via Meaningless
The purpose of any lock on a given door is dually defined, either to keep someone out, or to keep someone in. It may be to protect the thing inside, or to protect the thing outside from the thing inside. The lock in itself doesn’t necessarily define the meaning of its existence, it is after all, just the lock. Therefore its meaning, or purpose, is defined by the thing it protects, or serves; that which is wholly outside of the lock. In this way, the lock is not self-determining, rather the owner of the lock determines its meaning. The lock can spend its whole day by agonizing over whether it is a good lock or a bad lock, whether it is truly living out its intended purpose in life, or whether it should have been used to lock a larger more significant door, or even deserving of the door it is locking. But all of these thoughts and emotions on the part of the lock would be meaningless, since the lock has no part in any of it.
In fact, the most significant part of any lock is its counterpart: the Key. The key is like the lock in that its meaning or definition is dual in nature: it either opens the lock, or locks it. The key itself is exactly like the lock in that it too can waste time asking and trying to answer similar questions the lock asked, but these are just as futile for the key. Both the lock and the key find ultimate meaning in their use by the owner of each item. Power is in the one who locks and unlocks. The owner using this power, inherent in holding the key, brings meaning to either as He deems fit.
It seems to me that when we search for the meaning of our life without examining whether we are locked up or free, the natural result or conclusions are meaningless. I suggest we are all locked up in our pursuit of meaning and purpose, while ignoring the very things that bind us from discovery. We are locked up because we think foolishly we hold the keys to everything that would make us happy. We are locked up because we think putting on “religious” attitudes, or wearing “pious” clothes, or donning pretentious “masks,” will set us free. We are all locked up because whatever thing you are holding onto that you think is a key of happiness, is actually the lock that keeps you enslaved.
This existence of human experience has but one purpose or meaning. We were created to bring glory to God the creator. When we search for keys to unlock doors leading anywhere but to this truth, we remain enslaved to a meaningless life. When we pursue our purpose with wholly committed hearts to bring God glory with every fiber of our existence, He alone uses the key called “Grace” to unlock a beautiful existence designed specifically for us as His children. Every day we have this choice, to live in God’s grace and to extend God’s glory to the ends of the earth.
When its over, life as we know it, will your life have had meaning? Who determines this answer? You? No. God alone holds the keys. He said so. Jesus said to His disciples:
John 14:6
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
This same apostle recorded the words of Jesus in the beginning chapter of The Book of Revelation, and guess what He talked about… yep, KEYS!
Revelation 1:17-19
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me and said,
“Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look–I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades. Therefore write what you have seen, what is, and what will take place after this.”
We are God’s highest creation. We mean more to him than simple objects like locks and keys. Yet to find our meaning in life requires a higher level of thinking and understanding than most people are willing to give. It also requires knowing who “actually” controls the locks and keys… of life itself.
If you would like a brief glimpse inside this passage click here: Revelation 1_17-19
If you liked this blog post feel free to share it on your Facebook page. Send me a “friend” invite on my FB account or sign up by email to follow my blog!
As I was saying... 