Does anyone else think like me?

[Dave-W]

I am having major anxiety tonight because I am overwhelmed by the meaninglessness of life.

That is a normal process. You are in the middle of making your faith your own. Of course the devil (and our own flesh) does not want us to follow God and His ways; so he sows doubts about everything.

The choice now is yours. I encourage you to choose life and faith in God.

 

[Little Lantern]

Greetings, and welcome to CF, @ElizaR123. May you find godly encouragement, good fellowship, and engaging discussion here. God bless you.
Agreeing with Jason, here...

Did you read Ecclesiastes 12:13?

It says,

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

 

[joshcorn]

Solomon and the Book of Ecclesiastes.

Eliza you sound like Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes. It is a place in life we all seem to get to at sometime in our lives.
Ecclesiastes I would rename the book of frustration.
I though about the life of Solomon and his end off and on over a number of years. What Caused him to take the wrong road in the end. I found the answer to that question in the book of Job.
For there years I hear the Lord say read the book of Job. I would read it and the then ask him what I needed to read next. He would say read the book of Job again. This went on for three years much to my frustration.
Finally the last time I started to read Job I was deturned to see what in the book of Job I kept missing The Lord wanted me to see. The Lord in the end of the book of Job rebuked Job and his three friends and they where told to repent. The one person I had failed so see that God did not tell to repent was Elihu. He was not listed as one of Jobs friends. Maybe he was just walking by and desided to stay and hear what was going on.
In the end He added to the conversation,so why did not God rebuke him to,then the thought struck me. He was the only one when he spoke that spoke out of wisdom,knowledge and understanding.
I had to do some repenting. Every time I speak with out these three does God rebuke me.
Solon had wisdom and knowledge but never seek ed understand,The true meaning of life.

 

[faroukfarouk]

I’ve always felt that Solomon meant that the search for the meaning of life on earth is meaningless because meaning is only found in God, which is why I seek and long for a deeper communion - one beyond the emotions, beyond reason, deep in the center of my being - so searching creation is meaningless (but what do I know?).

Yes, the answer lies beyond the created world - even though the Creator is gloriously seen in it.

 

[mnorian]

Mod hat on

Thread has been moved from
Introduce Yourself forum
to
Christian Philosophy & Ethics
for a better fit.
Carry on.​

 

[NurseAbigail]

I am having major anxiety tonight because I am overwhelmed by the meaninglessness of life. If you read Ecclesiastes in the Bible, you will see that the ultimate maximum level of wisdom that God has allowed humans to comprehend and have on the earth, is that it's all meaningless. Everything comes to nothing, we all die, that's it. That's what Solomon concludes. So I'm looking around today at everyone while I'm in school like..."Does anyone else think about this?? Does anyone else think about how we could die tomorrow? Is anyone else thinking about the depths of outer space, about God's creation?" There's like this deeper level of something that I'm understanding and no one else is, all of my friends hate conversation like that. No one wants to go deep, everyone just wants to live their petty normal lives. Which I have nothing against, I like a normal life too. But lately I'm overwhelmed by this revelation...Is there anyone out there who thinks like this too? And not just sort of. All of the time. Like, you're a philosopher or whatever you might call it. If you are, thank you for letting me know I'm not alone in this, and pleeeeease hit me up. Let's be friends. Let's talk. I love to engage in really deep conversation like this and I looove when people ask me my opinion on really deep topics about God and stuff or ask me questions.

Ohh...Introductions. Sorry I got carried away. My name is Eliza, I'm in college and I'm going to be 19 on the 7th. Nice to meet you

Edit: Thanks for the replies. I hear what you all are saying. I should have worded my post better. I do know that God and His way are the main focal point of this life. This life isn't totally meaningless, because our meaning comes in Jesus Christ, our Savior. But..As we are on this earth, we can have the knowledge, wisdom and understanding to know that nothing matters on this earth (except GOD). And that drives me crazy!! The thought is insane...It's beautiful, it's so deep, and it overwhelms me completely! I'm not really looking into the scripture about it guys,(That doesn't mean I'm not reading the scripture guys, don't get me wrong.) I'm just thinking more on the revelation. Or...realization, I should call it. That's what I want to talk about. Nothing under the sun is new, that's what the Bible also says. So all of these humans just keep repeating the same patterns over and over, get a job, have a family, etc etc, but then they are struck with DEATH. Which no one can comprehend fully or understand or wants to acknowledge or think about. Except for me (or so it seems), and I am tired of not having anyone to talk to about this! So again, if you think like this too, I will be so glad to talk with you. Message me!

