The world is full of different ideas and theologies about the meaning of life and how we should live it. God gives us a rock solid foundation in His truths. I found that the truths fall into four categories. These are Moral and Universal Laws, Nature of His Character, Spiritual Truths, and Existential Truths. While all are important, the existential truths-the why’s of our existence-are where the majority of the questions get asked. They are what define how we see ourselves and where we fit in the universe. We are not here by accident. We are/were intentionally created, each carrying the “living signature” of God. By understanding that we are one-of-a-kind reflections of His character, we can find real answers to life’s most difficult questions.
In my search for knowledge, I ask A LOT of questions. I keep following “rabbit holes” until I think I have reached an understanding that you and I can live with. The other day, I was reading and came across the term “Universal Truths”. Because they are “universal”, I assumed they were common across the board; the same for everyone. Being truths meant that they were facts. The definition is that they are forever facts or unchanging, unbreakable rules. Rules that are grounded in God’s divine wisdom and act as a plan for all of humanity. They help make sense of the world around us.
God’s Universal Truths
Moral and Universal Laws:
These are the “principles” God has put in place for how humans should live.
- Law of Reciprocity (The Golden Rule): This states that we should treat others the way we would like to be treated (Matthew 7:12)(NKJV).
- Law of Justice and Accountability: Actions have consequences. Some religions call it “Karma” but we, as Christians, call it Divine Justice. Justice is administered by God in a fair and impartial manner. “…It is mine to avenge; I will repay” (Romans 12:19)(NIV). Everyone is held to the same standard-God’s standard. Regardless of background, status, or wealth; everyone is treated equal.
- Law of Stewardship: This tells us that, as humans, we have the responsibility to care for God’s creation. This includes nature, animals, and our fellow human beings (Genesis 1:28)(NKJV), (James 1:27)(AMP), (Proverbs 3:27)(NKJV).
Basic Truths About God’s Nature:
These are the “attributes” or qualities of God that are considered eternally true. They are the truths that describe what God is:
- Love (1 John 4:8)(NIV)
- Truth (John 14:6)(KJV)
- Eternal (Revelation 1:8)(KJV)
- Unchanging (Malachi 3:6)(NIV)…
Scriptural Truths:
These are God’s truths specifically identified as divine revelations in the Bible. Divine revelations are “secrets” that God revealed to the authors of the Bible. I say “secrets” because divine revelations were not things the authors could have just come up with. They are inspired and given by God. Spiritual truths are the essential laws of the universe that our eyes can’t see, but our soul can feel. They are divine revelations that explain how things like grace, mercy, and forgiveness work. They explain the unseen things, like how giving can lead to receiving or how surrendering can lead to strength.
- Salvation is a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9)(AMP)
- Forgiveness is complete (Psalm 103:12)(NKJV)
- God hears prayer (1 John 5:14-15)(AMP)
Existential Truths for Humanity:
These truths describe the relationship between humans and God. I needed more so I continued digging. I decided I needed to understand “existential” before I could know the truths about it. Existential describes anything to do with the fact that we are alive and how to find the meaning of life. Put in simpler terms, existential is asking the big questions about life. “Why am I here?”, “What is my purpose?”, “How should I live?”. The existential truths answer those questions. They are like a guidebook for life, written by God, that helps us understand those burning questions. Some existential truths are:
- A Divine Purpose: This is the truth that God has a specific plan or role for every person (Jeremiah 29:11)(NKJV). A person’s life is not an accidental happening. Think of an acorn. It doesn’t have to “try” to become an oak tree. It’s “divine purpose” is to become one. We were each “planted” in our specific time and place because there was a “fruit” needed that only we can grow. God has placed us in a time and place for a reason. He needs us to fulfill the calling He has designed for us. If we weren’t there, that specific “fruit” or purpose would be missing from the world. Our mission is simply to accomplish the original intent of our Designer.
