Meaning in Life

There was an old song from the 1960's, made popular by singer Peggy Lee, that asked the question over and over again: "Is that all there is?" The song was about a woman disillusioned with life who could find absolutely no meaning in it. She remembers when her house burned down when she was a kid. She remembers the look on her father's face as he runs out of the house, carrying her in his arms and finally seeing the burning building from outside. Her whole world was going up in flames and all she could think of was: "Is that all there is to a fire? Is that all there is?"

Later she recounts visiting the circus, the greatest show on earth, and seeing the elephants and the performers. During all of this, she couldn't help feeling that something was missing. And once again she asks: "Is that all there is?

Her life goes on and she falls in love and goes through the exciting and romantic things that all new couples experience such as long walks along a river and hours of staring into each others' eyes. Finally, the young man leaves her and she thinks she will die. And, you guessed it, she asks: "Is that all there is?"

The final stanza of the song is her answer to the anticipated question: "If life is that bad for you then why don't you just end it all?" Well, she says that she would but, when that final moment comes and she is breathing her last breath she knows that she will only say to herself: "Is that all there is?"

This depressing song only becomes more depressing with the chorus sung over and over: "Is that all there is? Is that all there is? If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep dancing. Let's break out the booze, and have a ball if that's all there is,"

The sad thing is that this song made Peggy Lee and the writers a lot of money. Why? The reason is that it asked the questions that everyone asks at one point or another in their lives. Everyone wants life to have meaning. Everyone wants their life to count for something. And when you don't feel that it does count, you can enter into deep depression and despair.

The writers of this song weren't the first to address this issue. The book of Ecclesiastes, in the Bible, did so several centuries earlier. Attributed to King Solomon, who had everything that great wisdom, wealth and fame had to offer, it explored the subject of meaning in life. Solomon, who calls himself "the preacher", begins his book with a memorable and pessimistic introduction. After introducing himself to his readers, he states: "Vanity of vanities, says the preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity."

The preacher sounds like someone you want to invite to your next party, doesn't he? Well, he spoke in this way to make a point. However, you really need to read the whole book in order to find out what point he is making.

Ecclesiastes examines the vanity of a life lived without God. In reading through the first chapter, it is helpful to know that the author was assuming the stance of a pagan wisdom writer. This is clearly indicated in his use of the phrase "under the sun." This is a phrase found nowhere else in the Old Testament but is used many times in pagan wisdom literature. It is utilized in order to refer to the realm of this world. By that I mean, what people can see from their finite perspective. In using these words, the author was telling his readers to: "Assume, for the moment, that this world is all there is. I will show you that, if you view life this way, you will never find the sense of purpose, progress or permanence that you long for."

The truth that nothing "under the sun" will satisfy human longing for meaning is first stated in the verse I quoted above, verse 2. It says that "All is vanity." The word vanity can be translated as "utterly meaningless". This term literally means vapor or breath, and captures very vividly, how fleeting, unsubstantial and unreliable are all the sources of meaning we think we see in this world.

Ecclesiastes clearly shows that if a person looks at life with a purely man-centered, earthbound perspective, he or she will never satisfy the longing for meaning. But the good news is that human vision does not have to be confined to what we can see through our senses and reason. God has reached out through His Son Jesus Christ and bridged the gap between heaven and earth. He has stooped to enter the world, to intervene in history, so we can know Him in his righteousness and mercy.

The lesson of Ecclesiastes can be summarized in this way: If we try to satisfy our hunger for meaning with anything less than faith in the God revealed in the Bible, we are bound to be frustrated. This theme comes out vividly at the end after Solomon has completely shown the futility of a life lived purely "under the sun". He then exhorts those who are young to remember their creator in the days of their youth, because one day they will get old and die. Life as we know it will not continue. Man must ultimately face God's judgment. So life is to be enjoyed as a gift of the creator of that life.

The message of the book is summed up nicely at the end, in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. It states: "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."

The bottom line is that man searches for meaning because he was made for eternity. He was created in the image of the eternal God. Saint Augustine said it best when he proclaimed:

"Almighty God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in You."

It is my hope that all who read this won't have to go through an entire lifetime and then find out at the end of it that what they have chased after, whether money, fame or power has left them empty. I urge you to take the advice of Solomon, who had all of these things. Remember your creator, and acknowledge Him. He will show you meaning and joy like you can never find on your own. And that meaning will not end at death.

Those who know their Creator, through faith in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, will spend an everlasting existence fulfilling their purpose and living a full rich life. What a wonderful future we as believers have! More importantly, what a wonderful God we serve! He alone deserves the praise for the meaning that He gives to us. To Him be the glory!