ALL to God...the devil has had it long enough! Amen?"

Let's end with a beautiful promise verse:



Isaiah 55:1-3

Isa 55:1 "HO! Everyone who thirsts,


Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.

Isa 55:2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance.

Isa 55:3 Incline your ear, and come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you--
The sure mercies of David.

That's a great invitation, isn't it?


Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:


Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,


Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)


Eph 2:6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:


Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in [his] kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.


Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:

1. "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever".

Amen!

Meaning IN Life

In one segment of his series, "Searching For Heaven on Earth," Dr. David Jeremiah discusses, and answers for us what is "meaning in life." Today's sermon on this subject was truly awesome. I may need to complete it over the course of several days and posts.

Before I get started on sharing the sermon notes, I decided to google the phrase, "meaning in life." Over 95 million links came up! However, most of the ones I viewed (in the first 30 pages) were headlined, "meaning of life." It appears that most people write about the meaning of life, rather than gaining knowledge and information about meaning in life. What's the difference you may ask? You might discover the difference at the end of this series of posts.

I did find a few links that were entitled, "meaning in life." But I found them quite lacking (as compared to Dr. Jeremiah's sermon) in the information shared.

One link was written by DERK PEREBOOM and was titled: "MEANING IN LIFE WITHOUT FREE WILL." That author based his writing upon philosophical thoughts. He had some good things to say, but he lost me when he wrote:

One might argue, however, that we nevertheless desire to be loved by others as a result of their free will. Against this, it is clear that parents' love for their children -- a paradigmatic sort of love -- is often produced independently of the parents' will. Kane endorses this last claim, and a similar view about romantic love, but he nevertheless argues that a certain type of love we want would be endangered if we knew that there were factors beyond the lover's control that determined it. He says:

There is a kind of love we desire from others -- parents, children (when they are old enough), spouses, lovers and friends -- whose significance is diminished... by the thought that they are determined to love us entirely by instinct or circumstances beyond their control or not entirely up to them... To be loved by others in this desired sense requires that the ultimate source of others' love lies in their own wills. (Kane, 1996, p. 88; cf. Anglin, 1991).

The plausibility of Kane’s view might perhaps be enhanced by reflecting on how you would react were you to discover that someone you love was causally determined by a benevolent manipulator to have the love she has for you.

Leaving aside free will for a moment, in which sorts of cases does the will intuitively play a role in generating love for another at all? When the intensity of an intimate relationship is waning, people sometimes make a decision to try to make it succeed, and to attempt to regain the type of relationship they once had.

Notice the lack of discussion about the role of commitment and covenant being essential in a loving relationship. If we read down a bit further, the closest he gets to even mentioning such a thing is this:

...a marital relationship ideally involves a continuously repeated decision. Indeed, many of us might very much desire a relationship with this sort of voluntary aspect. But again, it is difficult to see what is to be added by these continuously repeated decisions being freely willed in the sense required for strong accountability, as opposed to, say, expressing what the agent really stands for. It might well be desirable for each participant that the other make these decisions. But that the participants should in addition be praiseworthy for these choices seems hardly relevant.

Continuously repeated decision? Seems rather cold and lifeless...to me. I didn't find much satisfaction regarding finding meaning in life within that particular philosophical evaluation.

Then I found this link: More Meaning in Life. But I found that link unsatisfying, too. It was a post that was limited to the concept of "Setting (and remembering!) goals makes frugal living enjoyable."

Decided to go on to page 31 and found a Rabbi's philosophical idea interesting, but still lacking in any all-encompassing search for meaning in life.

OK. I'd better check some of the "meaning of life" links. Since there were so many, I just picked the ones that happened to catch my eye.

If you go to Wikipedia's site, you'll need weeks, if not months, to go through all of that material there!

However, at the top of the page it says this:

There is no question. The meaning of life, the universe and everything is 42.

I thought to myself...what?

Further down, this one offering states how many different ways even the question can be interpreted!

