Essay 74 (5-21-05)

WHAT IS THE POINT OF LIFE?

At the A&M Church of Christ last Sunday I gave the same presentation at two services. Between the two assemblies a young man came to me, with notebook in hand, and asked me this question. He was doing a research project on what people from various walks of life think about human existence

What would you say is the point of life? he asked, pen in hand. He obviously wanted a succinct answer – one of those "answer while you stand on one leg" responses. While it is the kind of question we need to keep asking – and keep trying to answer – I suspect it is one from which most of us back away. We tend to avoid any form of self-examination. I think of old Socrates, the gadfly, who insisted, "The unexamined life is not worth living."

I suspect Socrates – who preferred to ask questions rather than answer them – would have told the young man that the point of life is to seek wisdom. But that is not what I told him, even though that would have been a good answer.

I told him that I agreed with the poet who described life as "a vale of soul making." He wanted to know what that meant, and I explained that this life is preparatory for the next life – our souls or spirits are being readied for the main event. We are being nurtured, each according to his capacity, for a reality beyond this life. It is to say that this world – however important it is – is not what it is all about. Life in this world pales in comparison to the life that is yet to be. We live in time – responsibly and meaningfully – but we live for eternity.

If we liken all life – "the life which now is and that which is to come," to quote Paul – to a theater, then this life is only the outer foyer. We indeed have significant tasks and responsibilities in the foyer, and we relish the experience to the point of not wanting to leave. But it is still only the outer lobby. We all eventually, one by one, slip away through the door into the massive banquet hall for the main festivities – which is the point of it all.

If we liken life to a journey, then we are pilgrims in this world – a community of faith on its way elsewhere. Like the heroes of faith named in Hebrews 11, we confess that we are "strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (v. 13). And those who believe such things "declare plainly that they seek a homeland" (v. 12).

And we are like Abraham, who viewed his earthly sojourn as living in "a foreign country," for "he waited for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (Heb. 11:9-10). Even though the patriarch was in Canaan, the "promised land," he saw through eyes of faith that there was something "better, that is a heavenly country, a city that God had prepared for them" (Heb. 11:16).

So, the point of life to those of us who believe is that we know where home is. In Philip. 3:20 Paul says it plainly: "Our homeland is in heaven." What hope we have when we can say – as I often do to Ouida – that when we leave this world we are not leaving home, but going home!

Personal Notes

It was a joy being with the A&M Church of Christ last Sunday, my brother Bill’s home congregation. At 86 and 80 we are the only ones left in a family of ten, and we were the youngest. In making the point to the congregation that brotherhood in Christ does not depend on agreement and conformity of doctrine, but on common relationship to a Person, I referred to my younger brother. I was not consulted about his entry into our family. He is my brother – not because we agree all that much – but because he was begotten of my father and born of my mother. I had nothing to do with it. I accept him because he is my brother. I am stuck with him, lovingly stuck with him! It is not all that different – or shouldn’t be – in the family of God.

Those living in the Dallas area might like to join us at Skillman Church of Christ, June 1, 7 p.m. for a "quick summary" of our heritage. This is in preparation for a June 5 unity gathering of leaders of Disciples of Christ, Christian Churches, and Churches of Christ at the same church. Post Charme Robarts for further information: charmerobarts@prodigy.net

Our daughter Phoebe has dramatically improved of late. She is off the respirator, no longer needs dialysis, and is talking. Now out of ICU, she yet has a few days of rehabilitation, and will then be back home well. At one point she was so critical that the hospital called us in, fearing the worst. Your prayers made a difference!

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