by Mark A. Segraves
October 16, 2007
Today is Noah Webster’s birthday. If he were alive, he would be 249. Mr. Webster is most famous, perhaps, as a lexicographer. That’s a fancy word which means he wrote a dictionary. He spent much of his life defining words. He studied as many as 20 different languages trying to come up with accurate meanings for the English words spoken on the American continent. However, one of the most important resources Webster used for defining words was the Bible. You may not notice this in the contemporary editions of his dictionary, but if you can get your hands on an 1828 first edition it would be quite obvious. For example, under his entry for the word “hope,” he quotes from Job 8, Joel 3, 1 Peter 1, and Psalm 43. For Webster, words were defined by Scripture. Some might suggest he defined life by the Word of God. How would you define it? How do you make sense of your experience on this earth? How do you wrap your mind around the trauma and the triumph of human life? Some people look to philosophy, believing the intellect powerful enough to create meaning and significance. Some look to pleasure, believing a good time can dull the pain or excite the soul. Some look to substances, believing a drink or a hit will calm the chaos or lift them above it. But the definition of real life remains elusive to those looking for meaning but not the Maker.
Ask an atheist the definition of life. His answer won’t satisfy a soul energized by a divine breath. Ask the agnostic the definition of life. He’s not even sure if life exists. Ask a pantheist the definition of life, and you’ll probably end up hugging a tree. Ask Jesus to define life and He’ll give you one word: Me! “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6). In other words, true life cannot be defined without Jesus. Put another way, life without Jesus is meaningless! So what are you going to do the next time someone asks you about the meaning of life? How would you define it?
Prayer: Jesus, Life of God, You bring meaning to my mess. You just make sense. My abilities to reason have often placated my intellect, but only You have satisfied my soul and quickened my spirit. So, here’s my life… please define it. In Your name, Jesus, amen.
Point to Ponder: How do I define _____________ ? (Insert your own word and see where it takes you.)