"What is the meaning of life?"


means different things to different people. The vagueness of the query is inherent in the word "meaning", which opens the question to many interpretations, such as: "What is the origin of life?", "What is the nature of life (and of the universe in which we live)?", "What is the significance of life?", "What is valuable in life?", and "What is the purpose of, or in, (one's) life?". These questions have resulted in a wide range of competing answers and arguments, from scientific theories, to philosophical, theological, and spiritual explanations.
These questions are separate from the scientific issue of the boundary between things with life and inanimate objects.

Now I know why Dr. Jeremiah specifically named his sermon, "searching for meaning IN life." It is a much more distinct question than "searching for the meaning OF life."

In my search, I found these interesting:

The meaning of life; can you find an answer on the web?

Yes...perhaps...if you want to search through all 95 million of them!!

Atheism, Depression, & Meaning: Do Atheists Lead Meaningless Lives?"

The author starts off claiming that such a thing (in the title) is a myth. Then, I thought that maybe he was on to something when he said this:

A theist might appear to be correct that, without God, there is no objective, externally imposed meaning or purpose to life. The universe does not seem to establish purpose to our lives, aside from perhaps reproduction, or meaning to our lives, aside from perhaps the sheer act of living itself. Thus it may not be unreasonable to conclude that, without the existence of a creator god, there may not be an objective meaning or purpose to our lives.

But, alas, he went on to state:

If, however, the need for an objective purpose or meaning is dispensed with, the need for a God is also eliminated. Do we need such a purpose or meaning? To be quite honest, I don't think so. It seems perfectly adequate for us to create our own meanings and purposes. Indeed, it is arguable that this is a preferable situation. When someone else imposes upon us a purpose of their own design, aren't we little more than slaves?

My answer? It's not "slavery" when one considers the concept of redemption through repentance. Repent is a word that is positive, not negative in meaning. "Re" means to "return." and "pent" means "highest position" (e.g. a penthouse is the highest position in a building.).

So, when we repent, we return to the past, highest position that was once enjoyed by Adam and Eve before the Fall.

At the Wikipedia page, I decided that I should post these, so that when I get into the actual sermon, you can look back at these thoughts, ideas and philosophies that have, as their goal, the desire to push God out of the picture when considering the "meaning IN life":

Atheistic views
Main article: Atheism
Atheism's strictest sense means the lack of belief that a god or supernatural overbeing (of any type or number) exists, and by extension that neither the universe nor we were created by such beings. Atheism pertains to three of the five interpretations of the meaning of life question: "What is the origin of life?", "What is the nature of life (and of the universe in which we live)?", and "What is the purpose of, or in, (one's) life?" Because most atheists reject supernatural explanations for the existence of life, lacking a deistic source, they commonly point to abiogenesis as the likely source for the origin of life. As for the purpose of life, some atheists argue that since there are no gods to tell us what to do, we are left to decide that for ourselves. Other atheists argue that some sort of meaning can be intrinsic to life itself, so there is no need for any god to instill meaning into it. Some believe that life is nothing more than a byproduct of insensate natural forces and has no underlying meaning or grand purpose.

Humanist views
Main article: Humanism
To the humanist, life's biological purpose is built-in: it is to reproduce. That is how the human race came to be: creatures reproducing in a progression of unguided evolution as an integral part of nature, which is self-existing. But biological purpose isn't the same thing as human purpose, though it may be a factor thereof. Human purpose is determined by humans, completely without supernatural influence. Nor does knowledge come from supernatural sources, it flows from human observation, experimentation, and rational analysis preferably utilizing the scientific method: the nature of the universe is what we discern it to be. As are ethical values, which are derived from human needs and interests as tested by experience.

Enlightened self-interest is at the core of humanism. The most significant thing in life is the human being, and by extension, the human race and the environment in which we live. The happiness of the individual is inextricably linked to the well-being of humanity as a whole, in part because we are social animals which find meaning in relationships, and because cultural progress benefits everybody who lives in that culture.

