Does anyone else think like me?

ElizaR123

Active Member
Nov 28, 2017
30
14
25
Colorado
✟17,118.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
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

Oh yay! Glad to hear someone else is in the same place! Lol I can't seem to figure out how inbox or anything works on here. Hi :D
 
Upvote 0

ElizaR123

Active Member
Nov 28, 2017
30
14
25
Colorado
✟17,118.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
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

That's an interesting statement..I'll have to give it some thought. :)
 
Upvote 0

ElizaR123

Active Member
Nov 28, 2017
30
14
25
Colorado
✟17,118.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Welcome to CF! :wave:



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.

15307439368_9a73f1a341_b.jpg

Outer space is insane, isn't it?
 
Upvote 0

disciple1

Newbie
Aug 1, 2012
2,168
546
✟61,978.00
Country
United States
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
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. :D 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!
Knowledge of the bible you can take with you, Jesus said heaven and earth will pass away but his words will never pass away.

Matthew chapter 4 verse 4
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
Romans chapter 1 verse 28
Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

John chapter 8 verse 31,32
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, " If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
2 John
9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.
Job chapter 23 verse 12
I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

Matthew 11
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Luke chapter 21
33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Romans chapter 10
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
Mark chapter 13
31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
James chapter 1
25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
James chapter 4
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Isaiah chapter 45 verse 19
I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob's descendants, 'Seek me in vain.' I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right.
Jeremiah chapter 9
24 but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,”
declares the Lord.
Jeremiah chapter 5 verse 1
5 “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem,
look around and consider,
search through her squares.
If you can find but one person
who deals honestly and seeks the truth,
I will forgive this city.
Psalm 119 verse 114
You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.
 
Upvote 0

ElizaR123

Active Member
Nov 28, 2017
30
14
25
Colorado
✟17,118.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
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.

Thanks for the reply, I hear what you're saying. Ultimately God gives us a purpose and a reason here and God is our purpose and meaning here on earth, that's true. And I agree about Ecclesiastes too. I guess I'm just more baffled by knowing the fact that everything else on the earth is meaningless. Like, even with everything I know about God being our meaning, I still just can't comprehend and get over the fact that people die, and that this life isn't forever, and just, everything. How do I even explain it, I can't. I also can't believe that others don't know this, that most people just go through life ignoring these facts. Another purpose we have on the earth is to spread the gospel in hopes of others getting saved, so that they can have their eyes opened to these facts and enjoy eternal life with God.
 
Upvote 0

ElizaR123

Active Member
Nov 28, 2017
30
14
25
Colorado
✟17,118.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
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.

Yes definitely. I love reading the book of Ecclesiastes to put everything into perspective. Sometimes life is too much, and then I am reminded that this life means nothing. (Obviously, not NOTHING nothing, but just, nothing.)
 
Upvote 0

yeshuaslavejeff

simple truth, martyr, disciple of Yahshua
Jan 6, 2005
39,944
11,098
okie
✟214,996.00
Faith
Anabaptist
Yes definitely. I love reading the book of Ecclesiastes to put everything into perspective. Sometimes life is too much, and then I am reminded that this life means nothing. (Obviously, not NOTHING nothing, but just, nothing.)
Amen and HalleluYAH ! :)

As it is written, and remains written, unchanged: we are dead to the world, and the world is dead to us. The world has no more power over us, and no attraction to keep us from dwelling with Yeshua in Yahweh's Kingdom now, today, on earth.
 
Upvote 0

ElizaR123

Active Member
Nov 28, 2017
30
14
25
Colorado
✟17,118.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
Amen and HalleluYAH ! :)

As it is written, and remains written, unchanged: we are dead to the world, and the world is dead to us. The world has no more power over us, and no attraction to keep us from dwelling with Yeshua in Yahweh's Kingdom now, today, on earth.