- The Internal Connection: This truth tells us that God is not a distant being; He is “within”. This has a couple meanings but the Holy Spirit (The Active Presence) is the most direct. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20(NIV) tells us that our bodies are “…a temple of the Holy Spirit”. This means the Holy Spirit isn’t just watching us from a distance; He’s moved in. Further, we don’t have to go on a long journey to find God. All we have to do is get quiet and look inward. As humans, we have full access to God at all times. We can connect with Him through prayer, meditation, writing, conscience, etc….. He is the “small voice” inside you who constantly whispers that you are “good enough”. He sustains our lives from the inside out. When I say God is “within”, I am saying:
- You are never alone (Hebrews 13:5)(NIV): Because God is within us, “loneliness” is actually a misunderstanding. We might physically be alone, but the internal connection is never broken. We don’t have to shout toward the heavens to be heard. We can speak in a whisper-or even in a thought-and the Father is there.
- You have power (2 Timothy 1:7)(NIV): This “power” isn’t about being famous or controlling others. It is the “spiritual strength” to be exactly who we were made to be. Especially when the world tells us to be different. Because the Holy Spirit lives “within”, we have an everlasting “power supply” that doesn’t depend on our circumstances. When we feel weak, we have the ability to ask for His strength. If we are feeling confused, we can ask for His wisdom.
- You are sacred (1 Corinthians 3:16)(NIV): To be “sacred” means we are far more than just “common” people living “common” lives. We are “set apart” (Jeremiah 1:5)(NIV) masterpieces (Ephesians 2:10)(AMP) and the physical location where God has chosen to live. Because God lives “within”, we are walking, breathing “holy places”. Being “holy ground”, we don’t have to earn or prove our value and worth. It is a built-in part of our custom-made design.
- Custom Made Design (Isaiah 64:8)(NIV): God is complex beyond our comprehension. Think of Him as an infinite diamond. A diamond has thousands of facets (flat, polishes surfaces that have been cut and arranged to reflect light and show beauty). No two facets are the same. God intentionally made everyone different so we could become/show a specific facet or side of God to the world. When people look at our life-our kindness, our mercy, our creativity-they aren’t just seeing “us”. They are seeing a specific “facet or side” of God. We were each created to show/reflect a side of who God is. If He had made everyone the same, His many attributes and characteristics would fail to be seen.
- A Living Signature (2 Corinthians 3:2-3)(NIV): Our lives are a “living signature” written by God on our souls. No two signatures are the same; making us “one-of-a-kind” and “irreplaceable”. We are more than just a face in the crowd; we are living signatures of God. Just like an artist signs their masterpiece to claim it as their own, God has put His “divine mark” on our lives. The “divine mark” proves that we are not a “mass-produced” product, but a hand-signed original work of art. This ensures that wherever we go, we will carry the identity of the One who created us. It’s like when you put your kids names on their coat and lunchbox. Need something more concrete? Think about DNA. Science tells us that out of billions of people in the world no two fingerprints are alike; no two iris patterns are the same. This is physical proof of our “living signature”. God “wrote” our biological code to be distinct; not like anyone else.
- Purposeful Differences (Romans12:4-6)(NIV): Our differences are not mistakes or flaws; they are intentional design elements. God made us all unique, with our own special quirks. Being “unique” means we have a distinct role to play. Look at it this way. What if we were a stained glass window. All the different colors of one beautiful picture. God (the light) is the same shining through all of us. Ahhh, but what do people see as they look at that beautiful picture? It’s the array of different shades of blues, reds, and greens. Our personalities, cultures, even our history act like the “colors” in the glass. When the world looks, they see God in dark and light blues, crimson shades of red, pale yellows and vibrant golds. Meaning they see God’s character through the unique “tint” of your life. That’s why we are all purposefully different. If the glass were all the same color, the world would lack the full spectrum of God’s beauty. Basically, we are not copies. We are made in a precise and intentional way (Psalm 139:13-14)(NIV) so God can “show up” in the world through our unique lives.