When the world improves, life in general improves, so, while the individual desires to live well and fully, humanists feel it is important to do so in a way that will enhance the well being of all. While the evolution of the human species is still (for the most part) a function of nature, the evolution of humanity is in our hands and it is our responsibility to progress it toward its highest ideals. In the same way, humanism itself is evolving, because humanists recognize that values and ideals, and therefore the meaning of life, are subject to change as our understanding improves.

The doctrine of humanism is set forth in the Humanist Manifesto [1] and A Secular Humanist Declaration [2].

Nihilist views
Main article: Nihilism
Friedrich Nietzsche characterized nihilism as emptying the world and especially human existence of meaning, purpose, comprehensible truth, or essential value. The term nihilism itself comes from the Latin nihil, which means "nothing". Nietzsche described Christianity as a nihilistic religion, because it removes meaning from this earthly life, to instead focus on a supposed afterlife. He also saw nihilism as a natural result of the idea that God is dead, and insisted that it was something to be overcome, by returning meaning to the Earth.

Martin Heidegger described nihilism as the state in which "there is nothing of Being as such", and argued that nihilism rested on the reduction of being to mere value.

Nihilism rejects claims to knowledge and truth, and explores the meaning of an existence without knowable truth. Though nihilism tends toward defeatism, one can find strength and reason for celebration in the varied and unique human relationships it explores. From a nihilist point of view, the ultimate source of moral values is the individual rather than culture or another rational (or objective) foundation. The characteristic that distinguishes nihilism from other skeptical or relativist philosophies is that, rather than merely insisting that values are subjective or even warrantless, nihilism declares that nothing is of value, as the name implies.

Positivist views
Main article: Logical positivism
Of the meaning of life, Ludwig Wittgenstein and the logical positivists said: expressed in language, the question is meaningless. This is because "meaning of x" is a term in life usually conveying something regarding the consequences of x, or the significance of x, or that which should be noted regarding x, etc. So when "life" is used as "x" in the term "meaning of x", the statement becomes recursive and therefore nonsensical.

Other philosophers besides Wittgenstein have sought to discover what is meaningful within life by studying the consciousness within it. But when these philosophers looked for a holistic definition of the “Meaning of Life” for humanity, they were stone-walled by the Wittgenstein linguistic model.

Logical positivism asserts that statements are meaningful only insofar as they are verifiable, and that statements can be verified only in two (exclusive) ways: empirical statements, including scientific theories, which are verified by experiment and evidence; and analytic truth, statements which are true or false by definition, and so are also meaningful. Everything else, including ethics and aesthetics, is not literally meaningful, and so belongs to "metaphysics". One conclusion is that serious philosophy should no longer concern itself with metaphysics.

Pragmatist views
Main article: Pragmatism
Pragmatic philosophers suggest that rather than a truth about life, we should seek a useful understanding of life. William James argued that truth could be made but not sought. Thus, the meaning of life is a belief about the purpose of life that does not contradict one's experience of a purposeful life. Roughly, this could be applied as: "The meaning of life is those purposes which cause you to value it." To a pragmatist, the meaning of life, your life, can be discovered only through experience.

Although I found many of the following lacking in depth concerning the absolute truth as revealed within the Bible, there are some segments within that can be considered biblically sound and agreed upon. (I have bolded my favorites)

Theistic beliefs
Main articles: Religion and Religious humanism
There are many different interpretations to the "Word of God", and therefore many interpretations to the meaning of life. However, reaching Heaven in the afterlife can be seen as a universal meaning of life or goal for followers of Abrahamic religions. Also universal teachings, or meanings, to be followed in virtually all religions are "The Golden Rule" and simple living.

Relationship to God
Most people who believe in a personal God would agree that it is God "in whom we live and move and have our being". The notion here is that we respond to a higher authority who will give our lives meaning and provide purpose through a relationship with the divine. Although belief is also based on knowing God "through the things he has made," the decision to believe in such an authority is called the "leap of faith", and to a very large degree this faith defines the faithful's meaning of life.