Yes! :D
 
Upvote 0

Tom 1

Optimistic sceptic
Supporter
Nov 13, 2017
12,212
12,526
Tarnaveni
✟818,769.00
Country
Romania
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Thanks for the reply, I hear what you're saying. Ultimately God gives us a purpose and a reason here and God is our purpose and meaning here on earth, that's true. And I agree about Ecclesiastes too. I guess I'm just more baffled by knowing the fact that everything else on the earth is meaningless. Like, even with everything I know about God being our meaning, I still just can't comprehend and get over the fact that people die, and that this life isn't forever, and just, everything. How do I even explain it, I can't. I also can't believe that others don't know this, that most people just go through life ignoring these facts. Another purpose we have on the earth is to spread the gospel in hopes of others getting saved, so that they can have their eyes opened to these facts and enjoy eternal life with God.

I suppose there’s the big question, what’s the ultimate meaning of it all, and the smaller but maybe more immediate question of finding meaning in everyday life. I suppose that can mean a lot of things, love for family and friends, pets, stuff that you love doing, achievement, meaningful service. All those things have meaning, it seems that God created us in part to see us enjoy all of the good things he made for us. But, yes it’s hard. I mean as I think you’re saying there’s a lot about life that can be in your face brutal, nasty, seemingly pointless, or just empty. Haha I don’t really know what to say about that, it’s real and I think part of life is to find a way to accept that - and in accepting that there’s also a responsibility to carve out your own meaning, i.e who you will be as a child of God in a difficult and fairly random world. It’s tough, that’s for sure ;-)
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Open Heart

Well-Known Member
Aug 3, 2014
18,521
4,393
62
Southern California
✟49,214.00
Country
United States
Faith
Seeker
Marital Status
Celibate
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. :D 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!
Hello, my friend. :) Let me introduce myself. I am a Christian Existentialist whose favorite book of the Bible is Ecclesiastes. When I was your age, I was absolutely overwrought with anxiety and depression with the meaninglessness of my existence. I am naturally a very introspective, philosophical person, so I think deeply about this stuff. I am also bipolar, and back in those days it wasn't controlled, so my depressions were bad ones. I read a lot of Dostoevsky, Sartre, Camus, Kierkegaard... But Ecclesiastes was my favorite.

If you are anything like me, I know that nothing I or anyone else says to you right now is going to be a final word for you. It's going to be a long journey for you to sort this stuff out. Know that that's okay.

Here is how it resolved for me.

Because all things come from God, they have intrinsic value. If God didn't exist, then there would be no meaning. But our Creator fills the universe with himself, his meaning, his essence and purpose.

You cannot know this from philosophy and reason. Philosophy and reason are great things -- they are God given and wondrous. I think that people should be as rational as possible. But reason will only take you so far until you hit a wall. This is the wall that all existentialists hit, including the author of Ecclesiastes.

Ah, but what of Christian Existentialists? Kierkegaard got to that wall, using all his logical resources, and then let go and walked through it in faith.

You are very, very young still. There is a lot you have yet to experience. I don't know what kind of personality you have, whether you are sensory or intuitive, grounded or mystic....

I have these moments where I experience the entire universe as joy. Where ever leaf on the trees, every blade of grass just figuratively sings. It's as if, if I could use CS Lewis' metaphor, the entire universe were a Great Dance. It reminds me of the Psalmist's words, "The heavens declare the glory of God." If you've ever had such an experience, then you have to conclude one of two things: either you are a nutcase, or life has meaning.

But this meaning of life just isn't the things that people go looking for. There are false lures that are addictive in nature that promise fulfillment and don't deliver. They suck you in and suck you dry, because you can never get enough to satisfy that animal desire for pleasure. They are LIES when they are confused with happiness:
  • wealth/material things
  • power/influence/status
  • sex
  • food
  • alcohol and drugs

There are a lot of different elements to what we call happiness. Let me just whip a few out off the top of my head, and speak from 56 years of going from a very depressed person to a person of great happiness.