Totally get you, I see it every time at work, I deal with various types of patients, and see how fleeting everything is, especially with those who are nearing death, I can't help but have a mental image of how vibrantly young and healthy they must've been when they were younger, truly time went by quickly, one day I might be one of those lying in a hospital bed, unable to care for myself and perhaps not thinking straight anymore. Only things done for Christ will last in this lifetime, and will have great impact in eternal life. Money, fame, and beauty fade away like vapor, here today and gone tomorrow. Best to be content with what you have and do all you can for the Glory of God, no regrets in these.

 

[Gottservant]

Life in perspective, is better than cynicism.

Imagine getting to Heaven and being cynical about what God can do next? (All your friends are going to end up that way, actually - give or take someone like you praying for them).

Perspective without labour, is more than futile.

-

Don't forget, the Holy Spirit can take your whole life on - if you will be patient (in principle) with Him!

 

[fhansen]

I am having major anxiety tonight because I am overwhelmed by the meaninglessness of life. If you read Ecclesiastes in the Bible, you will see that the ultimate maximum level of wisdom that God has allowed humans to comprehend and have on the earth, is that it's all meaningless. Everything comes to nothing, we all die, that's it. That's what Solomon concludes. So I'm looking around today at everyone while I'm in school like..."Does anyone else think about this?? Does anyone else think about how we could die tomorrow? Is anyone else thinking about the depths of outer space, about God's creation?" There's like this deeper level of something that I'm understanding and no one else is, all of my friends hate conversation like that. No one wants to go deep, everyone just wants to live their petty normal lives. Which I have nothing against, I like a normal life too. But lately I'm overwhelmed by this revelation...Is there anyone out there who thinks like this too? And not just sort of. All of the time. Like, you're a philosopher or whatever you might call it. If you are, thank you for letting me know I'm not alone in this, and pleeeeease hit me up. Let's be friends. Let's talk. I love to engage in really deep conversation like this and I looove when people ask me my opinion on really deep topics about God and stuff or ask me questions.

Ohh...Introductions. Sorry I got carried away. My name is Eliza, I'm in college and I'm going to be 19 on the 7th. Nice to meet you

Edit: Thanks for the replies. I hear what you all are saying. I should have worded my post better. I do know that God and His way are the main focal point of this life. This life isn't totally meaningless, because our meaning comes in Jesus Christ, our Savior. But..As we are on this earth, we can have the knowledge, wisdom and understanding to know that nothing matters on this earth (except GOD). And that drives me crazy!! The thought is insane...It's beautiful, it's so deep, and it overwhelms me completely! I'm not really looking into the scripture about it guys,(That doesn't mean I'm not reading the scripture guys, don't get me wrong.) I'm just thinking more on the revelation. Or...realization, I should call it. That's what I want to talk about. Nothing under the sun is new, that's what the Bible also says. So all of these humans just keep repeating the same patterns over and over, get a job, have a family, etc etc, but then they are struck with DEATH. Which no one can comprehend fully or understand or wants to acknowledge or think about. Except for me (or so it seems), and I am tired of not having anyone to talk to about this! So again, if you think like this too, I will be so glad to talk with you. Message me!

Ecclesiastes is beautiful! Truly a pearl of wisdom was found and recorded by this rich kings kid who had everything-and was satisfied by none of it. Vanity of vanities, everything is vanity...there's nothing new under the sun! What a revelation, and what a perfect preparation for the one thing man needs-and that Christ brought back into the picture: man needs God, direct, intimate relationship with Him, or else he remains lost in futility. "God alone satisfies", as Aquinas put it.

I need to hear Solomon's words, to reflect on his experience, so I can continue to be reminded of the emptiness of trying to find fulfillment in worldly, created things, so that I will seek higher.

 

[Violet Edge]

girll, I'm in the same place as you. I'm 19 and in my second year of uni! I love talking about deep things and I often think sooo deeply about life and the world and how we are just here on this planet. You're not the only one haha
It blows my mind that people can go through life without knowing Jesus.. like don't they have questions about how we got here and how the world began and how we can walk and talk and see and hear and EVERYTHING ahh

About the meaninglessness of life.. I try to avoid from thinking like that by focusing my thoughts on how good God is and how we should be glorifying him in every way we can. AND one day we will get to be with him,, there is nothing meaningless about that!, we just gotta get through this world first.

hmu in inbox if you want

~Violet

 

[Tom 1]

