"Where can I find meaning in life?"

   As humans, we have a lot of things in common: we want to find meaning in life, figure out how we fit into this world, or find something or someone to fill the void in our lives. It's natural for us to look to things or people around us for that meaning and fulfillment. And people and things do seem to satisfy us. But unfortunately, people aren't perfect, and things don't last, so that satisfaction is only temporary. So we end up back at square one in the search for meaning.

  When we search for meaning beyond people or things, we find ourselves presented with an astonishing variety of religions and belief systems, and a wide variety of choices, all calling for our hearts, our trust, and our confidence, and all promising meaning. For example, some religions make the individual a god. They say, “The answer to every question is inside - you just have to look within to find it.” The problem with this approach is that when we try it, we discover we can't really “fix” ourselves, and that the answers aren't necessarily within at all. Granted, some of our problems truly are a result of our own choices, and these we may be able to solve by ourselves. So some of us take this path, but soon find we are limited by our own resources and cannot find answers within. Then we take the next step and seek a “higher power” outside of ourselves.

  But often we take this next step while holding to the idea that there must be something we can do to “fix” ourselves, and so we seek a god that we can “buy out.” We think, “Maybe if I do enough good things, then surely I will be rewarded.” Thus, some religions require certain amounts of giving – in good deeds, diet, fasting, prayer times, etc. - to satisfy god and provide meaning. While such acts may be good in and of themselves, they actually fail to make us acceptable to that god because the approach assumes a god who can be satisfied in that way and further assumes that we are good enough, or can do enough good, to provide that satisfaction. But what kind of a god is that, one we can in effect manipulate by our own deeds? What real meaning does that provide? So some of us take this path, but soon find we are limited by our own conception of god and cannot find answers in that. Then we try something else—often the approach of thinking there is no meaning beyond this life—which leads to our living totally for the moment in the satisfaction of self by whatever means.

  The self-satisfaction route might work for awhile. But when we really stop and think about it, we eventually find that the fun, freedom, travel, physical pleasure of whatever variety, working like crazy, or whatever other approach to self-satisfaction and gratification we take don't fulfill us. There's something more, it seems. We know it's there, but where? So we keep on looking, but with so many distractions which turn our heads and loyalties in other directions, we end up looking right past the true God of the universe who can fill that void we have.

  Once we admit that there truly is a God outside ourselves who is the author and creator of life, and who is the only source of meaning in our lives, we can then set out on the journey to seek and find Him. And once we begin that search, and do it honestly, really seeking to find Him and find meaning to fill that inner void, God is faithful and will reveal Himself to us in many ways. He wants us to find Him, and will lead us to Him. In the process, we discover that in recognizing God's touch on our lives, we enjoy the journey so much more. When the focus is no longer on ourselves, or the things around us that distract us, we find that we were created to be dependent on God and to reflect Him to others. (And His reflection is a lot more beautiful than our own!) In the process, we find that God has taken care of the bad that is in us by becoming a human being Himself, showing and telling us how to live, and then promising us a meaningful, abundant life if we would but follow Him and His ways. Ultimately, we find that this God in human form is none other than Jesus, and He calls us to come to Him for in Him is the meaning in life we seek.

  So where can I find meaning if life? In Jesus.