Kate,

You say if God is good.

Isn't it an established fact from the Word of God that God is good?

Also, isn't it an established fact that Christ is risen?

Does this not then establish the purpose of life?

Ahhh Daryl

You asked me before if I believed God is good. I side stepped your question then as I am now for a reason.

Your last questions build one upon another thus #3 can't be answered unless #2 is first answered, likewise before #2 can be answered #1 must be answered.

I know what you want me to say, but I can't answer #1 in the manner you want. The problem is if I were to give you a simple yes or no, the only thing that would establish is the fact of my belief or unbelief. IOW it would only tell you something about me. It would tell you nothing about God because the answer would do nothing to establish any facts of whether or not God is good. What matters here isn't me, but the truth about God.

Mikes original question is the basis of all existential angst that most of us experience at some time in our lives. Why am I here? What's the point? Is there any real meaning to life? Does anything truely matter?

Many of course give up the quest for meaning and trade in their existential angst for the consolation philosophy of "eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die" but they know full well it's a futile existence that will come to an end. Others attempt to find meaning in their lives only in the here and now - to contribute to society, to leave a legacy, to become part of history etc. But all these ideas of a purpose for being fall apart under scrutiny because it's all futile unless there is a here after. Soooo.....

In discussing the purpose of life, Yes, I did say there is only purpose and value in life "if God is good" because my only point so far has been to show that there is no purpose in our lives unless our lives are lived in the purposes of a good God. No other alternative offers us any lasting personal benefit, no meaning, no significance to our lives, and no hope there ever could be.

Once one understands that there is no other alternative but a good God to offer hope of meaning, significance, purpose, and value to life then the next logical question would be: Is God good?

BTW there is only one purpose in life and it is exactly the same now in our mortal existence as it is in an immortal existence.

Kate

I realize this dialogue is between Daryl and Kate, but I am going to butt in with a few comments. Cut me some slack, okay!

I believe living for the good of others is, in and of itself, a pretty good reason to live. It is very satisfying helping others in need. But what if after awhile you aren't in a posotion to help others anymore? What happens to your reason for living?

There's got to be a reason to live that isn't dependent upon things that come and go. That's why most people who have attempted to tackle this issue usually end up embracing some form of a Higher Power outside of themselves and this planet.

People who latch onto God and the Bible without first exploring the purpose of life often make for weak believers. It's a cop out to accept God without first considering the meaning of life from an obvious stand point, based on observable, tangible evidence - i.e., the world around us.

Steps to Christ, page 79, paragraph 3
We are brought into sympathy with Christ through the fellowship of His sufferings. Every act of self-sacrifice for the good of others strengthens the spirit of beneficence in the giver's heart, allying him more closely to the Redeemer of the world, who "was rich, yet for your sakes . . . became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9. And it is only as we thus fulfill the divine purpose in our creation that life can be a blessing to us.

The purpose of life. To fear God and glorify Him.

Then the question is what Bibically is the fear of God and what glorifies Him?

Perhaps what this Biblical fear is & how it is lived out in this cosmic walk and what this glory is and how it is lived out; will answer the question of whether God is good or evil - by the nature of what the Biblical fear & Biblical glory really are and how they are performed. What God commands and stands for - if unalloyed good - will show an unalloyed good filled God, but if not then an evil God only pretending goodness in a cruel cosmic "french farse" of vast preportions.

To facilitate such a search - in the SDA Recource Center Forum is the URL for Online Bible Freeware. If you do not have access, request the URL & I will put it in whichever forum you have acess in.

[ November 16, 2002, 12:02 AM: Message edited by: Edward F Sutton ]

Eccl 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Are duty and purpose one and the same thing? Did God create us to reverence Him and to obey His law? Or, is reverence and commandment keeping parts of a bigger picture?

KMcCan, you mention that song, "Dust in the Wind"..I purely despise that song and wish no one else had to hear it, too. When I was deep into my spiritual/mental illness, I would have to turn it off. But I'm an example of how God can take a dreadful mess of a person and lead them by the hand from strength to strength. I am now, and have been for years, stronger than almost anyone else I know.

What is the purpose of life?

I think it depends to your choice;

1. If you would live for the flesh, then enjoy your life, satisfy the desires of the flesh and live happily without any burdens or fear for judgment.
2. If you would live for God because you believe in him and his promises as revealed in his Gospel, then live by faith and walk after the Spirit, deny the flesh and have peace with God.

In his love

James S.