CONTENTMENT:
A lot of what we call happiness is simply contentment, feeling like we had a good day, a good week, a good year. You don't plan it, you can't examine it while it's happening. What you do is LIVE IN THE MOMENT. Then, when you look back, you feel happy about things. In fact, even if things were rough, you still feel good because you got through it, you handled it, it passed, tomorrow is another day.

INNER PEACE:
There is nothing like a clear conscience to make a person feel happy. You definitely sleep better at night. This was the conclusion of the author of Ecclesiastes, who wrestled with what was important: "When all is said and done, this one thing remains: Love God and OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS, for this is the whole of man."

MEANING:
In short, we make ourselves happier by bringing happiness to others. It is better to give than to receive. It amazes me how people will throw away their lives trying to make more money when they are already unhappy making $300,000 a year, when those same two hours of overtime could be spent at a soup kitchen and bring true feelings of richness.

FOCUS:
We loose our happiness because we become seduced by things that don't bring it to us. How do we keep our focus on what is important? Let me tell you a story that has helped me through my life:

There was once a young chinese woman who owned a restaurant with her husband. Every day early in the morning she would come in to begin work, and one of the things she would do was make the fortune cookies. She would start by pulling out her mat and praying, and receiving the fortunes, seeing the faces of the people they were meant for. Then she would get up and write them down one by one.

One day, a good friend of hers, a young man who had grown up in the town, came into the restaurant. At the end of his meal, she delivered his fortune cookie to him. She watched from afar as he opened and read it. He considered it for some time. He glanced around and didn't seem to catch her watching him. Then he tore off the smallest piece of the fortune and ate it. The woman smiled, for she knew that he understood that for a fortune to come true, the receiver had to nourish it. His fortune had been, "You will die a happy man."

Receiving the fortune changed the man. It made him think, "What if today were my last day?" He would spend more time with his children and wife, and act more patiently with others. He was kinder and more generous to his co-workers and made more friends. Sometimes he would break off another piece of the fortune, which he always kept in his shirt pocket.

Life went by, and the woman grew very old. One day she received new that her friend had passed away, and her family was invited to the funeral. As prayers were said and incense was lit, she thought back over his life and hers. Afterwards she spoke with many of their mutual friends. They enjoyed sharing different stories, surprising one another. But the one thing they all agreed upon -- he had died a happy man.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tom 1
Upvote 0

dhh712

Mrs. Calvinist Dark Lord
Jul 16, 2013
778
283
Gettysburg
✟34,997.00
Country
United States
Faith
Presbyterian
Marital Status
Married
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. :D 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!


Everything matters here a lot on earth because we are living for the glory of the Lord! Everything we do matters. The only people for whom life really is meaningless (at least according to their own mindset, what it practically works out to) are those who do not believe. That is the mind-blowing part of it. They make up something to live for, but the reality is that there is absolutely no purpose to life outside of God.

I found that to be very astounding when I first realized it as a believer. No matter what "meaning" the believer comes up with it is in fact purposeless because with death you cease to exist (according to them). So that takes away all made-up meanings of life. Say it is for happiness--that is the meaning of life to the unbeliever. Then, according to that mindset, all those who live in miserable conditions, destitute or deprived of health, should all die. They should be executed because their life is pointless.

To live for posterity. That falls flat on it's face. There's an *end* in death, posterity doesn't make life somehow extend forever. And eventually, the family line may end when the children don't have children of their own. Then you've got a meaningless life again. Even if you look at "posterity" in the larger sense, that's not giving much meaning to the meaning of life then. So, the meaning of life is... life. Okay, that's like saying, "What's the point of this circular hair tie?" "Oh, it's a circular hair tie!" Okay... Thanks for the great amount of information there!

So you have all these unbelievers running around living for... nothing really. It's crazy. Whatever thing they've made up that makes them feel like it's worth it to go on. Most people who live in modern civilizations are okay with this because many have comfortable lives. That's why you see religion so much more in poorer countries because these people are able to see how awful and really difficult life can be (well, ultimately it's because the Lord sovereignly works in their hearts to give them the gift of faith). A wealthy society is often spiritual poor. The pleasures of the world which the Lord bestows upon people makes them invent up meanings out of the life outside of God.

