Well, sure.
Why not?
It’s Saturday, after all. What better time for WordPress to casually drop the smallest, simplest, most easily answered question in human history?
“What is the meaning of life?”
Not “What’s your favorite breakfast cereal?” Not “Do you prefer mountains or beaches?” Not even “What song do you secretly love but would never admit in public?”
Nope.
The meaning of life.
Just go ahead and solve the central question of philosophy, theology, literature, art, music, history, suffering, joy, death, eternity and whatever else happens to be lying around. Preferably in a few short paragraphs so people can read it while waiting for their coffee to brew.
Holy crap.
I suppose I could go with the old joke and say the meaning of life is 42, but that would only delay the problem. (If you’re confused, look up The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, but after you’ve finished this post.) Sooner or later, we still have to deal with the actual question.
And, as it turns out, I do think there’s an answer.
The meaning of life begins with knowing God. Not merely knowing about Him. Not just believing He exists in some distant, abstract, philosophical way. Jesus said eternal life is knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. That’s not trivia. That’s relationship. (See John 17:3)
From there, the answer expands into what Jesus called the Great Commandment: love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-39) That covers a lot of ground. It covers worship, obedience, kindness, forgiveness, patience, sacrifice and the irritating business of caring about people when selfishness would be so much easier.
Ecclesiastes puts it even more plainly: fear God and keep His commandments. (Ecclesiastes 12:13) In other words, glorify God. Reflect His character. Live in a way that points back to Him.
That may not fit neatly on a bumper sticker, but it does fit a life.
Know God.
Love God.
Love people.
Glorify Him.
And if, along the way, we get to enjoy good meals, quiet evenings, faithful friends, loyal dogs, laughter, music, family, sunsets and the occasional glass of bourbon at the end of a long week, so much the better.
There you go, WordPress. The meaning of life.
Next Saturday, maybe ask about sandwiches.
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