- A Piece of a Mirror (2 Corinthians 3:18)(AMP): Again, imagine God as a massive, blinding light. If there was just one giant, flat mirror, it would only reflect that light in one direction. Instead, God created billions of pieces of mirror-us. He created these “purposely different” fragments-not “broken” shards-that are designed to reflect the “light” at different angles. Each piece of the mirror is shaped differently. Some have sharp edges (strength, justice, and truth). Others have rounded edges (mercy, gentleness, and empathy). If you attempted to be like someone else, you would be trying to change the shape of your “mirror piece”. When you do that, you stop reflecting the light at the angle God intended. Fortunately, we aren’t designed to reflect the whole image of God ourselves. We are only responsible for reflecting the specific “angle” of His character that our piece was created for. This takes the pressure off trying to be perfect. Our job is simply to stay “turned toward” the light, aligning ourselves with God’s nature. Ultimately, we are responsible for reflecting the piece of God we were created to reflect in a way no one else can.
This last truth is one that had me thinking about it for days. It brought feelings of joy, awe, wonder, disbelief, and guilt.
The Inherent Worth of Life:
This is the foundational truth that every person is created with “sacred worth” and as a “unique expression” of God.
- Sacred worth is the belief that every person is naturally valuable and important, simply because they exist. That made me re-evaluate my thought process. Think about it. The shear fact that we we are alive, makes us valuable. My life has meaning just because on January 28th of 1970, I was born. You’ve heard the saying “God don’t make junk”. It sounds silly but it speaks to this truth. When I thought about it that way it was easier to believe. If you believe the truth of “Divine Purpose” (that God has a specific plan and we aren’t accidental) it stands to reason that all life would be important. Having a specific purpose means we all have a job to do for God. Working for God is a significant task that can only be done by an equally valuable person.
- Being created as a unique expression of God means that we are a “one-of-a-kind” way for the world to see what God is like. When the Bible says we are made in the “image” of God, it doesn’t mean we are identical copies. God is a spirit; He is invisible to our physical eyes. Being made “in His image” means we are designed to be the “physical evidence” of His invisible character. We are a “unique expression” because we translate God’s “language” into a human life. God’s “language” is made up of abstract concepts like Grace, Mercy and Unconditional Love. These concepts are hard for people to understand by just hearing about them. When you “show” mercy to someone who doesn’t deserve it; you have just “translated” God’s abstract word Mercy into a “human sentence” that people can see and feel. You have made a divine idea or concept a human reality and turned the “invisible” Mercy of God “visible”. We are all purposefully, “one-of-a-kind” ways for the world to see what God is like in the flesh. Representatives of His essence you could say. When people look at us they should see a “hint” of the Creator, much like people see the “hint” of a father in his son’s smile. What is your life telling others about God’s character?
Does that make you think any differently about being made in the image of God? Maybe it gave you answers or made clearer questions, thoughts, or beliefs you had about being made in His image. We were not accidental and everyone has a purpose in life. Further, we all reflect an attribute or characteristic of God. How do you feel you’re doing with that? Maybe this post has stirred up some emotions, hidden or not. Maybe it’s brought up more questions, like it did for me. I said that the existential truths answered the big questions about life. I wanted to look at some.
Common Questions of Life
“Why am I here?”: We don’t need a special job, a certain amount of money, or fame to justify our existence. Simply being alive is enough. Our value was “built-in” the moment we existed. According to the truth of “Divine Purpose”, life is not accidental. We were born exactly when, where, and to whom we were supposed to be. This is because God had a specific plan for our life. Everything we experience was/is preparing us for the unique opportunity to fulfill the purpose God intended.
“Why am I here?”: The truth of “Inherent Worth of Life” further makes the case for our existence. It is plainly stated that every person is created with “Sacred Worth” and the “Unique Expression” of God. “Sacred worth” says that a person is naturally valuable and important just because they exist. The fact that we are here is enough to justify us being here. Being a “unique expression” of God gives you a very important reason for being here. You are here to show God to the world. Plain and simple yet so hard for some to understand. No one can show your specific “piece of mirror’s” reflection in the way you can. Therefore, no one, but you, can show the aspect of God that it is your job to show. Your reason for being here is immensely important.
