Skip to content There are many reasons to believe in God. The explanation that each skeptic needs to hear will differ from person to person. Some need to explore God’s existence through the lens of science or through the rigors of the scientific method, while others may feel the need to investigate all other religions before accepting God. Some may require a personal encounter with God the Father, while others just need to meet Christians who are not fanatical. In this article, I will explore why you should believe in God when considering the purpose of life. So, why should I believe in God? Because He gives life meaning.
What life is like without God
When we view the world through our own understanding, assuming that God’s existence is either unlikely or impossible, life takes on a different perspective. I am not suggesting that life is less special, gratifying, or moral, but rather that it is distinct from the lives of those who follow the Christian faith. I want to emphasize that people who do not believe in God’s existence can still lead wonderful, fulfilling lives. However, there is a cold, hard truth.
That truth is that life has no inherent meaning. Some may try to make sense of the universe and romantically see life as what we make of it, believing that meaning exists if we create it. However, if in the beginning God did not create us, we are as alive as inanimate objects. The same lifeless, purposeless, random processes that formed the rocks we kick around are the same processes that formed us.
Therefore life without God is materialistic. Not in the consurmeristic way but in the “all that is there is matter” kind of way. This causes those that do not believe that God exists to focus on what is in front of us, what is tangible and “real” in the physical sense. And why shouldn’t a nonbeliever care about all that is in front of us, if that’s all that’s there.
A Nagging Feeling
But there is a problem. Human beings, whether you believe it or not, are creatures that require meaning. We are not lifeless or inanimate; we naturally understand the world through its significance to other humans and thus create meaning behind everything that exists. An atheistic worldview, while it may offer subjective meaning, must admit that, in the eyes of the universe, there is none. There are people who have spent their whole lives in pursuits of the heart, only to question the point of it all in the end. Even noble endeavors aimed at the good of humanity ultimately become futile quests when the earth will one day cease to exist.
There is a nagging feeling in the corner of your mind whispering to you that all pursuits are just a chasing after the wind, fleeting and meaningless. This is the reality many face. But there is hope. People are waking up to the absurdity of assigning meaning to a meaningless universe. Or ethics to an amoral existence. The inconsistency is becoming glaringly obvious that the idea of that God exists is being more palatable. (article regarding growth in belief amoungst the Gen Z (Why Generation Z is returning to God)
Why God Gives us Meaning
There is a Purpose
If God exists then that would mean that god created the universe. Which would also mean that he created you. That then would mean that you have a reason for existing and that the earth has a reason for being here as well.
This concept alone wipes away any doubt of a nihilistic existence. If there is a God then there is a point, there is meaning. Your own experience in life has an explanation. So what you do on this earth matters. Are you fulfilling the purpose of your creation? Are you in line with God’s plan for the universe in the sphere of influence you carry? These are questions that you can begin to ponder only if the premise of the existence of God is true.
Eternal life
In addition, if God exists, it is reasonable to believe that eternal life is a possibility. This means that what you do matters, not just for your lifetime but for eternity. If life goes on forever, there is eternal significance. So, what you do does matter.
Objective Morality
If you adopt an atheistic worldview, not only is there no objective meaning to you or the universe, but there is also no such thing as good or evil in the objective sense. (By objective, I mean that these concepts are true regardless of human perception or even in the absence of humans—good remains good and evil remains evil, irrespective of human labeling.) Without objective meaning, we can only assert that morality is a social construct that aids our survival as a species. But is there truly “good for goodness’ sake,” independent of its evolutionary benefits? The answer is no. Evil is not inherently evil; it is merely detrimental because it does not benefit us as a species, at best. An honest atheist who maintains consistency with this line of thought would have to acknowledge that the atrocities of Nazi Germany are not objectively evil, because evil does not objectively exist.
What Kind of Meaning does God give us
Of course, this depends on the kind of God you believe in, but from the perspective of a person who believes in Jesus, the meaning of life is clear. Jesus Christ, the centerpiece of the Christian faith, sacrificed his own life for our sake. He died so that we may live and be reconciled with God, thereby bringing heaven on earth. As Christians, we follow this purpose.
What that exactly looks like varies for each Christian. However, the goal should remain the same: to participate in the reconciliation of people to God, to one another, and to the earth. We achieve this not through power or force, but through love and grace, by serving others. Just as Christ died for this purpose—metaphorically most of the time, thankfully—we too are called to sacrifice.
Again, this can take many different forms. It could involve feeding the poor and hungry, showing love to the unlovable, offering forgiveness to the unforgivable, or demonstrating that God is a God of love.
Conclusion
It is because of God that life has any meaning at all. If you struggle with feelings of emptiness, consider the possibility that God created you, created the universe, and has provided the meaning you seek.
