When a sincere Christian says that human existence only makes sense in Christ, it's not a cliché: in fact, seeking meaning in life in anything else—place, person, circumstance… or whatever it may be!—is nothing more than setting a trap for oneself!
I remember reading—several years ago, on the now-defunct Orkut—on a psychiatrist's profile, the account of a patient who was in love with another woman, but whose relationship was constantly in crisis: between breakups and reconciliations, any little argument was enough to cause a split, and afterwards, this patient would humiliate herself in every way until they got back together.
She said she was desperate to find a way to stabilize the relationship because, in her own words, "her life only had meaning by her side.".
I'm not even going into the merits of same-sex relationships here, since we all know what the Bible says about it, and besides, this can also happen in heterosexual relationships.
The point is, although I don't know the outcome of this case, I wouldn't be surprised if it ended with the woman taking her own life. After all, the meaning of her existence was based on something extremely unstable and volatile, which could "go down the drain" at any moment!
Unfortunately, this is the case in every instance where a person places something earthly as the meaning of their existence.
Many believe that they can only be happy if they achieve "this" or "that" goal, if they realize "this" or "that" dream, but almost at the exact moment they obtain them, they realize that it wasn't as they imagined.
So they have to deal with the disappointment by trying to find another goal to pursue, which will inevitably end the same way… not to mention what a well-known passage from the Book of Psalms says:
As for man, his days are like grass;
(Psalm 103:15-16 – ARA)
Like a wildflower, so it flourishes;
For when the wind blows on it, it disappears;
and from then on he will not know his place.
We can mention here some people who achieved such success that it outlived their lifetime:
Katherine Hepburn, actress who won 4 Oscars;
José Saramago, the only Portuguese-language writer to win the Nobel Prize in Literature to date;
Frank Zappa, a rock musician who won 3 Grammy Awards… and there are also the only two people in history to win two Nobel Prizes, namely the Polish-born Frenchwoman Marie Curie and the American Linus Pauling.
No one in their right mind can say that these people didn't reach the pinnacle of success in their careers, nor that they didn't achieve a level of recognition that almost no one else in the world has reached!
However, they all share two characteristics in common: they are all deceased and — what should most attract the attention of a Christian — they were all atheists.
So, what good is everything they achieved in life to them now?
You're welcome!
Some argue that his achievements have influenced (and continue to influence) the lives of many others, but since everyone alive today, including his admirers, will one day leave this world... what sense does it ultimately make to influence their lives?
If there is nothing after death, then human life is meaningless!
There are those who, while still alive, realize that their achievements cannot save them from the end of their earthly existence and, since they believe in nothing in the afterlife, simply decide to "shorten" their lifespan when they find no reason for joy and satisfaction to motivate them to continue.
Indeed, as the Psalm says, human life on Earth is like the blossoming of a simple blade of grass… which can be destroyed even by the wind, and nothing can be done by human force to change this situation.
The apostle Peter, in his first epistle, states that he is writing to Christians—who were under persecution and threat of martyrdom, even feeling distressed by the possibility of it happening—to teach them that the faith they possessed was the reason they should be happy, as we can see below:
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
(1ˢᵗ Peter 1:6 – ARA)
Both then and now, the contrast is evident: those who place the meaning of their existence in earthly things, sooner or later end up finding themselves completely emptied of the meaning of their existence, even if they obtain everything they desire.
But those who sincerely place the meaning of their existence in Christ, even amidst persecution, do not lose hope because they know that everything that is seen is fleeting… and what is unseen is eternal and incomparably better.
As an example of this, we have the apostle Paul who, even suffering persecution and injustice because of the name of Christ, affirmed:
Therefore, we do not lose heart!
(2ⁿᵈ Corinthians 4:16-18 – KJA)
Even though our exterior is deteriorating, our interior is undergoing a complete renewal day after day.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
Therefore, we fix our eyes not on what can be seen, but on the things that are unseen;
For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
It is noteworthy that Paul, who even lost his life for the love of Christ, stated that everything he had experienced was a "light and momentary" tribulation, something that cannot be compared to the glory that will be revealed in the saved in eternity.
I am absolutely convinced that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
(Romans 8:18 – KJA)
Therefore, Peter recommends that those who demonstrate such hope and resilience—even in the midst of such a hostile world!—be ready to declare to whomever asks them the reason for this unwavering hope, that this reason is Christ:
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
(1ˢᵗ Peter 3:15 – KJA)
In fact, the meaning of human existence can only be found in Christ. Only in Him can one have the certainty of an eternal existence, without pain, problems, sadness, or death (see in Revelation 21:4).
Any earthly goal or achievement is nothing more than something fleeting and frustrating, which can never fulfill the human need for meaning in life.
Let us also be ready, as Peter said, to declare the reason for our hope, the meaning of our existence, which is Jesus Christ.
In the Bonds of Calvary
ORIGINAL TITLE: WHAT GIVES MEANING TO EXISTENCE
It would be a lie if I said that I only see people of this generation living for things like "the next party," "the big celebration"... even the older generation has lived empty lives, with few striving to go beyond the barrier of absolute ignorance and disguising their inability to embrace and defend a valid cause like "tolerance" or progress.
This is just another one. indication That the end times are rapidly unfolding, and before the Lord returns like a thief in the night, the prophesied reign of the Antichrist must be consolidated not only in Brazil, but throughout the world!
Since 2023 I decided to use new formats for The Worst Gospel, hoping to help increase the reach of content related to the Scriptures — stories, videos, shorter texts, guest authors… — and this publication, which I took the liberty of revising and illustrating, is part of that project.
Thank you for reading this far.
I still need all the help I can get: comments, shares, and reactions help spread this content, which was entirely produced with the intention of contributing to the edification of the Body of Christ in the world.
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