I am having major anxiety tonight because I am overwhelmed by the meaninglessness of life. If you read Ecclesiastes in the Bible, you will see that the ultimate maximum level of wisdom that God has allowed humans to comprehend and have on the earth, is that it's all meaningless. Everything comes to nothing, we all die, that's it. That's what Solomon concludes. So I'm looking around today at everyone while I'm in school like..."Does anyone else think about this?? Does anyone else think about how we could die tomorrow? Is anyone else thinking about the depths of outer space, about God's creation?" There's like this deeper level of something that I'm understanding and no one else is, all of my friends hate conversation like that. No one wants to go deep, everyone just wants to live their petty normal lives. Which I have nothing against, I like a normal life too. But lately I'm overwhelmed by this revelation...Is there anyone out there who thinks like this too? And not just sort of. All of the time. Like, you're a philosopher or whatever you might call it. If you are, thank you for letting me know I'm not alone in this, and pleeeeease hit me up. Let's be friends. Let's talk. I love to engage in really deep conversation like this and I looove when people ask me my opinion on really deep topics about God and stuff or ask me questions.

Ohh...Introductions. Sorry I got carried away. My name is Eliza, I'm in college and I'm going to be 19 on the 7th. Nice to meet you

Edit: Thanks for the replies. I hear what you all are saying. I should have worded my post better. I do know that God and His way are the main focal point of this life. This life isn't totally meaningless, because our meaning comes in Jesus Christ, our Savior. But..As we are on this earth, we can have the knowledge, wisdom and understanding to know that nothing matters on this earth (except GOD). And that drives me crazy!! The thought is insane...It's beautiful, it's so deep, and it overwhelms me completely! I'm not really looking into the scripture about it guys,(That doesn't mean I'm not reading the scripture guys, don't get me wrong.) I'm just thinking more on the revelation. Or...realization, I should call it. That's what I want to talk about. Nothing under the sun is new, that's what the Bible also says. So all of these humans just keep repeating the same patterns over and over, get a job, have a family, etc etc, but then they are struck with DEATH. Which no one can comprehend fully or understand or wants to acknowledge or think about. Except for me (or so it seems), and I am tired of not having anyone to talk to about this! So again, if you think like this too, I will be so glad to talk with you. Message me!

Haha this takes me back, I mean I remember having similar thoughts when I was your age. I read catch 22 several times when I was 17 or 18, it was close on becoming my ‘bible’ for life (that was before I actually got to grips with The Bible). The message of Heller’s novel is that everything is meaningless, just a big meaningless joke, so just do what you want, because it has no meaning, which kind of fit how I saw the world at that point. When I started reading the bible Ecclesiastes was the first book I read all the way through, and what I found there was a different message, namely that the things people often chase after in life don’t provide any ultimate meaning, but getting to know God does provide meaning, in buckets. I’m not suggesting it’s easy or straighforward but there’s nothing else that compares to getting to know God.
Someone else here suggested stopping reading Ecclesiastes, well I’d say the opposite, read it, study it, invest in some good, solid commentaries, learn and discuss with others what you are learning, and take that approach to the rest of the bible. There is a bottomless well of meaning in the word of God.
I went on to study philosophy and psychology at uni, and I’d recommend familiarising yourself with the works of western philosophers as a starting point. No philosopher will guide you to the truth, but if you’re interested in pursuing your ideas then studying philosophy is an excellent way of developing the thinking tools that will help you in that pursuit.

 

[Radagast]

Ohh...Introductions. Sorry I got carried away. My name is Eliza, I'm in college and I'm going to be 19 on the 7th. Nice to meet you

Welcome to CF!

If you read Ecclesiastes in the Bible, you will see that the ultimate maximum level of wisdom that God has allowed humans to comprehend and have on the earth, is that it's all meaningless.

Well, Ecclesiastes concludes this way:

Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgement,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.

Is anyone else thinking about the depths of outer space, about God's creation?

Sure, lots of people are.

 

[gym_class_hero]

welcome aboard Eliza. God bless you

 

[tulipbee]

I am having major anxiety tonight because I am overwhelmed by the meaninglessness of life. If you read Ecclesiastes in the Bible, you will see that the ultimate maximum level of wisdom that God has allowed humans to comprehend and have on the earth, is that it's all meaningless. Everything comes to nothing, we all die, that's it. That's what Solomon concludes. So I'm looking around today at everyone while I'm in school like..."Does anyone else think about this?? Does anyone else think about how we could die tomorrow? Is anyone else thinking about the depths of outer space, about God's creation?" There's like this deeper level of something that I'm understanding and no one else is, all of my friends hate conversation like that. No one wants to go deep, everyone just wants to live their petty normal lives. Which I have nothing against, I like a normal life too. But lately I'm overwhelmed by this revelation...Is there anyone out there who thinks like this too? And not just sort of. All of the time. Like, you're a philosopher or whatever you might call it. If you are, thank you for letting me know I'm not alone in this, and pleeeeease hit me up. Let's be friends. Let's talk. I love to engage in really deep conversation like this and I looove when people ask me my opinion on really deep topics about God and stuff or ask me questions.

