Is life the air that we breathe? Or is life pure energy? From a Christian perspective one would say that life is action, faith, belief, and relationships. Life is full of emotion, miracles and facts. Life is growth, change, and experience. Life is intelligent, sorrowful, and full of regrets. Life is a story filled with forgiveness, hate, love, disappointment, discouragement, and questions. But what is the real purpose and meaning to the life we have?
The word of God reminds us what life is! In sad moments of despair, confusion, and fear, God’s word comes alive and Jesus is the one who turns our mourning into dancing.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
Jesus is the air that we breathe and it’s Jesus who gives us our daily dose of energy.
We live in a culture that sells us happiness and advertises good life to those who can afford it. Money and things are for those who deserve it. Culture defines life as a time and place to get the best of everything.
A Christian’s perspective about life is very different from our culture. We see life as an opportunity to love others and to serve God faithfully. Jesus is our life. Following are seven ways to view the meaning and purpose of life from a Christian perspective.
Photo Credit: Unsplash/JamesColeman©What Is the Christian Perspective about Life After Death?
As Christians we desire to do life well here on earth and sometimes we overdo it by putting our wants first. We get concerned when things don’t work out the way we plan. We let financial obligations get the best of us when our paychecks are less then what we want, or we let overspending empty our pockets. We overcommit and put hours upon hours into pointless things.
As humans we sometimes let the brand of our clothes or our type of car define us. We make ourselves sicker by worrying about the doctor’s report. From time to time we all struggle with jealously. We find ourselves working extra hours to have the best paying job. We condemn ourselves as failures when we can’t live up to our lofty expectations. All of this is such a waste of time, because at the end of our life, none of this will matter.
All the things we gain from this world are dust in the wind. Nothing here on earth will last forever. This world is not our home and there is more to life after death. We will be going to our real home to be with Jesus and all our loved ones. We are only temporarily here to leave a legacy, serve others, and to share the gospel.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
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What Meaning of Good and Evil in Life?
From a Christian’s perspective there is good and evil in this world. Satan, a fallen angel is out to kill, still, and destroy us. We can overcome Satan’s evil attacks by discerning right from wrong. Jesus taught us to walk the straight and narrow path and He showed us that we can all overcome temptation just as He did when Satan tempted Him on the mountaintop (Matthew 4:1-11).
God has equipped us for this evil world. He has given us commandments to live by and strategies through the life of Jesus. He has clothed us in full armor (Ephesians 6:10-18) and His angels fight for us. He comforts us in times of trouble.
We can’t focus on God and on our idols at the same time. We have to make a choice in who we are going to put our hope in, because we can’t have both. One leads us to an everlasting life of peace, and the other leads us into darkness to be consumed by evil. God wants a relationship with us and obedience.
“And God spoke all these words: ‘I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.’ ” (Exodus 20:1-3)
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What About the Suffering in Life?
God never promised that this life would be easy. As a matter of fact, He said there would be pain and that this world is not our home. Suffering is hard and can appear to be unfair. Often when humans don’t understand why bad things happen, they begin to blame, which leads to bitterness and feeling of hopelessness.
Christians learn through suffering that our God comforts us and He cares about the details of our pain. God works all things out for the good of those who believe and trust Him. God desires for us to see and experience His blessings through our brokenness.
It’s in those hardest moments that we realize that we need God to help us overcome, pull us out of the pit and give us strength to get up. It’s in God’s love that fear and anger will be quenched. God will carry us through just as He parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14) for the Israelites. He will make a way for us.
“This is what God says, the God who builds a road right through the ocean, who carves a path through pounding waves, the God who summons horses and chariots and armies — they lie down and then can’t get up; they’re snuffed out like so many candles: Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. Wild animals will say ‘Thank you!’ — the coyotes and the buzzards — Because I provided water in the desert, rivers through the sunbaked earth, drinking water for the people I chose, the people I made especially for myself, a people custom-made to praise me.” (Isaiah 43:16-21 The Message)
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What Is the Purpose and Importance of Forgiveness in My Life?
