The Meaning of Life?

Often, many of us search for the secrets of our existence. We struggle with so many questions. What is life about? What are the answers to the mysteries that surround us? These are the questions that people have wrestled with for ages. Philosophers have posed these questions in search of the true meaning of life.

Sometimes the answers to the most important questions are not difficult to find. The answer regarding the meaning of life has been given to us from Jesus himself, and it was given in the form of the prayer he taught us. Reviewing the Lord's Prayer may allow us to understand the basic principles of our lives on this earth.

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

As simple as this opening line is, it tells us almost everything we need to know. There is a God and there is a heaven. Accepting that in itself can give the greatest of comfort. Fortunately, there is even more to understand in this line. God is Our Father, a Father to all of us. A true father loves his children and thus we must never doubt the love God has for each and every one of us. Thus, in one line of prayer Jesus has taught us to accept the existence of God, that there is a heaven, and that God loves us.

Thy kingdom come.

This section is important because it indicates God's kingdom is available to us. If we accept God as our Father, we will reside with him in heaven.

Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

Perhaps we question why things happen the way they do. We see pain and suffering, we see events that we can't understand. We must not allow these things to create doubt in our minds. God's will shall be done, and it's not for us to question. We must trust in God. This is the essence of faith.

Give us day by day our daily bread.

Sometimes we ask for something and we are disappointed. We pray for something and our prayers go unanswered. Perhaps we are asking or praying for things we are not meant to have. Let God decide what we need and He will provided it for us.

And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.

We are not perfect and we will sin. We ask God to forgive us these sins. In this light, we must also be forgiving.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

This line is important in understanding the world we live in. Evil does exist, otherwise Jesus would not have said we needed to be saved from it. We will be tempted by evil, and these temptations will often be strong enough for us to require God's intervention. It is not, however, to be used as excuse. Do not commit acts of evil and then blame it on the influence of evil. Instead, understand that God wants to protect us from evil and that His protection is available if we ask for it.

(The above from Luke 11:2-4)

Thus we return to the meaning of life:

Accept that there is a God, a Father to us all. His heaven is available to us, but He expects us to be forgiving as we will seek his forgiveness. We must have faith that He knows what is best for us, that He will provide what is needed, and He will save us from evil.

Passages on this site refer to the King James Version of the Holy Bible