You may have already come across the following question, but because it is seriously burning in my heart, allow me to bring it forward to your attention. Take a moment to think: “What is the purpose of this earthly life?”  I did not fully know the answer in practice, yet eventually, I was able to understand what Solomon meant when he wrote “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:2. Did you know that in Hebrew culture, when a word is repeated in the same statement it shows emphasis? (Just as Jesus would repeat and say, “verily, verily”). So, take note of the repetition of the phrase “vanity of vanities” in the above verse. Blessed are those who fully understand in practical terms, or at least believe that all is vanity. The preacher, under divine inspiration, further challenged us by asking: “What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?” Ecclesiastes 1:3. Imagine also the following: “All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.” Ecclesiastes 1:8

He further tells us of his experience in the following manner: “I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” Ecclesiastes 1:12–14. If all the works that are done under the sun are vanity then what is the purpose of life?  How hard, dear brothers and sisters, may this be to some, to take in? Not even the attainment of the highest of the highest earthly knowledge and wisdom can satisfy the purpose of life. This can only add sorrow to you, “For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.” Ecclesiastes 1:18. A woman can marry the choicest man of her life. Likewise a man, the woman of his dreams; only to find that the heart still lacks that satisfaction. Solomon had a similar experience. He said “And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy.” Ecclesiastes 2:10. He even called some of his attainment’s “joy”, yet he eventually found them to be “vanity and vexation of spirit” (see verse 11).

We are assured that Solomon spoke what he himself knew and understood from an experiential point of view.  He states that you and I can never attain to anything more than he has already attained. “What can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.” Ecclesiastes 2:12. “I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards. . . . I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: . . . I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts. . . . Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:4, 6, 8, 11–12

Having said all that, let us be reminded of the following important fact: To know the purpose of this life is to know the secret of being happy. Many of us have tried to drink from broken cisterns that contain no water. It is the experience of many that in their vain search for joy, they find that “Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.” Proverbs 14:13. Do not be cheated by the world. “That which it offers may please the eye and fascinate the senses, but it proves to be unsatisfying. The wine turns to bitterness, the gaiety to gloom. That which was begun with songs and mirth ends in weariness and disgust.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 148. There is one true purpose of life which also brings true joy to one’s life; and that is Service; service to God and service to man, as summarised in the Ten Commandments. Solomon confirmed this when he said “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13

“Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man’s heart discerneth both time and judgment.” Ecclesiastes 8:5. “Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Psalms 119:165. Let us carefully read the following text: “And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.” Deuteronomy 28:2. Not only will the blessings come to us, but it has been portrayed that they will overtake us. Imagine what it means to be overtaken by blessings. Yes, that is the reward awaiting those who will fulfil the purpose of life.

I heard of an artist who, while performing on the stage, just knelt down; on his lips was the question “where can I find peace?” He then died on the spot. Do you also ask the same question? Look not to fame as the answer, neither riches, nor worldly pleasures, high educational attainments nor gratification of the appetite and the lust of the eyes. All these without Christ are unsatisfying waters. You drink only to thirst again. Have faith in Jesus Christ—this is the root of holiness (see The Great Controversy, p. 256.) Then by His own grace maintain your connection with Him by keeping the commandments—this is the fruit of holiness (see also The Great Controversy, p. 256). Do not confine your service to yourselves.  You will then know the joy and purpose of the life that now is. You will also have the hope of the life that is to come, because “…godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8

At last, our Saviour’s lamentation to us is, “O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.” Isaiah 48:18. Yet it is not too late! We can still reclaim our lost joys and be shielded from many a heartache today and onwards, by fulfilling the true purpose of life.

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” Isaiah 55:1–2.  Amen.

Emmanuel Azariah Salamba

Malawi