Purpose and Meaning of Life: Our Original Design

Genesis 1:1, 26-28; 2:7

Meaning and Purpose of Life: Our Original Design!

Introduction: “Who am I?” is one of the questions that we always ask. Yes! We want to know about ourselves much. For instance, to see how our face looks like is always our first intention whenever we check group pictures. To pay respect to the mirror at least once is our regular practice before we leave the room. Asking that “how’s my preaching today” is a habit of every preacher. Playing back their own video-tapes several ten times is the tradition of every movie-star. However, we can find our true self and true image, our original form and appearance, only when we reflect ourselves in God’s light, the creator of life. Therefore, to know God is to know self. For, He (God) is the original designer of life!

Originated from God: In the world of business, filled with strife and competition, everyone claims their copy-right for any thing that they stress out first to do it, e.g., emblem, logo, name, and even slogan. However, the Bible says that God is the only one who could claim this copyright at the very beginning. For, everything that ever exists is only God’s creation (vv. 1-3a). And the creation is out of “nothing” that means that He doesn’t owe to anyone or anything else, but we, everything, owe to Him instead. Understanding this magnificent past gives us a bright future that we have to start now. That future is “to come back home” to God for a time of harvest in our lives! Yes! We have to come back home to God daily!

Designed in God’s Image: When we come home to God, we will be reminded again with our original design—how’re we originally designed and for what? Our original design is more than being a superman! It’s even to be the image-bearer of God himself (vv. 26-30). In another words, we’re supposed to be photo-copy of God himself—that’s beyond natural law. In this likeness to God, the right to rule (v. 26), the community to join (v. 27), the grace to increase (v. 28), and the privilege to enjoy all creation at full (v. 28) were included. No one will complain for this!! These are our birth-right as we redefine our life, self, future in light of God’s original design. So, we are special! So special in God’s sight!

Breathed-in with God’s Life: Further, there’re more than this image-bearing. The Bible says that we’re breathed in with the very life of God, so we’re “living” (2:7). This is about to live (be alive). The same concept was again proclaimed in NT (John 3:16; 10:10). There’re many times in life seem we’re dead—e.g., dying-out of our dream, business, hope, family-life, etc. But, God gives us His life to live—i.e., power to subdue threats, strength to stand on, reason to survive. This is all what we can experience when we decide to come back home to God from Moab, our wilderness wandering, by taking Jesus Christ as our Savior and also as Lord, not only one day in the past but, in our daily life.

Personal Reflection:

• There’re many proposals that reject this creation history. However, until this present time, no other teaching or theory can give better meaning, value and purpose of life than a faith in the creation and the Creator who cares. So, to enjoy a meaningful life, full of purpose and beautiful dreams, what should we better choose today?
• How does my once-time confession of Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord really effect such as my attitude [to life, family, business], my dealing with others, my life-goal/purpose? Or, what changes should I make to those to reflect my faith in JC?