Contrary to what we hear sometimes, Intelligent Design is not an article of faith, like justification by faith or the virgin birth of Christ. If someone holds to Intelligent Design, it does not mean that he is a Christian, or even particularly religious.

Intelligent Design is a conceptual model that explains things like the variety of creatures on Earth and their similarities to one another. There is plenty written about it, but Roy Spencer’s explanation is both objective and easily understood.

Intelligent Design has not been well received in parts of the media and many academic circles, because it is an alternative to the popular model of evolution. Why not? Some have defined science as something that excludes God in every way possible. This definition has been forced upon the public school system under the principle of “separation of church and state,” making evolution the only model that students must learn about.

While the academic champions of evolution defend this in the name of good science and good politics, it’s really bad science and bad politics. Good science requires an objective comparison between competing models. Good politics in the United States requires that the government not prohibit the free exercise of religion, nor establish one by forcing a faith-based system upon public school students. Instead, evolution is taught as accepted fact with nary a mention of intelligent design, though belief in either requires some amount of faith.

A movie is being released (tomorrow, I think) called “Expelled.” In it, Ben Stein presents the case against the poor science and poor politics, probably better than I’ve done here. It will probably be worth discussing, especially with high school teachers, administrators, students, and parents.

After high school, I decided to attend a college that was most of the way across the country from my family. Some people look for something like that, seeking independence right away. Others don’t, having a hard time separating from their parents, brothers, and sisters. Here’s a college possibility across the country from Oregon, even further than our own Bethany Lutheran College. However, it promises to be an excellent school, of classic ivy-league quality, but centered entirely upon the Christian faith. The provost is a Lutheran professor whom I’ve met at the Worldview Seminars that were hosted at the Marvin Schwan Retreat Center in northern Wisconsin. He has authored [several excellent books][books], including *The Spirituality of the Cross* and *God at Work*. As for the distance between Oregon and Virginia, in these days of cell phones and online communication, the two states are not as separated as they were ten years ago.

[books]: http://www.cph.org:80/cphstore/Find.asp?searchOpt2=All&find_part_desc=veith&x=0&y=0

The college is [Patrick Henry College](http://www.phc.edu). If any youth in our churches or other Christian teens would like to check it out, the college has a [summer leadership camp program][camp] with attractive topics.

[camp]: http://www.phc.edu/teencamps/default.asp

I do recommend that students consider Bethany Lutheran College, which is a well-respected, 4-year liberal arts school that our synod owns and operates. However, it’s good to have more than one good choice. If I were still in High School at this point, I would strongly consider Patrick Henry College in my top three or four possibilities.

When you awaken in the morning, you may already know why you should get up. Then again, you may not know why. The warmth of your blankets is comfortable. Sleep is pleasant. Do you have a purpose today that would draw you out of bed, get you dressed, breakfasted, and ready for action? Not everyone is the same.

Some days you may wonder what is the point of living, of caring, of finishing your work. It seems that at a certain age between 13 and 20, we begin to ask this question, sometimes with a bitter or sarcastic spirit: “What is my purpose?”

If you have asked this question, it may be some comfort to know that you are not the first. The holy Bible was written by the hands of many men, but all of those writings were intended by God to teach us, even now. One of the writers was a powerful King, who had many flaws of his own. You may know Solomon as the king who settled a dispute between two women over a baby. Solomon ordered the baby cut in half for them, and the woman who was not its mother was willing to let this happen.

King Solomon also applied his wisdom to our question of purpose. The result is the Bible’s book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon considered all the things in the world that are precious in the sight of human beings: property, family, friends, the natural world, society, amusements, work, and so forth. His conclusion: all of it is mere vanity in the end, filled with no enduring value, like a puff of wind. Though we may enjoy some things for a while, they will soon fade away, and even the memory will be forgotten.

We want to have some meaningful purpose in our lives. Yet Solomon wrote that the best we can do is to find pleasure in our work, knowing that it will not endure beyond the grave. Maybe that’s enough to get you up and going each day, and maybe it isn’t.

What we really need is to know that our lives can have value beyond the pleasure of the moment. Can they? Yes, they can. While our own efforts and pleasures always lead to nothing in the end, God’s works always endure, despite appearances. For example, the Christian Church has survived thousands of years, outlasting mighty empires, though most of the time it seemed on the brink of collapse. It will outlast this world. So if we want meaningful purpose and value, we will find it in the purpose and will of God.

The Bible’s chief message is twofold. First, it shows us human beings that we have been born into a great rebellion against God. It’s not hard to see when we honestly consider our own hearts. Do we always submit to the will of God, or do we sometimes prefer our own ways? I find that my own heart *always* prefers its own ways, resulting in many other inward and outward sins. Already in Genesis 6:5, God perceived this condition in mankind.

The other part of the Bible’s chief message is the main point of the whole Bible. God has reconciled rebellious mankind with Himself through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. His demanding justice was met, and all our guilt was punished. We are restored to Him, and will live eternally. You and I have been freed from the power of death, and are invited to participate in God’s work even here on earth. His work is meaningful, and His purpose is to bring the blessings of Christ to our neighbors on earth.

God calls us to many vocations: in the family, in society outside the home, at our churches, and elsewhere. Those callings — as long as they are godly callings and don’t contradict His Word — *are* the purpose of our lives here on earth, and our life in heaven is the conclusion.

You can see how rich are the gifts that come from the cross of Jesus Christ. Because of Him, we have a reason to get up each day. Because of Him, we can lie down each night, content that we have done something meaningful. Thanks be to God.

The Word of God Endures Forever. VDMA