What is the Purpose and Meaning of Life?

At some point — whether in seasons of success, moments of despair, or simple quiet reflection — we all ask the same question: Why am I here?

In this episode, we explore the search in life for meaning and fulfillment. From the words of King Solomon in Ecclesiastes, to modern voices who admit fame and wealth cannot satisfy, we discover a timeless truth: without God, life is empty. But in Christ, we find identity, purpose, and lasting joy.

Drawing from Scripture, the wisdom of the Westminster Catechism, and the promise that we are created in God’s image, this episode unpacks how true purpose isn’t found in what we achieve, but in who God created us to be.

If you’ve ever wondered about your significance, your calling, or the meaning behind it all, this conversation will point you to the One who gives life its deepest purpose.

Reference: 

1. Westminster Assembly. The Westminster Shorter Catechism. 1647. In The Confession of Faith, The Larger and Shorter Catechisms. Edinburgh: Free Church of Scotland, 1647/2003 edition. (Historical source of the catechism and the famous “chief end of man” conclusion).

2. Augustine. Confessions. Translated by Henry Chadwick. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. (A classic theological autobiography wrestling with purpose and fulfillment, concluding that the human soul is restless until it finds rest in God.

Transcript

Speaker 00: 0:00

You're listening to the Cornerstone Perspective Podcast. Thank you for tuning in and be sure to hit that subscribe button and share with your friends. This is episode two, what is the purpose and meaning of life? Okay, let's be honest, whether alone in a dark period of life or in the mountaintop of success, or maybe even through simple self-reflection about identity and purpose. We've all asked ourselves, and maybe even others, this very simple question, and that question is this. Why am I here? What is the purpose of all this? And the reality is that question comes in all of life's moments. It absolutely comes in the depths of despair and loss, but it also comes on the top of the mountain during seasons of great success and notoriety. It's that nagging voice in the soul of mankind that demands an answer to this, is there more to this life than simply existing, going to work, paying bills, coming home, and then repeating. And if there is, then what? What is the answer? Well, the reality that everyone faces in life is the fact that this world with all of its riches and indulgences and excesses and wealth, in the end, leave the soul hollow. Unless there is some greater significance and purpose realized to fill that void. A very famous actor who I will not name here is very often quoted from an interview with the Ottawa Citizen saying this, quote, I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so that they can see that it's not the answer.

Unknown: 2:04

End quote.

Speaker 00: 2:06

Now that's a modern day celebrity, but what about a statement from the person who is credited as being the wisest person to ever live? I'm talking, of course, about King Solomon of the Bible. Listen to this quote from King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 1. Quote, "'Meaningless, meaningless,' says the teacher. "'Utterly meaningless. "'Everything is meaningless.' What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the Sun? Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course” Let’s stop here for a moment. King Solomon is literally saying that all of the labor all of the toil all of the hard work the back and forth He says, It's all meaningless. One can even sense and hear the tone of frustration here as a man who has it all speaks of a life full of stuff that has no meaning. He continues here. All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again. All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Now, quotes like this from the wisest king to ever live all the way to the modern rich and famous who appear to have it all can leave the rest of us to really wonder things like this. If that person has what they have and they're still empty, if it's all still meaningless, then what hope is there for me? Well, the great news for every man and every woman and every child across this great earth of ours is that is that there is an answer. God in all of His goodness and love has clearly shown us in His Word the answer that fills all the void. Genesis 1.27 says this, So God created mankind in His own image. In the image of God He created them, male and female He created them. So first of all, we are not purposeless biological beings, but eternal souls with eternal divine fingerprints literally made in God's image. Psalms 139 says this, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Each and every one of us in God's image, fearfully and wonderfully were created intentionally by God himself from inside our mother's womb. Intentionally created beings before we ever took our first breath. That means that you're not an accident. You're not here because of chance, fate, or some universal randomness. You are here for a purpose, and you are here on purpose. And that's the big question, isn't it? What's the purpose? Well, let's go there. Purpose isn't found in social status or success. or by looking inward and saying, who do I want to be? Purpose and meaning in life are found by looking not to the temporal, but looking upward to the eternal and saying this, God, who did you make me to be? Ephesians 2.10 says this, For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Think about that for a moment. Before you were even born, God had already prepared you for moments and for opportunities and assignments in life. Meaningless, mundane randomness is not the reality of your life. But the reality of your life is a story that God has been writing and created for only you to fulfill. But here's the tension. If we're not looking up to and finding in Christ our identity, our purpose, and our meaning, then life will feel so ordinary and even meaningless. It's in Philippians 3 that the Apostle Paul says that he considers everything a loss, everything waste. that He may be, quote, found in Him. He knew that meaning and purpose and fulfillment was only found in knowing God and being found in God's Son, Jesus. And that's the secret. True purpose, meaning, and fulfillment in life is found simply in giving our lives to the Lord through relationship with His Son, Jesus. I love the conclusion that the Westminster Assembly came to regarding the quote, chief end of man. In the 1640s, during the English Civil War, Parliament called the Westminster Assembly to reform the Church of England. Over 100 pastors and scholars gathered at Westminster Abbey, joined by a commission from Scotland to debate worship, church government, and doctrine. And after years of careful work, in 1646, they produced the Westminster Confession of Faith. And in 1647, they produced the Shorter Catechism. And it's in this shorter catechism that they asked a simple question. And that simple question is this. What is the chief end of man? And they concluded that the chief end of man, the place where we find meaning and purpose and life and fulfillment is in this. Quote, “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever”. So let me leave you with this. If you've ever been feeling lost or uncertain in your purpose, remember, you're not searching for a hidden treasure. Purpose is not about what you achieve or how much you acquire, but it's about who you are in Christ as a child of the Most High God. And when you belong to Jesus, your life will always matter because your story is a part of His. It's in his final thoughts in Ecclesiastes in chapter 12. King Solomon sums up all of the meaningless with this final conclusion that provides the final key to purpose and meaning and fulfillment in life. He says this, quote, "'Now all has been heard. "'Here is the conclusion of the matter. "'Fear God, and keep His commandments for this is the duty of all mankind.'" So what's the purpose and meaning of life? Well, it's this. Know God. Be found in His Son, Jesus. Fear Him and keep His commandments. And make it your duty to glorify Him in all that you do. And it's in this that you will find purpose and you will find meaning and you will find fulfillment in this life. Hey, thank you for listening to the Cornerstone Perspective Podcast. Be sure to hit that subscribe button and share with your friends.