Meaning

Is meaning created by me or is it inherent in my existence? That question is at the heart of the Christian faith, the faith that includes the first book of the Bible. If the world exists because of the sudden expansion of a singularity without reference to a force behind the expansion and that from that this planet had a climate such that life could exist and within that life began from the stuff that was here, then meaning is something that is up to me to create for my life.

If, however, the world was created, by whatever means, by a God, as a place where life like ours could thrive, and that we are the pinnacle of that creation, in His own image, then meaning is up to that creator God. There is someone who knows how it all is supposed to work and for what purpose it was all created. The ultimate revelation of that purpose and meaning is in the cross of Jesus Christ.

In studying the book of Genesis for 2 1/2 years with a group of men, I have been profoundly shaped by the book. It asserts itself in many ways into my reading of the rest of the Bible. The implications of this worldview and what it says about human life and all of creation and our relationships with God, one another and the world around us, are immense. Accepting all of this brings a responsibility for all those relationships and the stewardship we have been given, both of the mysteries of the Gospel and also for stewardship of life. I can't do it alone, I need help, maybe I will eat some fruit or, my personal favorite for knowledge, read a book. Prayer, asking for help, seems a better answer.