Where did I come from? What am I doing here?
Where am I going?
There was a program that came on the television during the late fifties or early sixties. That program always began with Dr. Zorba writing symbols on the chalkboard of a classroom. Man, Woman, Birth, Death, and Infinity were what the symbols represented. It was an intriguing program because all the stories were about mankind’s wrestle with sickness and disease. Dr. Ben Casey, the main character, always caught my attention because there was an underlying influence of the infinite at the beginning of every program. I can’t explain what it was exactly about the program but the thought of life, the fragility of it, and Infinity, projected something that my young mind caught of the mysterious ambiance projected.
Man’s struggle with life continues. One aspect of life, Infinity, represents the endless aspect. Immediately one would suppose that this is a misunderstanding. Doesn’t all life come to an end? No one lives forever, yes or no? Assuredly, life as we know it has an end. Death is a part of the scenario represented by Dr. Zorba’s equation. What is important to note is that life in this world ends, but conscious existence continues eternal.
There are three questions that consistently pervade all human experience. First, Where did I come from? Assuredly we humans know that life begins for the individual when the sperm meets the egg. Procreation or reproduction is a necessary part of the continuation of life at all levels: animal, plant, cellular, etc. But where did “life” as we know it on this planet begin? Did the chicken come first or the egg? In spite of all that you have heard or learned from science or your educational system there had to be a beginning.
Is the Big Bang theory correct? One young man in a high school science class asked his teacher where the atom came from. It seems that the teacher had explained that everything had its source in the smallest (known at that time) element, the atom. The inquisitive student wanted to know that if this is true, where did the atom come from? Many discoveries in science have uncovered even smaller elements of matter. But the question remains, How did they get here? There is no other explanation that can suffice than that given in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” Then a question arises, Where did God come from? And, the answer is, God has always existed. Suffice it to say, there is no other explanation. Scientists and theologians have spent countless hours filling libraries with books saturated with words that never can or will explain what has taken place in our world. Scientists have determined that there is a “glue” that holds the universe together. What they do not want to own is the fact that the “glue” is the Word of God. God upholds the world by the word of His power, Hebrews 1:3. God’s plain declaration to mankind in the Holy Scripture continues to hold throughout the eons of time.
So, Where did I come from? God, of course. I am and you also are a part of His wonderful creation. Adam was first created, then Eve, and the human race began. Mankind has since reproduced through natural procreation into the present state of you and me.
Now, secondly, What am I doing here? All of us, all humans have a purpose in life. Time will not allow for entertaining ideas and remedies for all that we know concerning human life. Some are born deformed, some physically and others mentally. Life sometimes deals situations to individuals that incapacitates them for the remainder of their sojourn in this world. Questions are raised as to why did God allow or cause this disability. In the beginning God created man and gave man a choice. Our father Adam chose to believe a lie, rebelled against God’s truth and sin entered into the world. God could have left all of us alone and been justified in doing so. But His love and compassion would not allow Him to be complacent. Sin had entered the world with Adam’s transgression and brought death, physically and spiritually. Along with this punishment came untold misery, all the ailments in society that you and I know about and many that we don’t. God decided to redeem us. In all cases of human life there is a purpose. To those of us who have ability to think and reason God has given the choice of determining what we will do with our life. Finding God’s redeeming purpose in life is of utmost importance and the only avenue for true peace and fulfillment.
In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon, after distressing over all of the struggles of seeking to find meaning in life finally states: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
Our purpose in life is to glorify God. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Whatever your calling, whatever your function, God’s purpose is that you bring glory to His name. Discovering and living in this purpose is where fulfillment begins.
On the other hand, it is impossible to adequately glorify God or to fulfill His purpose for your life until you come into relationship with Him. Not only did God design each and every one of us with a purpose, that purpose is included in gifts and callings provided by the Holy Spirit’s work in our life when we are born again. No person living upon this earth can ever come to personal and spiritual fulfillment until the heart and life of the individual is submitted to Christ. “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is He that hath made us and not we ourselves, we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture” (Psalms 100:3, Genesis 1:26-30).
There is only one way to discover God’s plan for your life. That way is to come to Christ. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (John 3:16-21).
Lastly, Where am I going? Earlier we specifically stated that existence never ends. In other words, you may die, that is, your body may cease to function, your life force may depart from the body, but your conscious existence will continue into eternity. Just where in eternity you will continue to exist is the question. Jesus provided life for all His creation. Jesus died on the cross for your sins and resurrected for your justification. However, you must believe that He did so, repent of your sins, confess Christ as your Savior and live for Him. This calls for a conscious decision. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts you of your sins. In many ways from the time you were old enough to determine right from wrong He has been knocking at your heart’s door. There comes a time when you must make a decision as to whether you will let Him come into your heart or decide to continue in your own way. A positive response will bring God’s workings to bear upon your spirit as you continue to yield to His direction. Continually hardening your heart against His gentle pleas will be detrimental and lead to everlasting destruction. This destruction is spoken of in scripture as an eternal abode in the Lake of Fire where all unbelievers, the devil and his angels will be tormented forever.
For those who respond positively to pleas from Christ and the Holy Spirit a born again experience will result. This new life is the beginning of a new and fruitful relationship with the Holy Trinity, culminating in eternal bliss in your new home in Heaven.
Make no mistake about it, you cannot save yourself. It takes God’s Holy Spirit to convict you, that is convince you, that you are a sinner and need salvation. To some in the human race this comes early in life. There was an acquaintance in my past, a young lady who attended the same college that I attended, who was convicted of her sinfulness at the age of three. She accepted the Lord, committed her life to Christ and was a wonderful Christian. Another acquaintance was around seventy-five years old when he responded to Holy Spirit conviction and was saved. Others of my acquaintance may have never been saved. To my knowledge they were under conviction, heard the truth, but put God off for a while. Not knowing that resisting the Holy Spirit leads to eternal damnation. Man’s (humans) heart becomes hardened, over-crowded with matters at hand and resists the Holy Spirit thinking to somehow come to Christ and the Gospel at their own will. THAT IS A SERIOUS MISTAKE!
Infinity? That is the way Dr. Zorba pointed to that which is unknown to us but is a continual existence. God calls it eternity. A perpetual existence in Heaven or the Lake of Fire.
God created Man, Woman, Birth, Death, and Infinity. We are born. We exist as man (male) or woman (female), then we die. After this, we enter into the infinite realm, a limitless, unending eternity.
Where will you be in eternity? Now you have a choice. If you are reading this document and sense the Holy Spirit convincing and convicting you of its truth, then respond positively to this plea. Confess your sins, confess your need of God’s salvation, confess wholeheartedly and repent of all of your sin. Ask for God’s forgiveness. Pray until you find peace in your heart. Find a church that preaches the truth of the Gospel. Ask God to lead you to the one He wants you to be in. If you are wholehearted and sincere, He will certainly lead you. Read the Bible. Study it with vigor. Obey its commands. Pray continually, asking God to lead and guide you into all truth. It is His plan and desire for you to walk in truth and He will certainly guide you if you sincerely and wholeheartedly seek Him.
— a gospel tract written by Dennis Robinson