The Mind Abhors a Vacuum To the famous ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle, is attributed the assertion that “nature abhors a vacuum,” which is a space devoid of matter, even air molecules. A vacuum is, therefore, nothing but nothingness. It is utter emptiness. Because of a difference in pressure, the atmosphere outside a vacuum, if not prevented, would rapidly, if not violently, rush in to fill it, as if it were “unnatural,” abhorrent, and intolerable. This well illustrates an essential feature of the human mind: it abhors a moral and spiritual vacuum. It is simply the nature of the human mind to be filled with purpose and everything which is essential to purpose. Ordinary observation easily demonstrates this. For instance, no culture is ever known to have existed without a religion, or some kind of belief in a deity. Even unbelieving individuals cling to some set of moral values, or have a sense of right and wrong. Also, each person usually feels that there is something higher, something bigger and more important, than himself and toward which he should direct his life. So, everyone seems to feel the need for a purpose for his life. No one likes the idea of living for no reason at all. Life languishes without a sense of purpose. It is for this reason that “purposes” are sometimes called “causes,” since they are the cause of how people live their lives and, indeed, living itself. Nevertheless, so many people seem to live their lives without any apparent or serious purpose that some are tempted to doubt the idea that purpose is necessary to life. This, again, is contradicted by the observation that people obviously do give purpose to their lives, whether their purposes are base and petty or lofty and ennobling, whether they are immediate or long-term, and whether they even consciously conceive of them as purposes or not. In fact, a purpose as a reason for existing, or as a motive force in life, is so important to living that people will often give themselves one, if others or life itself does not impose one on them. This is noticeably plain. Some become so passionate about politics, philosophy, hobbies, sports, jobs, loved ones, or a thousand other pursuits which incentivize, give meaning to, and drive their lives that their lives revolve around them to the extent that they are almost indistinguishable from the purposes given to them. Even if some seem to make it their aim just to maximize their happiness or pleasure, this is their purpose. No one can escape the fact that he has a purpose for his life, even if that purpose is nothing more than to continue to live. If a person intends not to cease living but to do what is necessary to continue his life, then that intention becomes his purpose. In fact, the irony is that some even adopt a purpose which serves as a palliative for the fact that they do not have, want, or believe in a higher purpose for their lives. They relieve their minds of the pain of realizing that their lives are ultimately pointless by adopting relatively minor, inconsequential purposes, whose only real purpose is to obscure the fact that they have no purpose in their lives. As in the case of Communism, which is officially atheistic, the sense of purpose which their causes give to their lives can be so convincing that they are prepared to die in the service of a purpose which will ultimately do neither themselves nor others any good. Since people must have a purpose for life, they should make it the one which really matters — one which will actually make a difference for themselves and others thousands of years after they are dead. By that measure, there is only one purpose which makes a real difference in life. The gospel of Christ gives a supremely worthwhile purpose to the Christian’s life. As such, it not only gives order and discipline to life but also makes an eternal difference.