The Search for Significance is the title of a popular book written earlier in this century.
Rick Warren’s book, Purpose Driven life, published in 2002, sold upwards of 40 million copies. It was even featured in a Hollywood produced movie. Time magazine wrote, “Millions of people — from NBA and LPGA players to corporate executives to high school students to prison inmates — meet regularly to discuss this book.”
The popularity of these two books even among people not necessarily spiritually inclined, reveals a deep-seated desire in all people to find meaning and purpose in life. After her diving accident which left Joni Eareckson Tada a quadriplegic, she felt her life was over, wasted and with no reason to go on living.
She was invigorated when she decided to put God to the test. She offered herself as a human guinea pig to see what God could do through someone who had no use of their hands or legs. She would give Him free rein of her heart and soul.
And with that purposefilled life, God has used her to write about 50 books, publish art work, play herself in a movie about her life, and bring joy to millions of people around the world through her multiple ministries.
Without a purpose or direction we live only for what will bring temporary pleasure or gratification. When that is completed we seek for the next thing which will satisfy. The suicide rate among teenagers is rising because they have lost a purpose that gives them a reason to go on living.
Retirees, after the excitement of travel or sport, often find life boring and go back to work to fill a need for significance. Miles Munroe, in his book, In Pursuit of Purpose said, “Purpose is the key to life. Without purpose life has no meaning. If your vision for life is measured by status, your upkeep will be your downfall.
Without knowledge of purpose, life becomes an endless string of activities with little or no significance. Like a rider on a rocking horse, life without purpose makes much motion but no progress.” Thomas Carlyle said, “The man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder — a waif, a nothing, a no man.”
Rick Warren, in the book mentioned previously, concluded, “You were made by God and for God — and until you understand life will never make sense.” Even Bertrand Russell, an atheist, said, “unless you assume a God, the question of life’s purpose is meaningless.”
The Westminster Shorter Catechism shares, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Whatever your vocation, be it butcher, baker or candlestick maker, your purpose should be to exalt, to uplift and to make much of God. Nothing is more significant.
Nothing gives more meaning to life than to know you have been used of God to extend the Kingdom — in doing so you bring more worship and praise to His name. As John Piper has said, “Missions exist because worship does not.” The goal or purpose of all mission effort is to bring more people from every tribe and nation to bow before Him in worship.
One of the curses of the modern day church is apathy, a lack of hunger and thirst after the knowledge of God. Revival comes when people are so convicted of their sin they cry out for mercy in repentance.
“Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:3
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