What is the Meaning of Life?
“What is eternity?”
Have you ever ask either of these questions? Or both? Before I went to college I was so satisfied with my life. I never had these questions. In the eyes of my parents, teachers and friends I was a good daughter, good student and good friend.
In my sophomore year, I suddenly felt all the happiness around me can’t last forever. The questions, “What is the eternity? Who am I? What is the meaning of human life?” surfaced in my mind. I started to seek after the answers through reading lots of philosophical books, but none gave me the answers and even caused me to have even more questions. Some of the famous philosophers even terminated their lives because of depression. I was afraid I would become like one of them one day. Day after day, I was lost in these unsolved questions. When the curtain of night came down, I lay down on my bed. Everything was quiet, but my mind was so active, like a wild horse out of control that would run and run and run… Until morning arrived. I was exhausted. I couldn’t sleep. This situation had bothered me for two years. I felt life was lonely. I wished someone could walk my life for me. I wished someone could lead me out of this hopeless and unhappy life. I was tired of my life, and felt I probably would never find the answers which were always wandering in my mind….
Before graduation day of college, I visited my friend and said goodbye to her. She lived with some Christian sisters. When I entered into her room, they were reading Bible together and joined them. They read Philippians 4:4, ”Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say rejoice.” I was surprised that this was what I was looking for. I asked in my heart, “tell me how.” They continued to read verses 6-7, “In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; And the peace of God which surpasses every man’s understanding, will guard your heart and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.” I felt like a drowning person who had found a lifesaver. That night, I tried to use the Bible’s words to tell God what I am seeking; what my pitiful situation is. I don’t know how long I prayed, but I fell asleep. When I woke up, I slept two hours! It was a miracle. He is real! There was no struggling, but sleep so restful that even only two hours felt like two years. All of my energy came back. In the morning, I walked on campus with my light feet, the sky was so blue, the grass was so green, and it seemed as if everybody that passed by smiled at me. I lifted up my head telling God I will never leave Him in my entire life.
“One thing I have asked from Jehovah; That do I seek: To dwell in the house of Jehovah All the days of my life, to behold the beauty of Jehovah, And to inquire in His temple.” Psalms 27:4
Forty years have passed and I still enjoy His words every day. When difficult times come, I always hide myself in His supplying words. God is the living Word and He wants us to eat Him, live by Him, be filled with Him and be satisfied with Him. He is the meaning of life. If you have God, you have eternity.
- C.W.