A Sermonette by The Wandering Evangelist for Eternal Affairs Media
What is the Meaning of Life, the Universe, & Everything?
about a 10-15 minute read – audio available
Mark 4:11 (KJV) “11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables.”
Forty-two certainly is not the answer, as the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy would have it. That popular Doug Adams sci-fi book, while a humorous farce, is actually as relevant to the question as was Alice in Wonderland’s relevance to the political realities in Lewis Carroll’s time. But his answer serves only futility, which was his intent; the book finds many ways to illustrate his belief that in life, purpose does not matter (a defeatist’s view). But here, we are going to look at the question based only on the answers we might glean from non-fiction: the Holy Bible and its scriptural advice. To be sure, nowhere in the book does it clearly state either the question, or the answer, as such, but as it happens, our opening verse comes from a passage quite close to the mark in all important ways.
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Verse 11 is the start of Christ’s answer to his those who had heard him preaching in parable, and had to ask after its meaning. Christ advises that they will be given full understanding of such mysteries, but those not yet in Christ, could only be given parables. His parable of seeds being sown was describing the generalities and meanings of life and death in the World, and though about plants, it was also true of Man… and though about life’s harsh realities about life and death, it was also about Man’s spiritual life and death, to show spiritual affairs are a far more important thing than life’s worries. This he explained, and we will consider it further. But first, let’s look closer at the question.
Sure, we want to know the ‘meaning’ of life: “Why are we here… what am we meant to be or do… how do we know if we are on the right road,” and many more such questions so equate our desire for ‘meaning,’ in the common way of thinking on it. Clearly, such questions beg consideration of one’s spiritual beliefs, regardless if ‘none,’ ‘wrong,’ or rightly worshiping the God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Moses and the prophets. Remember this point.
And yes, since the dawn of written history, it is clear that Man has pondered the mysteries and meaning of the Universe. No matter how much we study it, we mange only to better understand there is more unknown, than known. Yet again, the above point applies; spiritual beliefs would logically seem to play a role in determining one’s answers, except that scientists tend to be in the ‘none’ category, instead worshiping empirical evidence they can see or acquire, and manipulate by experiment.
Everything is an interesting word in light of the question. It implies creation, itself. All matter. Light. Sound. Our very physicality. The existence of any form of life, at all, and most certainly of Man. The very way and order of things. All that is the World and the Universe; the whole enchilada. The one core key fact about all existence points to the same key question: how did it come into existence, by what force or power, and to what end or purpose? Does it even have a purpose, or is one even needed? Again, the common denominator is one’s spiritual viewpoint. How one goes about answering depends on one’s spiritual beliefs, if attempting an at least a temporarily useful answer, that one might stop worrying about the matter and get on with actual living, day to day. Life is best without fret and self-doubt.
To those without faith, their answers are pragmatic, practical, and yet, pointless, for they ignore a great truth (the hidden mystery) and settle for simple godless factualities from science, or some self-pleasing philosophical rationalization. But Science is best at discovering it does not know much; every answer begging more questions to grapple with. At best, any such answer is incomplete, hollow, and truly meaningless. They start with theories which are often not proven true or false until after their death. Often, they are ‘proven’ one way, only to have new ‘proofs’ or studies reverse them, perhaps to be reversed yet again and again. Science is, therefore, simply another kind of belief system, one lost in the prime question under discussion, due their lack of spiritual discernment.
Much the same must also be true for followers of a false faith, where they may have some morally and philosophically correct understandings, but as to the greater spiritual truths, fall very short of those things most important to their final fate, after death. But for the Christian, especially where well studied in the Faith, mysteries unfold, and the true meanings begin to be understood. In summary of this, then, we see that answers are relative to one’s ability to actually embrace God’s truth, in the first place, for from it, all other truths of existence are evolved.
Christ knew that those without interest in spiritual truth could never understand any matter deeply tied to spiritual underpinnings, due the hardness of their heart, another point to remember. Worse, those with a false grasp of the spiritual would simply twist answers they could not understand into something which better agree with their false beliefs. We have an excellent example, in the first Star Wars film, where the whole notion of the Force was quickly adopted by almost every living religion on the planet, as ‘representing’ their spiritual ‘beliefs’. This is why Christ chose parables, for a parable makes you stop and think, and realizing you do not understand, it at least tempts you knock on the door wherein might be found the answer. Matthew 7:7 highlights the concept: “7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
All creation is of God, and therefore, all things scientific are deeply based in spiritual truths ever as much as in scientific factuality. Life, the Universe, and ‘everything’ is included in that. Science and reason without Faith is a limiting blindness, because Science and any given scientific fact is merely the study of the resulting symptoms of the spiritual realities by which Science even had an opportunity to exist. My Doctorate Thesis shows this true, illustrat-ing it present and visible within the Periodic Table, where it is possible to identify a spiritual component unique to each element, said element sharing the same characteristics as that component, be it a spiritual persona, concept, or theme. Those characteristics, in turn, both explain and predict the uses, capabilities, and interactions possible when used in processes and compounds. Had Science discovered that a century ago, Science and Industry would be well ahead of where it is, today, as shown true in several included case studies.