[Note: the following assumption is deeply flawed. For one thing, Satan's destiny has already been settled. Humans are here to find God through Jesus Christ and to worship Him forever; not to "settle a dispute between God and Satan." And, what's up with the mispelling of Satan's name? :]

Another belief by Fundamentalist Christians is that humans have been placed here to settle a dispute between God and Satain. The belief is that Satain thought that he could be as good as God, and therefore become God. With this God threw Satain out of Heaven. Satain appealed to God to be allowed back in by saying that none could follow God, or believe he is God. With that God made a deal with Satain, that if there was one believer in every generation, then Satain would be cast down into the lake of fire. Since the beginning of human creation, with the creation of the first man, Adam, and the first woman, Eve, there has been a believer in every generation. A Jewish believer before the coming of Christ, and followers of Christ after his coming. R.B. Thieme, and others ministries

To "be fruitful, and multiply; fill the earth, and subdue it"
An example of how religion creates purpose can be found in the biblical story of creation in the Old Testament of the Bible: the purpose for man comes from his relationship to God and in this relationship he is told to "Be fruitful, and multiply; fill the earth, and subdue it" Genesis 1:28. This indicates that subsequent to the goal of being in personal relationship with God, the propagation of the human race, the care and population of the earth, and the control of the earth (but as man sinned, he lost the full ability to do so, characterized by the fact that animals are not under full control) are the first three commandments God has set for man.

Another Biblical example is given in Micah 6:8, which states "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." However, instructions given by God and the meaning of life (or the purpose of one's existence), are not necessarily the same thing.


To love God and neighbor
Another example, this one also from Judaism and Christianity, which agree broadly on two of their most important imperatives for life:

"The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength'." This is the 'first commandment' according to Jesus (Mark 12:28-31), and is also a quote from the central prayer of Judaism, known as the Shema (Deut 6:4-9).
"And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'." (Christianity: Mark 12:28-31). Judaism records this both in the positive sense (Leviticus 19:18: "Love thy neighbor") and the negative sense (Hillel, ""What is hateful to yourself, do not do to your fellow man. That is the whole Law; the rest is just commentary")
Both of these commands are relational and are primarily concerned with knowing God in order to equip the believer to maintain a loving relationship with other members of the human race. According to Benedict XVI, the ultimate reason for loving God and men is that "God is love" (Deus Caritas Est) and men are made in his image. The Christian God, he says, is the Logos, (the Word: meaning and reason).

Reformed theology: glorify and enjoy God
The Westminster Shorter Catechism looked at the history of what God has taught man, and summarized it at its outset: "man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever".

Finally, just for fun, I thought I'd include some of the humorous responses that have been given by popular culture. [Notice, too, the explanation (below) of the comment shared above that expressed that "the meaning of life" is "42."]

Humorous and popular culture treatments
The very concept "the meaning of life" has become such a cliché that it has often been parodied, such as in the radio series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, later released as a novel, a television series, a film, and a computer game. As the story goes, an advanced race of hyper-intelligent pan-dimensional beings (mice) builds a gigantic computer called Deep Thought to find The Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything.

Seven and a half-million years later, the computer gives the answer: "42". After giving the answer to an (unsurprisingly) underwhelmed audience, Deep Thought explained that the problem with the answer was not the answer, but that no-one really knew what the question was. (It may be worth noting, that later on it is revealed to Arthur Dent, that the answer and the question cannot be known at the same time. In the book The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, it is found that the question is: "What do you get if you multiply six by nine." The answer would be 54 in base ten, but 42 in base thirteen.) In reference to this series, "42" is commonly provided as an honest answer if someone feels the word "meaning" is too vague. Joe Bob Briggs miscommunicated this in one of his columns as "43". In one strip of the parody comic "Sev-space" it is inquired "why the number 47 constantly shows up on the monitor?" it is then stated that "42 is the answer to life, the universe and everything... But you get 47 if you adjust it to the inflation." This is an obvious reference to the "Star Trek" series where the number 47 is heavily featured [5].