Ohh...Introductions. Sorry I got carried away. My name is Eliza, I'm in college and I'm going to be 19 on the 7th. Nice to meet you

Edit: Thanks for the replies. I hear what you all are saying. I should have worded my post better. I do know that God and His way are the main focal point of this life. This life isn't totally meaningless, because our meaning comes in Jesus Christ, our Savior. But..As we are on this earth, we can have the knowledge, wisdom and understanding to know that nothing matters on this earth (except GOD). And that drives me crazy!! The thought is insane...It's beautiful, it's so deep, and it overwhelms me completely! I'm not really looking into the scripture about it guys,(That doesn't mean I'm not reading the scripture guys, don't get me wrong.) I'm just thinking more on the revelation. Or...realization, I should call it. That's what I want to talk about. Nothing under the sun is new, that's what the Bible also says. So all of these humans just keep repeating the same patterns over and over, get a job, have a family, etc etc, but then they are struck with DEATH. Which no one can comprehend fully or understand or wants to acknowledge or think about. Except for me (or so it seems), and I am tired of not having anyone to talk to about this! So again, if you think like this too, I will be so glad to talk with you. Message me!

My sifu once told me I was the center of the universe. he told that to each of his students. why don't you think you're the center of the universe and live life from there? being the center requires awesome responsibility and you know you can handle that, right? once you know that then you'll find Jesus at the core of your center

 

[Radagast]

I'm 19 and in my second year of uni!

And, I take it, you're in the Commonwealth, not the USA.

 

[Violet Edge]

And, I take it, you're in the Commonwealth, not the USA.

haha! I keep forgetting, I mean "college". It just sounds so weird to me

 

[Tom 1]

Welcome to CF!



Well, Ecclesiastes concludes this way:

Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgement,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.



Sure, lots of people are.

Amazing photo. Do you know where that was taken from? Is it a composite or just shot as is, if you know?

Thanks

 

[JacquelineDeane55]

Actually I am a bit of a philosopher myself and I ponder and think about the origins of mankind all the time.

Things like, why are we here? Where did we come from? What is the purpose of life?

I know that the Bible says that GOD is the cause and reason for existence in this world. It provides an explanation as to where life came from and where we are going. It answers a lot of the questions I have had.

I believe that there is an afterlife. I think that when we die we become ghosts and live eternally somewhere else rather than the earth. The earth is only the physical plane of existence, only one plane of existence -- your spirit however, lives in a totally different plane of existence after you die. Like another dimension or something.

I have heard people say, "You only get one life."

I do not believe that is true. I think that statement is an uneducated one at best.

I believe that people get two lives, not one. We get this first earthly existence, and then after we die we get an eternal existence, since the soul is eternal and indestructible. Once you are a ghost you cannot die anymore, unless GOD in his infinite power terminates your soul.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

True but even the purpose is meaningless at the end of the day.

For most all the world population, yes....

Find out in the New Testament who became "ONE" with Jesus and the Father.

Eternal Life changes everything.

 

[ElizaR123]

.

 

[ElizaR123]

Actually I am a bit of a philosopher myself and I ponder and think about the origins of mankind all the time.

Things like, why are we here? Where did we come from? What is the purpose of life?

I know that the Bible says that GOD is the cause and reason for existence in this world. It provides an explanation as to where life came from and where we are going. It answers a lot of the questions I have had.

I believe that there is an afterlife. I think that when we die we become ghosts and live eternally somewhere else rather than the earth. The earth is only the physical plane of existence, only one plane of existence -- your spirit however, lives in a totally different plane of existence after you die. Like another dimension or something.

I have heard people say, "You only get one life."

I do not believe that is true. I think that statement is an uneducated one at best.

I believe that people get two lives, not one. We get this first earthly existence, and then after we die we get an eternal existence, since the soul is eternal and indestructible. Once you are a ghost you cannot die anymore, unless GOD in his infinite power terminates your soul.

Niiice. Yup, exactly. Although, I think our second/eternal existence contains a different kind of free will unlike the one we have on earth. Our free will here is more self based, and I think in heaven it's all God based. There, we will do only because of God, if that makes sense. Here, we do because of ourselves. And I can imagine our eternal existence is almost like a dream. A dream feels real, the senses and everything feel real, and everything just is. In a dream we don't question how we teleported somewhere, how we saw something, how something transformed into something else, why a word was spoken without context. I don't think we question anything anymore once we're there, I think we just know. It will be our reality, and it will just be.