But we are not meant to prove God’s existence, that others might believe. God want’s our faith to come by spiritual proofs within our hearts, minds, and very lives. We faithful therefore are instead asked to spread the Gospel, that by hearing, one might become open to it enough to want to know more… that they Ask, Seek, and Knock. Having good answers, and embracing them, they are Baptized, and given the Holy Spirit to seal the deal. Their Faith is then their Sure Hope unto salvation; the very core of the mystery which is the question of Life, the Universe, and Everything.
With the sum of the above in mind, now let us look at the parable, starting at Mark 4:3, “3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow: 4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. 5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: 6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded o fruit. 8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. 9 And he said unto them, he that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
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I see multiple mysteries, here. Do you? The core of it we have danced around, already. It is indeed about how to answer the mystery of life, the universe, and everything… any serious question, at all, in fact… because, as we just explored, you cannot have a useful answer without proper spiritual faith. Only through being right with the true God can one enjoy the fruits of truth, love, and wisdom through the presence of the Holy Spirit within, and the trust in and use of the Holy Bible. By these things come the only right answers, those which befit our need to our great reward, and aid us in our journey to it. We can see this better in Christ’s own analysis of the parable, in such a light.
Another mystery is found in the who, where, why, and how of its telling. Look at how the parable starts, and ends. Jesus Christ was the Son of God, with full authority to act as such on Earth, and by the power of the Holy Spirit with and in him, to do his will in any and all things he might wish to do. By this power and authority, it is reasonable to assume that he knew there were some in the crowd able and ready to hear his words and understand, and to wish to know more, and some who’s hearts were hardened against God. Christ was, after all, evangelizing on behalf of God, the purpose thereof being to make converts, which also meant to prepare the people for the coming of the Gospel his ministry would establish; a new path open to the people, one freeing them of the yolk of the corrupted pharisees, and scribes. Likewise for the Gentiles.
Christ first gives two verbal warnings hear and to see; to ‘pay attention,’ for his message is no mere story to pass the time. At the end, he underscores the importance with two more closing admonishments about having properly listened, that they might understand. Therefore, some there present undoubtedly wondered about the parable just as had the Apostles, who then asked Jesus to explain it. Christ, through the Spirit, undoubtedly touched their hearts and opened their mind. Look at verse 10: “10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parade.” Others present indeed did come forth and Ask, Seek, and Knock. Some, sadly, did not.
And in answering comes the ‘prime’ mystery, the only one most churches speak to, which is the hidden spiritual meaning of the Parable, which Christ then offers with clarity, such that it is no longer a mystery to Christians, or those who are spiritually open to studying God’s word towards considering Christianity. All one needs to do to learn this mystery, is to read his answer, in starting at verse 14. Due lack of space, it is left to the reader to do on their own.
But in Christ’s introduction of it, there are yet other mysteries revealed, as well. Consider verse 11-12: “11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: 12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.” To those who heard and asked, he is about to answer, but those who turned away did not ask, and left unfulfilled. Why? Did he not want them to be saved? Well, yes, and no. Yet another mystery, but one we Christians can also understand…
Christ’s use of the ‘hear and see’ at both the front, and hearing an the end of his presentation, and in his explanation in verses 11 and 12, is a clear pointer to the Prophet Isaiah, and a thing Jews of the day would have understood. Isaiah used the same language talking about those who had hardened their heart against God, and they thereby chose for themselves to be absent of God when they perished. Such cannot be saved by hearing, and not hearing, cannot ask, seek, or knock. Isaiah 6:9~10, “9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.”
And were there more space, this could be lead to even more mysteries and revelation, for Isaiah 6 opens up whole new topics equally as interesting and challenging, as does most of Scripture. This is one reason I truly enjoy doing the Sermonettes. In the doing, I am also learning more than I thought the final result would be. A good Christian never stops questioning, seeking, or knocking. And the beauty of that, is it leads them to evangelize all the more.
Please join me in prayer on this. “Dear Father in Heaven, renew your bright Spirit in us, daily, that we may ever ask, seek, and knock, that we may better fathom the deep mysteries of your ways and wishes for us. Do this, please, that we may better serve you in our evangelism, and be more inclined to share the Gospel with joy. Help us to be bold, and have confidence that the Spirit will help us to say the right things, leading others to your precious truth, and light. This we ask in Christ’s name.” Amen.
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About Scripture quotes: herein, unless otherwise noted, the King James Version of the Bible is employed (KJV).
