Is There a Reason Why We Exist on Earth?
A timeless philosophical question has focused on life’s meaning; the number of writings on the subject is almost endless. The “Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy,” in an article entitled, “The Meaning of LIfe,” starts with this statement:
“Many major historical figures in philosophy have provided an answer to the question of what, if anything, makes life meaningful, although they typically have not put it in these terms.”
and ends with this one,
“These and the other questions posed in this survey still lack conclusive answers, another respect in which the field of life’s meaning is tantalizingly open for substantial contributions.”
While speculation is rampant, conclusive answers are elusive. I suggest to you that conclusive answers are only available in the Holy Bible and will further suggest what some of those answers might be.
The Beginning, a Very Good Place to Start
The first six chapters of the Book of Genesis lay the foundation for everything; in those chapters, God reveals what has happened and why it has happened. As a Christian man I am convinced “16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The first basic fact of life is God, I have written more on that in “What is Reality.” God is the eternal, unchanging, source of everything else including you, me and the entire universe.
God spoke all of creation into existence except for man; for man, God had another plan; man was to be created in God’s own image! We are told of this in three places:
“26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”
27 So God created human beings in his own image.
In the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:26-27
and,
“7 Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.“
21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.”
Created in the Image of God
The Bible doesn’t explain why God choose to create man in his own image; it simply declares he did do exactly that! I believe we are given some clues as to why, in Genesis 1:26b and in Genesis 1:28 and 2:15 where it is written:
28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
“15 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.”
Mankind was intended to be God’s representative to this new creation, to govern it for God and to care for it. Mankind was to be a loving, benevolent ruler of the earth and enjoy fellowship with God. We are all painfully aware of the problem that developed, Adam decided to disobey the one command he had been given.
I have written more on this in “The Creation Story,” a twelve part series on the first chapters in Genesis.
The Consequences
As a result of Adam’s disobedience, he, and the entire human race, both present and future, died spiritually there in the Garden of Eden. Now, thousands of years later, we, as Adam’s descendants, find ourselves in a multi-generational spiritual war that has caused massive destruction to the earth and mankind! Paul addresses this in Romans 8:18-23 where it is written:
“18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering.“
The Cure
God, in his amazing love, patience and grace, has gone to great lengths to provide a cure for his sick creation; the Second Person of the Trinity, submitted to an incarnation as the Lord Jesus Christ so he might die as the “Kinsman Redeemer” and purchase the redemption of his creation from the penalty of eternal death by his own agonizing death on the cross at Calvary.
While the price of redemption has been paid in full, the actual redemption of God’s fallen creation is yet future and will take place at a time determined before the foundation of the world.
The entire creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. Until that day we have a purpose as Christians to follow the commands of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In Matthew 28:18-20 we read:
“18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
For the Christian, life means making disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all the commands we have been given by our Lord Jesus Christ. Our attitude toward life must be one of joy and rejoicing. In Philippians 4:4-9 we are commanded:
“4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.“
I am convinced the above conclusively explains the meaning of life; the lives we live at this point in time cannot be the lives intended for us at the time of creation because of the disobedience of the First Adam. The lives that await us have been made possible by the obedience of the Second Adam from above, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Participation in the coming life is totally dependent on salvation by faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ; believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.
davidbowerkingwood 
Amen! Come Lord Jesus
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By: Karen Adamson on August 27, 2019
at 8:25 am