“What is my purpose?”: The “unique expression” of God states that we are a “one-of-a-kind” way for the world to see God. We are here because God wanted to express His nature through our specific personalities, backgrounds, and perspectives. If we weren’t here, those specific aspects of God’s character would be missing from the world. We are here to show the world sides of God that no one else can.
”Am I good enough?”: If life has “inherent worth” then one’s worth is a permanent, essential, and ingrained part of them. It can’t be separated from them. It’s not something learned or acquired. One’s worth is who they are; it defines or characterizes them at their core. We don’t have to “earn”the right to exist and be respected; we already have it just by being alive. “Inherent worth” says we have “sacred worth” just because we exist. “Sacred worth” means we are “set apart” for a specific purpose. That purpose is to do the will of God. Working for God is a significant task and it takes an equally significant person to do it. So, yes, you are good enough.
“Is life worth the struggle?”: When life gets heavy, it’s easy to feel like the struggle is too much. The answer to this question isn’t in your circumstances. The answer is found in the “sacred worth” and “unique expression” of your “inherent worth”. Life isn’t valuable because it’s “easy” or “perfect”. It’s valuable because of who designed it and the fact that we are in it. Further, our lives haven’t lost their meaning when we are in a season of struggle. That struggle could be the thing that “tints” your “mirror”; and allows God to reflect His characteristic. Let’s say you are dealing with infidelity and a divorce. You, however, have to be strong and ‘hold it together’ for your children. That situation may be the experience that “tints your mirror” or allows you to show God’s strength to others. You can offer comfort to those going through what you had gone through in a unique and effective way. Even when life is hard or feels meaningless, the fact is that it is still valuable. This means it is always worth continuing and protecting. It is said that the experience of living-seeing, feeling, thinking-is a precious and irreplaceable experience in itself. We are “living signatures” of God. The story He is writing for us, even the hard chapters, is part of the final masterpiece that is worth protecting. The bottom line here is that we are invaluable right now, in the middle of the mess. Because we are a “unique expression” of God, it is always worth the effort to keep going; keep reflecting.
There is another truth that could answer the question of “Is the suffering worth it?”. I didn’t touch on it but it’s called “Suffering as a Teacher”. This truth states that suffering is not meaningless. It is often used for strengthening faith, teaching reliance on God, and correcting the path of the soul. We should view our struggles as an opportunity to strengthen our faith and draw closer to God.
“How should I treat others?”: We’ve discussed how our lives are “inherently worthy”. Remember, everyone else’s lives are too. We need to treat others with dignity and respect; speaking to them from a place of love. Their value and purpose are the same as ours. Remember the Law of Reciprocity (The Golden Rule); treat others as you want to be treated. But what if they are being rude and disrespectful? You may not know what they are going through in their life. Maybe they are going through a time of struggle. If so, it is their responsibility to draw closer to God; not your to tell them. You speaking to them with love and compassion could be the help they need to turn things around. They have a purpose for existing, just like you. Maybe God is using this situation to correct the path of their soul. Maybe He’s using them to correct the path of yours.
When we start looking at our lives with the knowledge of these divine truths, the world becomes a very different place. We lo longer have to wonder if we are ‘“good enough” or if all the struggles have meaning. We now know that we have inherent, sacred worth because of God’s “purposefully different” design. Recognizing that all people are a “unique expression” of God makes it easier. Easier to have compassion and to extend the grace and mercy He tells us to. We dig down and find the strength to just keep going in times of hardship. And draw closer to God in times of struggle. These truths remind us that we aren’t just surviving. We are living out the divine purpose/“story” that God wrote specifically for us.
