Life, Truth, and Love

What are generally considered some of mankind's noblest pursuits? Love. Truth. Relationships. Purpose. Questions like "what is the meaning of life?" may stay with us. I have found that these pursuits and questions find their truest fulfillment and answer in Jesus Christ.

Here are a few things Jesus has to say about the meaning of life:

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (John 17:3)

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well." (John 14:6-7)

Jesus defines life in terms of certain relationships: a relationship with him and with the God of the universe. And these two relationships are related because knowing Jesus implies knowing God. In fact, John's Gospel starts out telling us that Jesus is God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)

These verses show us a lot about Jesus. He calls himself "the way and the truth and the life". He is called "the Word" (the primary carrier of God's truth and power). Jesus is claiming that he can fulfill our pursuits of truth and meaning. They are centrally tied to who he is.

In addition to fulfilling our need for relationships, truth, and purpose, Jesus fulfills our need for an understanding of love.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. (1 John 3:16)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Jesus' death is the ultimate sacrifice made out of love for us. In this voluntary act, he accepted the punishment for all the evil in the world: the evil you and I have done. This sacrifice paves the way for our reconciliation with God.

For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in [Jesus], and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Colossians 1:19-20)

If you acknowledge your disconnected-ness from God, accept this provision for your shortcomings, and trust him with leadership over your life, Jesus will rescue you from yourself and forever develop you into someone who more beautifully reflects the character of God. He will keep you securely into the next life.