"42!" ~~According to 'Deep Thought,' the computer who thinks about this question for seven and a half million years in Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy...
“Forty-two!" yelled Loonquawl. "Is that all you've got to show for seven and a half million years' work?"
"I
checked it very thoroughly," said the computer, "and that quite
definitely is the answer. I think the problem, to be quite honest with
you, is that you've never actually known what the question is.” - link
Douglas Adams is a brilliant humorist with hundreds of entertaining books. He presents an interesting twist to the search for the meaning of life. We all search for purpose in our lives. Why do we get up each day? We go to work, make money, come home, eat, sleep, just to do it all again the next day. Sometimes it's like we're hamsters in a wheel, spinning but going nowhere, and we wonder if there is any point at all. We seek to know if we have a purpose and how to fulfill that purpose.
In the Bible Job had good reason to question God. God singled him out as a God-fearing and righteous man. Then God allows Satan to test him, taking away all his many blessings-- even his children and health. Job in his anguish regrets being born. He asks why God is punishing him and wonders why God gave him life at all--
"But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God." (Job 13:3)
"If the only home I hope for is the grave, if I spread out my bed in the realm of darkness...where then is my hope—who can see any hope for me? Will it go down to the gates of death? Will we descend together into the dust?” (Job 17:13, 15-16)
Job was questioning the point of life, wondering 'why was I even born?' He explains that one person has a wonderful life, always having what he needs, while another lives a bitter life, having none of the good things. Yet they both end up dead and buried, so what does anything matter in the end?
Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? (Job 38: 1-7)
Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:1-6)
I picture it like this-- Job is sick of his friends all giving him 'helpful' advice and telling him what he should do. He stands up from the dirt and looks up to heaven, 'God, aren't you good and righteous? How can you judge me and punish me? What is the point of it all? Why give life if this is how you treat it!' Then God comes in thunder and wind, whipping the dust into a tornado that lifts Job off his feet. It's better than one of those 360 degree theaters at Epcot as God marches the galaxy past him in an all-encompassing panorama and bass pumping surround-sound. God shows how he set the stars on their courses and the Earth at just the right distance and tilt for seasons and life. He formed the planet, lifting up the continents and mountains, sending forth the crashing waves and roaring waterfalls. He dedicated to each animal a unique role in the ecosystem from the great whales of the deep to the tiny bumblebees that flit across the flowers.
Job falls prostrate in the dust before God, humbled at his insignificance before the wonders of the cosmos and the God who rules all. He recognizes his insignificance like a grain of sand on the beach next to the overarching greatness of God and the intricate plan of His Creation!
God brings Job low, and then brings him up again. His fortune is restored with twice as much as he had before, including seven new sons and three daughters. He lives 140 years to see his children and grandchildren to the forth generation. (Job 42)
Pastor Chuck Swindoll explains, "God did not answer Job’s question of “Why?”—He instead overwhelmed Job and his friends with the truth of His majesty and sovereignty. Job came away with a deeper sense of God’s power and splendor, trusting Him more...Instead of asking where God is in the midst of your pain, the book of Job affirms God’s control and asks us, “Where are we in our pain? Are we trusting our Creator, even though we cannot understand our circumstances?” -link
"And so Job died, an old man and full of years." (Job 42:17) So we do good, we try hard, raise our children right, try to make the world a better place...and then we die. Is that it? Is that the end? Are we left like the writer of Ecclesiastes saying "What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? ...What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun....I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind." (Ecclesiastes 1:3, 9, 14)
If we keep searching, in the Old Testament we see foreshadowing of the hope to come, even in the great times of darkness...
There will be a time of distress such as has
not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time
your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. (Daniel 12: 1b-3)
Daniel speaks clearly that we will live forever. God does have a plan and we are part of it. This is one of the first mentions of the Book of Life. We are to be wise and shine God's light, teaching others about God's righteousness. Through the prophets God warns about ultimate judgement for evildoers and everlasting reward for those who fear God. And he foretells of The One who would fulfill both judgement and hope for redemption.
In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Daniel 7: 13-14)
We will continue from here next time, exploring our part in God's plan, which gives us purpose and hope for an everlasting future in the light of His Love.
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