For those who do not hold belief in God, life on Earth is often perceived as the entirety of their existence. Consequently, it’s quite natural for them to place great importance on pursuing the values of this worldly realm: financial success, popularity, authority, and social status.
In contrast, the Biblical Paul held a distinct perspective on the essence of life. To him, life was a journey towards the cultivation of eternal values and an opportunity to share the teachings of Christ with others. He believed that Christ, and only Christ, could provide the lens through which one could truly understand life from an eternal standpoint. For Paul, his entire life’s purpose revolved around fearlessly proclaiming the message of Christ and striving to emulate Him in every way possible.
As a result of his unwavering faith, Paul confidently expressed the notion that death held no fear for him; quite the contrary, he considered it preferable to life. In his view, death would liberate him from the trials and tribulations of this world, allowing him to come face to face with Christ, the ultimate culmination of his spiritual journey.
This leads to an intriguing proposition: the readiness to embrace death serves as a litmus test for one’s preparedness to truly live. It suggests that when you possess a steadfast certainty about your eternal destiny, the shackles of fear that often hinder one’s actions are shattered. With this assurance, you can commit your life to pursuits that hold genuine significance, unburdened by the dread of mortality.
What is the significance of existence for you, and what is the overarching purpose guiding your existence?
2 thoughts on “Embracing an Eternal Perspective: Life, Values, and Purpose”
Thank you Prof for this timely topic.
Many often, we are betrayed by the fantasy of life, the glittering, fascinating, appealing and juicy things around us. They rob us of the most profoundest purpose of life and or perhaps, let me put it this way, we pride them above the real essence of man’s purpose.
We patronise them beyond the needful.
May we understand, appreciate and acknowledge the real essence of life so that in eternity, we will not ne lost forever.
We still have time to rediscover the missing link.
Amen. Absolutely…Dr, you’ve expressed a thoughtful reflection on the distractions and allure of worldly pursuits that can sometimes overshadow the deeper purpose of life. May God give us the grace and wisdom to focusing on our main purpose – knowing Christ and making Him known.