In 1978, a radio comedy was broadcasted from BBC which soon took the world by storm. It was a comedy which subtly took jabs at the intelligence of humanity and showed the frivolous routines we invest so heavily into. This work, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, is about a human who just before the world ended, was taken on an adventure across the galaxy and learns much about humanity away from it.

In this broadcast, which soon became a series of novels, movie adaptations, etc., there were many relevant nuggets of wisdom that can only be learned through obscure comedy. In one scene, their is a group of pan-dimensional beings who possess a deep longing to know what the universe is all about. What life is about.

With this burning question they ask the supercomputer, Deep Thought, which was designed for the purpose of answering this question, what the “Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything” is. The computer sits deep in thought and after 7 1/2 million years, lifts his voice and answers, “42.”

The listeners were outraged at such a simple and seemingly meaningless response and asked him to explain. Repeating, Deep Thought says “42.” He later reveals that the answer to question makes no sense because the question really was never defined. This intergalactic race did not know what to ask, what their question was, and therefore did not understand the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything. They had a seemingly meaningless 42.

This situation sounds rather frustrating, as it should. But, it also should hit close to home. So often in life we float through life wondering what our purpose is and what the meaning of life is. Even Christians, who should understand their purpose better than any other people group, often ask God, “Show me what I am supposed to do in this life.” They want to know what career to take, what clothes to wear, who to marry, etc., but never once realize that these things are not our purpose. These things are not God’s primary interest or will. They do not know what the question is, so the answer Scripture provides is all the more frustrating and rejected.

God says His will is for no one to perish (2 Peter 3:8-10). His will is for His people to be thankful (1 Thessalonians 5:18). His will is that you increase more and more, live a peaceful life, and love as Christ loved (1 Thessalonians 4:10-13). His purpose in creating you is that you glorify Him (Isaiah 43:6-7).

He did not create us to merely find a divinely appointed occupation or follow a monopoly board of predestined experiences. We were created to glorify God and grow in Christ. Do not add to His purpose. Do not overcomplicate His will. If God says 42, you say “Amen.” Because living for His glory is the answer to the ultimate question to life, the universe, and everything. Because after all, life, the universe, and everything is His creation and possession anyway. The answer to it all is not about you.