Reflection
Up until recently, I viewed the Bible as a collection of promises and stories about people who lived thousands of years ago. It had comforting words on days I was struggling. It was a book with rules on how to live a “good” life. I didn’t, however, realize the truths that were in the pages. Deep truths that gave answers to the questions I was asked in my Philosophy class. If I had known about them sooner I might not have had to work so hard for an A. The Bible isn’t just about what we should do or what God will do for us. It’s also about who God says we are and what our purpose is. There are so many books out there that say they will tell you your purpose. But all one needs to do is really study the Bible-it’s all there. I was in awe by the four categories of truths, especially the existential ones. It was like someone had given me the key to a door that had been locked for years. It wasn’t just information and knowledge; it was a revelation that spoke to my soul.
The metaphors of being a “living signature” and a “custom-made design” with “purposeful differences” really opened my eyes. The things about myself that I saw as flaws were, I realize, specific, intentional design choices. Characteristics that make it possible for me to “reflect” God the way I was meant to. It’s one thing to be told you matter, but it’s something all together different to see myself as a perfectly formed piece of mirror reflecting a part of the Creator of the universe. I was in awe at the fact that He asked me to do that. I was embarrassed and guilt ridden at the job I had been doing. It also made me feel inadequate. I mean, come on, He’s the Creator of the universe. Then I thought about the “Divine Purpose”. My life is not an accident and I was created for a purpose. God wouldn’t create me for a purpose and not give me the ability to accomplish it. The “Inherent Worth of Life” truth changed everything. I have “sacred worth” just because I exist and I am a “unique expression” of God. Who couldn’t find peace in that? Because of these new perspectives, the Bible feels more like a handbook for my heart. It’s no longer an ancient textbook filled with rules and stories.
I’ve been going to church off and on for a lot of years. What struck me the most was that, although the answers have always been in the Bible, the church has never explained them this clearly. The church tends to focus on the “What’s” and “How’s” but skip over the “Why’s”. What are the Ten Commandments? What happened in such and such Bible story? One can know all the “what’s” and still feel empty. This is because these facts alone don’t tell the value of a life. The church also discusses things dealing with rules and behavior: How do I pray? How do I become saved. Sometimes, these can feel like a “to-do” list of how to be “good enough”. I have found that burnout can set in or feelings of inadequacy and failure when I make mistakes. The missing link, for me, have been the “Why’s”-the reasons behind the rules. Instead of just: “Don’t lie”. The “Why” is: “Because you are a piece of mirror fashioned by God designed to reflect His truth, and lying clouds your reflection. Or “You are special in God’s eyes.” Why? “Because I was created with a “sacred worth” that says I am naturally valuable and important, simply because I exist.” When we know the “Why’s”-that we are a “custom-made design” and a “living signature” of God-we don’t follow the rules because we “have to”. We follow them because we understand our sacred worth and we want to protect our internal connection.
People have been saying for years that “the Bible has all the answers.” I now realize that the Bible truly does have all the answers. Even to life’s hardest questions like “Is life really worth the struggle?” and “Am I truly enough?” It turns out that my struggling isn’t a sign of failure. It’s a part of the “unique expression” God has made me to be. And “Yes! I am truly enough.” This new way of understanding God’s truths has shifted my faith. I feelings of burnout and inadequacy I used to feel are leaving me. Now I have a new way of thinking.
I’m Here to Walk This Journey With You
Understanding these truths is the first step toward a deeper internal connection. It’s a journey that none of us has to walk alone. I encourage you today to really look at your life. Not as a series of accidents, but as a custom-made design with a divine purpose.
If any of this has spoke to you, or if you are struggling with the questions of “Am I enough?” or “Why am I here?”, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to comment or message me directly. Whether you have questions, need some encouragement, or just want to share something that has touched you, my door is always open.
A Prayer for Your Journey
Heavenly Father, glory and honor be Yours forever. Give us this day our daily bread. I thank you for the person reading these words right now. I pray that You will grant them a spirit of wisdom and revelation so they may come to know You-and themselves-better. Help them to see the “living signature” You have placed on their soul. Let them feel the “sacred worth” of their own “unique design”. In times of struggle, remind them that they are ‘never alone’ and the Your power is working inside of them. Please let them end this post with a clear understanding of their “Why” and a heart filled with the desire for Your truths. In Jesus’ precious name I pray. Amen.
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