Meaning vs. Purpose

When we were in grade school English class, we would read some short story and then answer questions like “What’s the theme? What’s the plot? What’s the main idea? . . . What is the meaning?”

Ok. Consider the story of Joseph from the Old Testament book of Genesis.

When Joseph’s brothers feared that he might pay them back for their past misdeed, he said “… you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…” (Gen 50:20). 

I.e. There is/was this story of Joseph being sold off into Egypt. And the story is not meaningless or inconsequential. What happened was not in vain, when we consider a divine vantage point. The meaning of this story is Gen 50:20. 

So stories have meaning. And Life is one big story - grand Metanarrative (CFRC) with meaning and we can ask what is the Meaning of Life? 

The answer is Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Meaning of Life. 

It is in Him, that the story of Life holds together (Col. 1:17). 

And to the degree that we find ourself living or taking on the Story, … cb2

But purpose is different. The purpose of life is “to know God” - Sproul or “to glorify God” - Edwards or “to enjoy God” Thomas Watson or like expression. 

And you can glorify God with a banjo, Friday night at a bar or Sunday morning at church. Same action - two separate places.  

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