Expert: Rev. Robert Woods - 5/27/2009

Question
QUESTION: Dr. Woods,

 I am working on a graduate project and I would like to know your opinion of "what is the meaning of life"?  I am talking about an "existential meaning" for life.  I realize this is a broad topic, but in a few paragraphs, what would you personally say to that question.

ANSWER: Blessings and thank you for your question.

Why do we exist?  What is the meaning of life?  We often start this question with an incorrect starting point - ourselves.  Life isn't about us, it is about God.

Colossians 1:16-17 says, "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Ephesians 1:11 says "It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.  Long before we first heard of Christ, and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone." (MSG)

It's not about us.  The purpose and meaning of life is greater than our happiness, sorrow, jobs, adventures, or anything else you can think of.  If you want to know why we are here or what life is all about, then you must start with God.  You were born by his purpose and for his purpose. You exist only because God wills that you exist.  You were made by God and for God, not the other way around.  Once we get the starting point right, then we can begin to examine this life the right way.  Romans 13:3 says, "The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us." (MSG)

Ultimately, this life is just our testing and preparation for eternity, with or without God.  

Blessings

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you, Dr. wood.  Now I wish please to ask a follow up question or two if you please.  I fully understand your initial reply that life isn't about us, but rather it is about God.  I fully agree with you on that.  But may I ask how do you know if you are doing what God desires for you to do?  If I may be so bold, I will ask you personally.  How did you know for instance that God desired for you to become a minister?  I understand you may say he "spoke to you in the spirit."  Okay, I understand and respect that if that is the case.  However, if that is not the case for you, the real question then is again..."how do you and I know we are correct in our direction in life?"  
We could say well..."follow Jesus and the Bible" all other issues will follow suit to that.  Okay again, I will certainly agree.  But I ask further...What is your ultimate purpose and what is this life about?  Maybe it is as you stated before, a "testing ground of sorts."  Maybe I will never ever be personally ready or able to pass the test.  In fact I would say no human being will ever pass the test of being perfect because we are sinners.  But I guess I am asking for a deeper understanding and maybe you cannot give it any further.  I do appreciate that if I have asked as much as possible of you.  Thank you.

Answer
Blessings and thank you for your question.

I have taken a few days to think and pray about my response to your question.  You aren't the first person to ask this.

1.  How did I become a minister?  For me, I felt God's call on my life when I was young.  But, I totally ignored it.  I have always had the tendency to speak my mind.  When I was young, God would use me to defend the faith whenever anyone would challenge whether God was real or not.  I found myself coming with answers that where beyond my years and my maturity in Christ.  But, I was rebellious and made decisions based on my wants and needs rather than God's.

For years I ignored God.  I went through college did a lot of wild things that I am not proud of.  I met a wonderful woman who I married.  She wouldn't date me unless I went to church with her.  SO I slowly rebuilt the relationship I had with God.  We graduated and moved back to my hometown.  I intended to go to law school.  Took a year of post-graduate work and was going to start law school in the fall.  My wife and I had joined a church which we were married in.  The Pastor saw something in me, that I didn't see.  They asked me to teach Sunday School, which I thought was a joke.  I reluctantly did.   Through my study time, the Lord spoke to me through His word.  A few months later, the church asked me to become a deacon.  Now, I was very young (23).  I didn't think I was ready, but again the Pastor and the church saw something in me that I did not see in myself.  So I was ordained as a deacon.  Again, God began using me and teaching me more about himself.  

One day I was driving home from a meeting at church.  I was pondering what God really wanted in my life.  When suddenly I heard God say, "Go to seminary."  I nearly wrecked the car, but I knew it was God.   The word seminary wasn't even in my vocabulary.  So I started seminary a few months later and forgot about law school.

2.  The question you ask, how do we know?  Well, the key is to understand that "we know what God's will is."  It is our job to join God's will.  What is His will?  That none should perish, that we should love Him with all our heart, that we should love our neighbor as ourself and should follow his commandments.  

3.  Practical:  In my life, there has been one thing that has defined my faith and my hearing God's voice.  While I was a deacon at my church, I took a course called: "Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the will of God".  That study totally changed my way of looking at God and the world.  It was the starting point for me to really hear God's voice.  I would encourage you to get the book and the teaching tapes if you can.  It will guide you to hear and know God's voice.