Ecclesiastes 1:2 states, “’Vanity of vanities,’ says the Preacher; ‘Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.’”  [Note:  When we quote Scripture in this article, we use the wording in the New King James Version of the Bible.] 

In fact, most of the biblical book of Ecclesiastes reflects the writer’s belief in the futility or purposelessness of life.  Because the writer is believed to have been Salomon, one of the wisest and wealthiest men to have ever lived, the ideas that are expressed are particularly noteworthy.  If Solomon could not find purposefulness in life, how can those of us who are less gifted expect to find it?

On page 254 of his book entitled Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, Gleason L. Archer offers the following comments:

A careful . . . study of Ecclesiastes brings out the true purpose and theme of its author.  After he has tried every other avenue to the highest value in human life, Solomon gives his personal testimony as to the emptiness and disgust that resulted from his tasting to the full all that the world could offer him in the way of satisfaction and pleasure.  It all turned out to be futile and unworthy, completely lacking in ultimate satisfaction.

Then on page 254, Archer says,

The natural man who has never taken God seriously falls into the delusion that “this world is all there is.”  Well then, replies the Preacher, if this world is all there is, let us find out by experience whether there is anything ultimately worthwhile in this world – anything that yields real satisfaction.  The result of his extensive experiment . . . was that nothing but meaninglessness and profound disappointment await the secularistic materialist. 

The message that comes through loud and clear in Ecclesiastes is that true meaning in life is found only in a relationship with God. 

[Note:  Because abortions terminate human lives, they prevent relationships with God.  (See APPENDIX)].

Norman Geisler, Ph.D., and Thomas Howe, M.A., state on page 254 of their book entitled When Critics Ask,

Solomon is recording his search for happiness and meaning in life by pursuing everything that this world offers.  Each of these seemingly skeptical observations is aimed at demonstrating that, apart from God, everything “under the sun” is only vanity, and that the only source of true happiness and lasting peace is the Lord our God.  Solomon’s investigations led eventually to the conclusion that the whole duty of man is to “fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecc. 12:13). 

Note that the word translated as “fear” in Ecclesiastes 12:13 has a different meaning than the one we usually have in mind when we think of “fear.”  Strong’s Concordance of the Bible indicates that when the word fear is “used of a person in an exalted position, [it] connotes ‘standing in awe.’”  Therefore, it is not necessary to literally fear God, but it is necessary to show Him utmost reverence.

Rick Warren’s book entitled The Purpose Driven Life is entirely devoted to addressing the purpose of human life.  The following are excerpts from his book:

It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny. . . . [L]ife is about letting God use you for his purposes, not you using him for your own purpose.  [Page 18]

Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning.  Without meaning, life has no significance or hope. . . . The greatest tragedy is not death, but life without purpose.  [Page 30]

Knowing your purpose simplifies your life.  It defines what you do and what you don’t do. . . . Without a clear purpose you have no foundation on which you base decisions, allocate your time, and use your resources.  [Page 31]

When you fully comprehend that there is more to life than just here and now, and you realize that life is just preparation for eternity, you will begin to live differently.  You will start living in light of eternity, and that will color how you handle every relationship, task, and circumstance.  [Page 37]

When you live in light of eternity, your values change. . . . You place a higher premium on relationships and character instead of fame or wealth or achievements or even fun.  Your priorities are reordered.  [Page 38]

Bringing enjoyment to God, living for his pleasure, is the first purpose of your life.  When you fully understand this truth, you will never again have a problem with feeling insignificant.  [Page 63]

So, achieving the primary purpose for our life necessitates living for God’s pleasure.  For every person, a very important part of living for God’s pleasure is to sincerely trust in His Son Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  In fact, it is highly unlikely – perhaps, impossible – for those who have not genuinely trusted in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord to fulfill the primary purpose for their life.

[For an explanation of what it means to genuinely trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, see our articles entitled “Does It Really Matter What You Believe?” and “What Must a Person Do to Be Assured of Eternal Salvation?”]

APPENDIX

Abortions Prevent Relationships with God

In Psalm 139:13-16, the psalmist says,

For You [God] have formed my inward parts; You have covered me in my mother’s womb.  I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.  My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.  Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.

In addressing this scripture passage on page 244 of their book entitled When Critics Ask, Norman Geisler, Ph.D., and Thomas Howe, M.A., assert that “God looks upon the unborn as a human being.  However, if the unborn is fully human, then abortion would be the willful killing of the innocent – murder.”

Another scripture which indicates that God considers the unborn to be human beings is Jeremiah 1:5, in which God says to the prophet Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” 

If God plans our destiny before we are born, He must regard each of us as a human being – even when we are in the fetal stage of life.  Therefore, it seems reasonable to conclude that anyone who kills an unborn baby is just as guilty of committing murder as if he (or she) kills a baby who has been born.