Or maybe there is no meaning to life; that is, "What you see is what you get", as portrayed in the comedy film The Meaning of Life: you are born, you eat, you go to school, you have sex, you have children, you grow old (if someone doesn't kill you first), and you die, and in Heaven every day is Christmas. At the very end of the film, Michael Palin is handed an envelope, opens it, and says nonchalantly: "Well, it's nothing very special. Uh, try to be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try to live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations."

In The Simpsons episode "Homer The Heretic", a representation of God tells Homer what the meaning of life is, but as usual the one who really wanted to know (the viewer) is left disappointed. The dialogue goes as follows:

Homer: God, what's the meaning of life?
God: Homer, I can't tell you that.
Homer: Why not?
God: You'll find out when you die.
Homer: Oh, I can't wait that long.
God: You can't wait 6 months?
Homer: No, tell me now...
God: Oh, OK... The meaning of life is...[Theme music starts and the show ends. The creator's original idea was that a commercial would come after this scene and before the credits, thusly having the commercial interrupt God's explanation to humorous effect]

In the Peanuts comic strip Charlie Brown explains he thinks the purpose of life is to make others happy, to which Lucy responds that she doesn't think she is making anyone happy, and—more importantly—no one is making her happy, so someone isn't doing their job.

Paul Gauguin's interpretation can be seen in the painting, Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?

In Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, Bill and Ted end up meeting God. Before being admitted into his presence, St. Peter (billed as The Gatekeeper on IMDb) asks them what the meaning of life is, and they reply "Every rose has its thorn. Every night has a dawn. Every cowboy sings a sad sad song.". These are the lyrics to a song by Poison, a 1980s glam rock band.

Another popular belief is that the meaning of life is to die, according to comedians and other types of media. In a similar vein, antagonist Smith in the final part of The Matrix trilogy, Matrix Revolutions, tells the protagonist Neo that "it was your life that taught me the purpose of all life. The purpose of life is to end."

In the movie Judge Dredd (1995):

Warden Miller: So tell me, Rico, what is the meaning of life?
Rico: It ends.

Conan the Barbarian, in the film of the same name, when asked, "What is best in life?" responds, "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women."

In several different media, the theme of finding one's individual path is revealed. For example, Coelho's "Alchemist" and the movie City Slickers both present a similar theme: the meaning of life is an individual journey to find one's own "path". In this context, the "path", similar to what is defined in Buddhism as the "4th Noble Truth", and is best explained simply as the overall way one chooses to lead their life. It is a different answer for each person, and the only obligation one has in life is to find his or her path.

Due to the apparently overwhelming "knowledge" of the MSN Messenger chat bot SmarterChild, its creators have claimed that the meaning of life is one of the most common requests from its users. The algorithm has since been tweaked so that instead of responding with a generic message, it replies with a humorous "ask Ken Ma" and a smiling emoticon. There has been speculation as to whether or not Ken Ma is a real person, whilst one common theory is that the name is an inside joke amongst the developers of the chat bot.

In his book "A Man Without a Country", Kurt Vonnegut sums up life with the words: "We're all here to fart around. Don't let anyone tell you any different!" Although it could be said that he believes the meaning of life was stated best by his son Mark whom he quotes in two books, stating, "We are here to help each other get through this thing, whatever it is."

George Carlin has once said that the meaning of life is "to find a place to put all your stuff". In another skit he speculates the meaning of life is that the earth wanted plastic which humans pollute the world with.

One popular phrase is "The meaning of life is 'to live': it's in the dictionary[6]" which, although technically incorrect ("life" is a noun while "to live" describes a verb), has both a humorous meaning, and a more serious one, implying that the answer is to enjoy the ride.

Interested in a sneak preview of what the sermon shares?

Here's three hints:

1. "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever".
2. ...has both a humorous meaning, and a more serious one, implying that the answer is to enjoy the ride.
3. The only time to do something when it feels good is if it feels good to God.

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HT: Wikipedia