Search for the Meaning of Life

Why am I here? That question kept revolving in my mind, though I gave no one any indication of these thoughts. Why am I here? What meaning is there to life? Does life have meaning only if I give it meaning, or does someone or something else give it meaning? Then came the knock on my dorm-room door.

I opened the door to Keith Chumley, a fellow college student who lived across the hall.

"Hi, Jimmy," he said.

"What’s up, Keith?"

"Hey, I just wanted to ask you a question. Mind if I come in?"

"Come in," I replied, happy for the distraction from my studies.

After some small talk, he asked me this disturbing question: "Jimmy, if something happened and you died tonight, where do you think you would go?"

"To heaven, I hope." [Where was this conversation going?]

"I hope you go there too, but tell me: if you were to stand before God and He asked why He should let you into heaven, what would you say?"

"I don’t know," I answered. "Perhaps I’d tell God that I was a good person."

This conversation was becoming uncomfortable. I realized I had no assurance of heaven and no conviction of knowing God personally. I made excuses about needing to do other things. Keith left my room, but God didn’t! I would not admit that there was emptiness in me that needed filling.

Over the next two months I became dissatisfied with my associations and pastimes. It all seemed so empty - until August 17, 1982. As I drove to my job at a department store that day, all the thoughts about life’s meaning and where I was headed came to the forefront. The most unusual thing happened! Someone spoke to my heart! Had you been there, you would not have heard it, but Someone was speaking none-the-less!

"Jimmy, what are you doing with your life?"

"I don’t know."

"You are wasting your life. If you will turn it over to me I will give it meaning and purpose."

All I had learned in Sunday School and church came to my mind. I realized for the first time that I was a sinner. I realized that I needed a Savior, and Jesus was the only one who could save me. Then I comprehended the message of Jesus. He offered eternal life for the taking, and I took it. I said a big "YES" to God that day. I turned my life, hopes, and dreams over to Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for my sin. He gave me eternal life.

I have regretted many decisions in my life, but never this one. I am still walking with the Lord and His promise is true. I have found meaning, purpose, and much more.

I want you to know that eternal life is also offered to you if you will receive it. Are you looking for meaning, purpose, and eternal life? I don’t mean religion, but a relationship with Christ. You can have it too if you will say a big "YES" to the Lord.

Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?
Living with hope

If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.
Is this the life for you?

If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.

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