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Originally Posted by
Muser
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I'm old enough for welfare and S.S., so I've been around long enough to have accumulated many life experiences and have studied religious topics of various subjects enough that I may have some thoughts worth contemplating.
Hello Muser,
Welcome to the Forum.
Yes, ...with age comes wisdom, doesn't it.
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The Op asked why are we here? That age old question of "What is life all about"?
My answer is a basic, simple one.
Looking at the Ten Commandments in Exodus, chapter 20 we can readily see a focus that exists.
In fact all of the Old Testament Law that continues through the next several Old Testament books continue with the same focus.
This focus is about personal relationships and interactions between a person and God; and a person and their relationships with other people.
Well, that sounds good but the "interaction" part suggests that there is communication, of some sort, between the person and God.
While I have "felt" God's presence in me there is no definitive statement made to me. Prayer is a one way street also.
I am currently re-reading the Bible again and I am in Genesis at this point.
Lots of interaction between God and people back then. Even "appearances" of God to some back then.
Since Jesus, there's not much going on these days.
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So, the purpose to life as understood from the Holy Bible is to live in such a way that we enjoy the life we've been given as much as possible in good relationship with God, and everyone around us.
As we do this we automatically cause a result of honoring and a glory to God because it shows His plan to have been worthy and perfect.
I know this sounds terrible but I do not think His plan is so perfect.
Too many instances where people are suffering because of health, money issues, etc.
Man's inhumanity to man, stuff like that are things that would make it hard to "enjoy the life we've been given".
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In the meantime we, if we respond correctly in life, get to learn how to live well as responsible free agents, with free will, and without constantly messing up; preparing us for an eternity of peaceful life in God's New Kingdom. (Rev. 21 & 22)
In this aspect I refer to this life as being "boot camp" for eternity for each of us.
Yep, if only we wouldn't mess up. A constant battle trying to avoid the pitfalls of life. <sigh>
"Be ye perfect" seems to be an impossible feat.
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Having related this, there is a wrinkle.
No matter how well we live according to God's plan for us, wretched hardship and disaster can at any time occur in our lives, and those we love; and it can be brought by other humans.
Responding well, correctly in these times is how we learn the hard lessons of controlling ourselves as free moral agents.
Learning to live keeping the "Big Picture" in mind is a process and takes time. Early in life I learned to keep in mind this Big Picture in this way- using the idea that we will be alive somewhere 10,000 years from now, how important is what's happening in the moment going to be at that time?
Combining this with trying to maintain a concern for others around us, I've found that it can often put "things" into a correct perspective for me.
Yes, the "Big Picture".
Thanks for your input Muser.