When All is Said and Done

That everything we are able to directly observe will end is apparent to all. Whether it be our lives, life on earth as a whole, or the solar system, the overwhelming consensus in the scientific community is the conclusion that these will all end. The question becomes, what, if anything, will these things have meant after they end? Will our lives have meant anything at all?

You may be asking, "Why should I put any effort into thinking about such things? What do I possibly have to gain from it? After all, I have so many things to be concerned about, and it hardly seems like I have time to get to many of them." Perhaps you are also frustrated because you cannot directly perceive anything beyond the material world.

We all have responsibilities, and it may require an extra effort on our part to set aside time to comtemplate such things. Surely we can find a few minutes of any given day when we do not have to be occupied with something else.

If nothing ultimately matters, then of course we need not be concerned. We could simply put all of our effort into satisfying our passions, until we breathe our last. If, however, each moment of our lives and each thought we think has eternal significance, then to ignore this would no doubt be the height of foolishness. Would it not therefore be wise to seek the truth regarding the nature of our existence, and the significance of each moment of our lives and each thought we think?

Of course, in order for our lives to have continued meaning for us after all these things pass away, we would have to continue to exist as conscious, personal entities. If so, how could we know this is the case? I cannot stress enough how important it is that you refuse to be satisfied until you have the answer to this question.