"The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose"
Rick Warren (author of "The Purpose Driven Life" book (
What is the purpose of life? Do you think that life is a game? Have you ever asked yourself or other people what is the purpose of life? And what was the answer?
The answer of the question can't be concluded through observation or analytical reasoning but simply they will tell you what is "commonly presumed" by others, i.e., what my father said purpose of life is, what the minister of my church said the purpose of life is, what my teacher in school said, what my friend said, etc..,
If I ask anyone why we eat, everyone will say that it is for nutritional purposes, because nutrition sustains life. If I ask anyone why we sleep, why we wash, why we dress, etc., there will be appropriate answers. We can follow this line of questioning and receive the same or similar answers from anyone in any language from any place in the world. Think about it.
Is our purpose in this world simply to eat, sleep, dress, work, acquire some material things and enjoy ourselves? Is this our purpose? Why are we born? What is the object of our existence? What is the wisdom behind the creation of man and this tremendous universe? Think about those questions.
Human makes a game like universe
Think if you will make a universe like our universe what will it have?
§ Like our universe, it has Creatures and Laws.
§ Lend insight to relationship between The Creator and creatures.
§ But suppose you want to communicate with your creatures, could you enter their world? And turn yourself to be a square in the game?
The Answer is: NO, since you cannot enter their universe and speak to your creatures, then you need an intermediary. i.e. A man that cannot be God. That is why communication between the Almighty God (the Creator) and His creatures was via an Intermediary, the Messengers, like {…, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohamed}, the Closest we can get to God but they are not God.
Evidence from Religions:
Judaism:
Moses was an intermediary that delivered God’s message to humankind: “Remember ye the law of Moses My servant, which I [God] commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances.” Prophets
Christianity:
Christ was an intermediary who carried actions of God on earth:
“I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.” John 8:28 (King James Version)
1Timothy 2:5: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus"
Islam:
Messenger Mohammed was an intermediary that delivered the message of God to mankind: “Muhammad is but a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) have passed away before him.”
[Qur'an-Surah: 3, Verse: 144]
§ If you were to speak to your creatures, which language you would use: English? Their language? And the level of communication would be according to your capacity, or their capacity?
§ Creatures need a proof. Nonetheless, miracles could be easy for creator.
"Have they not then observed the sky above them, how We have constructed it and beautified it, and how there are no rifts therein?. And the earth have We spread out, and have flung firm hills therein, and have caused of every lovely kind to grow thereon. To be observed and commemorated by every devotee turning to God. And We send down from the sky blessed water whereby We give growth unto gardens and the grain of crops. And tall (and stately) palm-trees, with shoots of fruit-stalks, piled one over another. Provision (made) for men; and therewith We quicken a dead land. Even so will be the resurrection of the dead." [Qur'an – Surah: 50, Verse: 6-11]
§ If creator performed miracles on demand forced to acknowledge him, lose autonomy to recognize (or reject) creator, suppose instantaneous {punishment, correction, guidance} for ‘wrong’ acts.
§ The Creator is all powerful. All Powerful is not equal Able to do anything. i.e. God cannot be but God.
§ How can you develop a relationship with an “unknown God”?
· Reading Sacred Scriptures (messages sent by creator).
"Read, in the name of your Lord, who created, Created human from a clot that clings. Read, for your Lord is the Most Bountiful, who taught the use of the pen, taught human what he did not know." [Qur'an - Surah: 96, Verse: 1-5]
· Meditation On spiritual teachings and the all around universe (to understand messages from Creator)
"We will show them our signs in the farthest reaches and within themselves until it is clear to them that it is the truth."
[Qur'an – Surah: 41, Verse:53]
· Striving every day to bring behavior more into accordance with high standards. The aims of the Qur'an are to provide a barrier against the appetites of man thus encouraging him to engage in higher pursuits, giving satisfaction to his higher aspirations and directing him towards the achievements of human perfection.”
(Bediuzzaman Said Nursi Islamic thinker from Turkey of Kurdish origin and the author of the Risale-i Nur Collection)
· Selfless service to humanity in carrying on of God trade.
"And if my worships call on Me, surely I am near. I heed the call of every caller. So let them with a call unto Me and let them believe in Me, in order that they may be guided aright. "
[Qur'an – Surah: 2, Verse: 186]
"Excepting the one who repents and believes and does righteous deeds- then for those, God will change their evil deeds into good deeds, for God is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful".
[Qur'an – Surah: 25, Verse: 70]
Life isn't a Game, Life is a Test and Struggle
"And We did not create the heaven and the earth and whatever is between them as a game. If we wished to take a pastime, We would have taken it by Ourselves, if We were to do that at all"
[Qur'an – Surah: 21, Verse: 16-17]
"Do you think that We created you for nothing and that you will not be returned to Us? The true Sovereign is too exalted above that".
[Qur'an – Surah: 23, Verse: 115-116]
"Assuredly we will try you with something of danger and hunger and loss of some worldly goods, and of lives and the fruits of your labor. But give glad tidings to those who are patient in adversity. Those who, when calamity befalls them, say, “Truly, to God we belong and, truly, to Him we shall return.” [Qur'an – Surah: 2, Verse: 155-156]
The Purpose of Life
If someone gives you one Thousand dollars for no reason, just for being here, you would at least say: "thank you". What about your eyes, your kidneys, your brain, and your life: Who gave you all that? Is He not worthy of praise and thanks? Is He not worthy of your worship and recognition?
Allah says to us in the Holy Qur'an: "And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me." [Surah: 51, Verse: 56] .
There are two purposes of life to become a true human being:
1. Recognize the True Creator, and offer God thanks and worship.
2. Know and experience the Divine Attributes of God in the world, and by experiencing them, to believe in them.
Where am I going?
The purpose of our creation is obvious to reach, our goals of belief, knowledge, and spirituality; to reflect on the universe, humanity, and God, and thus prove our value as human beings. Fulfilling this ideal is possible only through systematic thinking and systematic behavior. Start a "prosperous cycle", generating between the heart's spirituality and the brain's mentality, and thereby develop ever-more complex ideas and produce larger projects.
We must use our willpower and develop our abilities and skills to their furthest extent, to be willful beings. Our duty is to reflect upon our place in life, our responsibilities, and our relationship with this vast universe. We should use our inner thoughts to explore creation's hidden side. As we do so, we will begin to feel a deeper sense of our selves, see things differently, witness that events are not what they seem.
Those who are in search of truth, opening their minds and hearts, will recognize this as a message in truth and sincerity. Open your heart and your mind now and ask the Almighty God of the Universe to guide you to His True Way. And then be ready to accept your true purpose in life.
By Nouran Radwan
Reference
www.mit.edu/~hooman/ComputersAndGod.ppt
http://www.aljazeerah.info
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