Life . . . with God

Every month, more than 500,000 people Google “meaning of life.” Why am I here? They find answers ranging from “Life has no meaning” to “The meaning of life is whatever you make it.”

Let’s consider the meanings of two of the Greek words for “life” found in the New Testament: psuché, means natural, created life; and zoé, meaning God’s eternal, supernatural life. It’s possible to have psuché but not zoé . . . or to be biologically alive but spiritually dead.

God is an abundant source of spiritual life (Genesis 2:7). We were created to have this life inhabiting us just as water fills a well or as God indwelt the temple (see 1 Corinthians 6:19). But with humankind’s rebellion (Genesis 3:1-7), we severed this source of life. A vacant space marked our hearts—the well had lost its spring, the temple had lost its God.

But a Man came forth from Galilee full of zoé (John 1:3-4). “My purpose is to give them . . . zoé,” He said of His mission (John 10:10). To those who believed in Him He promised that “rivers of living water will flow from his heart” (John 7:38) and that He would bring the Father to dwell within them (John 14:23). Jesus came to unleash the water in the well and bring the indwelling God back into the temple of our hearts. And with God’s supernatural life now within us, God starts working in us, “giving [us] the desire and the power to do what pleases Him” (Philippians 2:13). He doesn’t just give us energy but a mission.

So, what is the meaning of life? From the Christian perspective it is to live with God—to have His life living within us and to have Him live His life through us.

Taken from “Our Daily Journey”