A verse in 2 Thess states that he gave them up to strong delusions because they loved not the truth. This is what is going on here.

Once society regresses again from it's golden age and people see again how hard life is, they'll realize that there is no meaning to it outside of God. More of them will at least.
 
Upvote 0

Devin P

Well-Known Member
Apr 16, 2017
1,280
631
31
Michigan
✟99,110.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
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. :D 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!
Well, it's not that everything is pointless, what Solomon meant was that finding happiness outside of God with all of those things was pointless. Ecclesiastes was written after Solomon spent his life worshipping other gods and other similar things. So him saying that all things are pointless, it's really just the fact that without God, what's the point. We can't take any of it with us, so who cares?
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Tom 1

Optimistic sceptic
Supporter
Nov 13, 2017
12,212
12,526
Tarnaveni
✟818,769.00
Country
Romania
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Hello, my friend. :) Let me introduce myself. I am a Christian Existentialist whose favorite book of the Bible is Ecclesiastes. When I was your age, I was absolutely overwrought with anxiety and depression with the meaninglessness of my existence. I am naturally a very introspective, philosophical person, so I think deeply about this stuff. I am also bipolar, and back in those days it wasn't controlled, so my depressions were bad ones. I read a lot of Dostoevsky, Sartre, Camus, Kierkegaard... But Ecclesiastes was my favorite.

If you are anything like me, I know that nothing I or anyone else says to you right now is going to be a final word for you. It's going to be a long journey for you to sort this stuff out. Know that that's okay.

Here is how it resolved for me.

Because all things come from God, they have intrinsic value. If God didn't exist, then there would be no meaning. But our Creator fills the universe with himself, his meaning, his essence and purpose.

You cannot know this from philosophy and reason. Philosophy and reason are great things -- they are God given and wondrous. I think that people should be as rational as possible. But reason will only take you so far until you hit a wall. This is the wall that all existentialists hit, including the author of Ecclesiastes.

Ah, but what of Christian Existentialists? Kierkegaard got to that wall, using all his logical resources, and then let go and walked through it in faith.

You are very, very young still. There is a lot you have yet to experience. I don't know what kind of personality you have, whether you are sensory or intuitive, grounded or mystic....

I have these moments where I experience the entire universe as joy. Where ever leaf on the trees, every blade of grass just figuratively sings. It's as if, if I could use CS Lewis' metaphor, the entire universe were a Great Dance. It reminds me of the Psalmist's words, "The heavens declare the glory of God." If you've ever had such an experience, then you have to conclude one of two things: either you are a nutcase, or life has meaning.

But this meaning of life just isn't the things that people go looking for. There are false lures that are addictive in nature that promise fulfillment and don't deliver. They suck you in and suck you dry, because you can never get enough to satisfy that animal desire for pleasure. They are LIES when they are confused with happiness:
  • wealth/material things
  • power/influence/status
  • sex
  • food
  • alcohol and drugs

There are a lot of different elements to what we call happiness. Let me just whip a few out off the top of my head, and speak from 56 years of going from a very depressed person to a person of great happiness.

CONTENTMENT:
A lot of what we call happiness is simply contentment, feeling like we had a good day, a good week, a good year. You don't plan it, you can't examine it while it's happening. What you do is LIVE IN THE MOMENT. Then, when you look back, you feel happy about things. In fact, even if things were rough, you still feel good because you got through it, you handled it, it passed, tomorrow is another day.

INNER PEACE:
There is nothing like a clear conscience to make a person feel happy. You definitely sleep better at night. This was the conclusion of the author of Ecclesiastes, who wrestled with what was important: "When all is said and done, this one thing remains: Love God and OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS, for this is the whole of man."

MEANING:
In short, we make ourselves happier by bringing happiness to others. It is better to give than to receive. It amazes me how people will throw away their lives trying to make more money when they are already unhappy making $300,000 a year, when those same two hours of overtime could be spent at a soup kitchen and bring true feelings of richness.

