Life’s Ultimate Questions
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. — Romans 3:23
Does God exist? Is truth knowable? What is the purpose of life? These are some of life’s ultimate questions. Are there answers? And how well do your answers conform to reality? When you compare the worldviews and religions around the globe, Christianity offers the most reasonable answers to the big questions of life and ultimate reality. Let’s take a look at two biggies.
What is the problem, our dilemma?
Materialism is a worldview whose proponents believe that matter and energy are all that ever was, is, or will be. Although one major expression of materialism is atheism (the belief that God does not exist), matter and energy are in a real sense the atheist’s god. This worldview claims that humans are essentially good. Of course, there is no standard by which this worldview can make any claim of what is good, evil, right, or wrong. And it certainly doesn’t answer why man is capable of doing evil, which is undeniably part of the human experience.
The Eastern religion of transcendentalism claims that evil is an illusion; it’s not real. In transcendentalism, we all just need to get in touch with the Universal Spirit — that is, we need to be one with the nothingness.
The worldview of postmodernism says that there is no such thing as truth. Truth is relative, something you get to decide for yourself. Think about this for a minute. It’s immediately self-defeating. If there is no such thing as ultimate truth, then postmodern thinkers cannot claim that anything they believe is true, by their own definition.
Thank goodness for Christianity, which has an answer to the important question of man’s dilemma. The problem with the world today is mankind’s sin nature. At first blush, this may sound depressing to some people. One key to understanding Christianity is to take note that there is one true, just, almighty, righteous, and holy God. Eternal life is to be in His presence. And our sinful nature separates us from God and makes us His enemies.
It’s impossible to deny that evil exists and that man is capable of perpetrating horrible deeds. The problem, our dilemma, is sin.
What is the remedy for sin?
Materialism, transcendentalism, and postmodernism offer no redemption, no salvation, no solution to mankind’s sin problem. Materialism denies there is a problem. And New Age thinking (an expression of transcendentalism) claims that man is perfect just the way we are. Postmodernism allows individuals to decide if there is a problem or not. For them, truth doesn’t exist or is at least relative and up to one’s own choosing. Yet, it should be evident to any casual observer that evil exists and humans are the ones who carry it out. None of these worldviews offer any solution to the obvious problem.
Life’s Ultimate Questions Answered
Christianity offers an amazing answer. We need to be righteous. And God provided a way for us to be reconciled to our Creator. Salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone. His blood shed on the cross of Calvary covers the sins of those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. Believers are declared righteous, not because we are but because when God looks upon believers He sees the blood of Jesus, who was a perfect sacrifice, covering the sins of the world.
Christianity provides redemption, reconciliation, renewal, and a regenerated heart. All this allows for a full and complete restoration.
Dear Father in Heaven,
As a human, I have a real problem: my sinful nature. But thanks be to Jesus for taking my sin upon the cross and dying in my place as the perfect sacrifice. His blood covers my sin, making me white as snow. And now I can stand before You blameless and confident that I can live forever in Your presence.
In Jesus’s name. Amen.
Walking by faith and enjoying the homeschooling adventure of a lifetime!
Davis Carman
Davis is the president of Apologia Educational Ministries, the #1 publisher of Creation-based science and Bible curriculum. He is the author of five illustrated children’s books designed to help parents instill a biblical worldview in the hearts and minds of their preschoolers. He believes that if there was ever a time to homeschool, it is now! You can hear more of what he has to say at the Let’s Talk Homeschool Podcast.
© 2022 Davis Carman