Are you in the nice car when the road ends?

Death could possibly be one of the most talked about subjects, philosophers analyze it, scientists attempt to beat it, and people fear it. It is also perhaps the most mysterious subject; there are so many speculations on why we die and what happens to our souls after death. Nearly every religion has a theory as to where we go when we die. Death is something that every human being takes part in; it does not matter if someone is rich or poor, powerful or weak, smart or moronic, everyone has the same end to their existence.
So what is the meaning of our existence if everyone fades away to dust anyway? Do we have purpose, or just invent it in our minds. The common goal in life is often success, we often measure our time on earth by how successful someone is; whether it is success in the business world, in family life or social circle, or generosity, kindness, peace, beauty, or the general pursuit of happiness. When we say “so and so led a good life” what do we mean? In my opinion life leads us, not vice versa. Does Bill Gates have the most meaningful life or is it President Obama, or how about Michael Jordan? Are the world’s most influential wealthy people happier or more important than me or you? Do they feel more fulfilled than you or I? I believe that they might fear death more than I do; they have more materialistic things to lose. So if it isn’t success that makes a life more significant what is it?
A lot of times in my teenage life I have bashed on Christian rock bands, because they can't rock and their messages are fluffy and occasionally biblically fallible. But Switchfoot put great words into what I am trying to say: It was a beautiful letdown/The day I knew/That all the riches this world had to offer me/would never do/In a world full of bitter pain/And bitter doubts/I was trying so hard to fit in/until I found out/I don't belong here.
Without Jesus we live without purpose, lost, scared, alone, shameful, desperate, confused, and never living a significant live. We must remember the life is just a blip on the radar screen of eternity. In all honesty we aren’t significant, we are just meaty vessels for God’s work, but lucky for us God cares about the meaty vessels he made. He has a plan for us to save as many other vessels as he allows and then those vessels putting their trust in Him will try to save more meaty vessels, until every vessel has heard that there was a perfect man that died on a tree two thousand years ago to save all the stupid insignificant meat bags, and he happened to be the Lord Jesus Christ.
So who gives a rat’s ___ about money and sex and parties and drugs and cars and yachts and houses? All of it will not stand the test of time, it will all fade away; it’s all a letdown.
It is going to be hard, and it’s going to feel like a long time but in the end we will have a life of meaning.
“When it is over… I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.”
-From When Death Comes by Mary Oliver

Justin Humble