We are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and we all have the potential to do the right thing with God’s promptings and support. We have freedom of choice and we either do the right thing with a grateful heart or selfishly we react and sin. God knows this about us and that is why He sent his son as a living sacrifice for our sins. Even our good work doesn’t make things right between us and God.
Forgiveness happens when we come before the Lord and we repent. Admitting what we did wrong and why that was wrong is an ongoing process that we all have to take as Christians. Not only do we need to repent, we need to accept God’s forgiveness and change our ways. After one repents, God tells us to try again and sin no more (John 8:11). It’s vital that we forgive ourselves as well. This is no easy matter but it is crucial for our hearts.
It’s when we fully forgive ourselves that we can truly forgive others. Forgiving others doesn’t mean we allow them to continue hurting us, and there are consequences to our sin that we all must face. Forgiving someone who has painfully hurt us doesn’t mean that we have to be around them. We need boundaries, tough love, and rules to guard our hearts from hurtful people.
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Who Jesus Is and How Does His Life Effect Mine?
Jesus isn’t just a good man who did good things and taught great lessons. He is the Son of God.
He is not one of the ways to get to Heaven, He is the only way to get to Heaven. The only way to everlasting life is through Jesus and there is just one road we must travel down. We do this by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
We can ask Him into our hearts, to change us from the inside out. We turn from our old ways of living and we pick up the Bible, read it, and apply it to our daily life. We spiritually grow up and take responsibility for our Christian walk with Christ in our heart.
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What Is the Christian Perspective about Parenting?
God loves us and calls us to be in relationship with Him. He wants us to come to Him with our needs, concerns, and battles. He brings us joy, peace, and understanding.
It’s not the parents’ job to make their kids happy. It’s the parents’ job to lead their kids to God, and it’s God who gives them joy! We show kids God’s love by our actions when we pray, read His word, and worship Him with our life.
Parents are a child’s best teacher, counselor, and coach when they have Biblical strategies. Kids need to obey and listen to instructions (Ephesians 6:1), being responsible by doing things without being asked. They need to want to do things right before they can become independent.
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What Is the Christian Perspective about Marriage?
Marriage is only between a man and a woman. The two shall become one and multiply! Husbands are to love their wives as the Lord loves His church (Ephesians 5:25-33). Women are to submit to their husbands (Ephesians 5:22-33).
Men and women are to honor one another, deeply care for each other, and enjoy serving. Marriage is a working relationship as well as a friendship. It can get confusing, tangled up in foolish arguments and disappointments.
We are to put God first in our marriage. God is faithful to help us in moments of frustrations, brokenness, and grief. He fills us with His spirit and helps us love one another better. Marriage is a partnership and God has designed us to work things out accordingly to His word. Two wrongs never make a right. Marriage requires lots of grace and forgiveness. Mistakes are bound to happen and it’s pretty much a guarantee that there will be disagreements.
Life doesn’t come easy to those who are Christians. As a matter of fact life usually gets harder when one becomes a Christian. It’s important to surround yourself with friends who are Christians and can support you in your walk.
We have hope in Jesus and a life that is everlasting and fulfilling. We understand the beauty of God’s design when we pay attention to the things He does for us. He sent His Son to give us life and our life is secure because of Jesus.
”Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35 ESV)
Becoming a Christian in this life is learning to know God and experience His love. You can ask Jesus into your heart today. He will change your heart and open your eyes to truth.
Here are some prayers for you to choose from when you are ready to confess your sins and ask Christ into your life!
Life is all about knowing God, experiencing His beauty and divine purpose, His miracles, and Creation. Life happens when a baby is born and a family story unfolds. It’s when a husband and wife become one. Life is experiencing genuine thankfulness, healing, spiritual gifts and anointing from the Holy Spirit. Life is Heaven on earth and discovering the supernatural. Life is being a temple for the Holy Spirit to live. Jesus is life.
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