There are a lot of people going here and there, following this idea or that concept, looking, searching for the meaning of life. Drugs, alcohol, sex, 12-step programs, counsellors, self-help books, meditation, motovational seminars, and even attending revival services cannot satisfy the need to find some kind of meaning for living -- for taking the next breath, to continue on, unless you understand the simple fact that your life has purpose and value.
A few years ago, I watched the movie, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" -- a tedious, asinine waste of time, but one point really captured my attention. The characters searched the entire galaxy for the oracle who could answer the question, "What is the meaning of life?" After almost 2 hours of off-the-wall attempts at comedy, they find that the oracle is actually a super-computer that, after a very complicated set of calculations, answered the question. The meaning of life is.....42.
For some reason, the thought has kept coming back to me..."The meaning of life is 42" and I started doing some study in the Word of God to search out the meaning of life for myself. As a lark, I decided to apply the concept of "42." I checked out the 42nd book of the Bible, Luke. Luke is full of the Good News of the Gospel, that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh to redeem mankind and repair the breech between God and man -- an excellent passage of hope, but I did not feel that is where God was taking me so I looked on. I check out the 42nd chapter of Genesis and that, too, was a really awesome example of God's Plan for man in action, but still that was not where I believed God wanted me to end my search. I checked out every 42nd chapter in the Bible. Finally after quite a few days of searching and revelling in the thrill of the reminder that God's love and mercy is deep and rich, I found my answer.
The meaning of life really IS 42......Psalms 42!
1 As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?[b]
3 My tears have been my food day and night,
While they continually say to me,
“Where is your God?”
4 When I remember these things,
I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go with the multitude;
I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise,
With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him
For the help of His countenance.[c]
6 O my God,[d] my soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon,
From the Hill Mizar.
7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall be with me—
A prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God my Rock,
“Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
10 As with a breaking of my bones,
My enemies reproach me,
While they say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.
This simply means, our reason for being is to fellowship with God, to love Him, worship Him, and give Him honor. It does not matter what hardship or sorrow comes our way, God's love for us never changes and we have the confidence that, when we reach up, He will reach down and envelop us in His presence.
I have been low and I have been on top, but in every situation, I have found God to be faithful.
If you are going through a difficult time and there seems to be no way out, remember this, when you cry out to God, admit you need His help and forgiveness, He will lift the burden off your back --- the situation may not change right away, but He will give you peace, courage, and strength to make it through to the other side.
BJ
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