The eternity of God and the teaching of Scripture about man and eternity have a deep influence in terms of the meaning of life for man. If man has evolved from some form of primordial slime and is nothing more than an adult germ headed for utter extinction in a universe that is headed for extinction, then man has no way of having meaning in life. All that we do is either for ourselves when we have nothing but a purposeless existence and future or for others who also have a purposeless existence and future. One thing is as meaningless as the next except we would like to keep our meaningless pain at a minimum and our meaningless pleasure at a maximum. But the end result would be the same in our vain and meaningless existence. As the writer of Ecclesiastes tells us, “vanity, vanity, all is vanity.” That, of course, is the philosophy under the sun.
But the fact that God is eternal gives us a different perspective on the other side of the sun (so to speak). There is more than just this life and there is more than just a meaningless existence after death. There is dealing with the eternal God. The philosophy or way of looking at life as if all is under the sun and all of life is based on the short duration under the sun and that is it logically and practically leads to a meaningless existence. But the fact that God is eternal and has created life and all human beings that He brings into existence now to exist in eternity in either torment or joy brings a fullness of meaning to the present life. The difference between a naturalistic form of evolution and a robust Christian theism is in reality virtually an infinite distance apart.
If God is eternal and has eternally existed in the infinite bliss of being in perfect fellowship and joy within the triune Godhead, then nothing that happens now happens by some form of accident. Within the Trinity there is perfect wisdom and knowledge of all that will ever happen. Either God planned to bring it to pass or He did not. But if He did, as Scripture sets out, then all that happens is according to Divine wisdom. This means that my life has been planned by God from eternity and it has meaning because it is carrying out His purposes and plans. My life is not limited to the appearances that the world looks at, but it is in accordance with the Divine and eternal plan to maximize His glory in the world. Ephesians 1:11 brings this ought in brilliant color: “also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.” The fact that God works all things after the counsel of His will should explode into our lives with power. If ever a human being could get a tight grip on that verse, the meaning of life would never be lost.
Isaiah 46:10-11 sets out the same principle but a little differently: “Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’; 11 Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.” To some this concept takes away meaning in life and makes man out to be a robot, but to others it brings a true zest to life. It shows the lives of human beings as having an eternal purpose and not just a meaningless existence under the sun. The eternal God works all things according to His purpose. Isaiah 40:14-15 sets out this basic truth for all who want to argue with God over this and want to determine their own meaning: “With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge And informed Him of the way of understanding? 15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust.” God alone gives the meaning and He alone is able to determine that. Man’s wisdom is not enough to give anyone true meaning.
We can also imagine life in terms of architecture. A building without a plan is a pile of material that has no real purpose. Our lives are the same way. Without a plan that fits one life with other lives no lives have meaning. Unless there is an overall purpose, there is no real meaning. Unless there is an overall purpose, there is no true morality either. The glory of God is what gives purpose and morality. In light of Ephesians 1:11 and Isaiah 46, we can look at other verses as well. Romans 8:28-29 is used to give people comfort during hard times, but it should also be used to explain the purpose and meaning of life as well. God’s purpose for His people is for them to be conformed to Christ and He uses trials and hard times to do that. The good that comes from trials and hard times is that this is God’s method of displaying His glory in bringing people to share in His holiness (Hebrews 12:10). So the eternal God has planned these things and is carrying them out in the lives of His people. It is in light of that eternal plan that the purposes of God give meaning to life. Unless God is eternal and has an eternal plan, our lives are hopelessly meaningless. But He is eternal and has an eternal plan, so our lives have eternal meaning.
God Loves... Himself 
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