FOCUS:
We loose our happiness because we become seduced by things that don't bring it to us. How do we keep our focus on what is important? Let me tell you a story that has helped me through my life:

There was once a young chinese woman who owned a restaurant with her husband. Every day early in the morning she would come in to begin work, and one of the things she would do was make the fortune cookies. She would start by pulling out her mat and praying, and receiving the fortunes, seeing the faces of the people they were meant for. Then she would get up and write them down one by one.

One day, a good friend of hers, a young man who had grown up in the town, came into the restaurant. At the end of his meal, she delivered his fortune cookie to him. She watched from afar as he opened and read it. He considered it for some time. He glanced around and didn't seem to catch her watching him. Then he tore off the smallest piece of the fortune and ate it. The woman smiled, for she knew that he understood that for a fortune to come true, the receiver had to nourish it. His fortune had been, "You will die a happy man."

Receiving the fortune changed the man. It made him think, "What if today were my last day?" He would spend more time with his children and wife, and act more patiently with others. He was kinder and more generous to his co-workers and made more friends. Sometimes he would break off another piece of the fortune, which he always kept in his shirt pocket.

Life went by, and the woman grew very old. One day she received new that her friend had passed away, and her family was invited to the funeral. As prayers were said and incense was lit, she thought back over his life and hers. Afterwards she spoke with many of their mutual friends. They enjoyed sharing different stories, surprising one another. But the one thing they all agreed upon -- he had died a happy man.

Really enjoyed reading this, great points
 
Upvote 0

faroukfarouk

Fading curmudgeon
Apr 29, 2009
35,902
17,177
Canada
✟279,058.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Married
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.

"Only one life
'Twill soon be past.
Only what's done
For Christ will last."
 
Upvote 0

Tayla

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Sep 30, 2017
1,694
801
USA
✟147,315.00
Country
United States
Faith
Atheist
Marital Status
Private
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.
Solomon was not a Godly man. His conclusions about life are idiotic. We are to strive to find fulfillment and meaning and purpose in living, and have hope in the final glorious eternal utopian existence in the new heavens and new earth.

That said, psychological factors such as depression, and environmental and social factors such as poverty, war, exploitation, and etc all work against to make this difficult or impossible.
 
Upvote 0

Almost there

Well-Known Member
Oct 24, 2017
3,571
1,152
60
Kentucky
✟44,542.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
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. :D 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!
When talking with people flirting with Christianity, I always tell them to read Ecclesiastes and then John.

And yes, this life is utterly meaningless without God. It's a point I try to make to staunch atheists all the time. And here is a secret: As you get older and face your end, it becomes more and more relevant. I say that as a 64 year old who no longer gets into new restaurants, new cars, or pretty much any of the stuff that used to get me all excited. I see this life as one of those first person video games, or The Matrix, it is not really real in the way we think of reality, and my spirit has merely been injected into a human biological machine for a few decades. That machine well come to an end, but I won't.

To be clear, I won't because I'm saved. The lost DO come to an end. The bible calls it the second death. Which gets to the core of Christianity. Those that choose to be in eternity with their creator will be. Those that don't, won't. Their "soul" will die. I see the soul as the software (mind) that runs on the hardware we call a brain.
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

yeshuaslavejeff

simple truth, martyr, disciple of Yahshua
Jan 6, 2005
39,944
11,098
okie
✟214,996.00
Faith
Anabaptist
Really enjoyed reading this, great points
Test everything.
Remember in Christ we are to be looking to the Father in heaven, depending on Him and relying on Him for all things, including healing us inside and out. Not introspective (which is a very, very dangerous thing to focus on or practice).
Sorry, but so much on the internet is likewise , and it's a lot like quicksand all around us, quicksand that looks just like solid ground, in the dark....
Seek bedrock (God's Word) upon which to think and to stand in Christ.
 
Upvote 0