The Short Answer is that life in this world as we know it, is a gift of God, and a precursor to a greater, eternal life. All of what we see has been set in motion by Him to glorify Him, and you and I have a part in glorifying Him too! Some of us will glorify his Grace - in His choosing us to demonstrate His great love and mercy toward us by saving us, and some of us will glorify his Righteousness - in His choosing to display His wrath on the wicked and the Devil, whom He tolerates till the day of judgement, who will perish in Hell. This whole creation is an object lesson to both Heavenly beings, and Man on the horrible nature of Sin, the consequences of disobedience to God's laws, and the perfection of God in his wisdom, patience, endurance, and love.

Well, I can't give it to you any plainer than that, and you won't find it stated more simply anywhere else.

Cris Putnam, in his book the Supernatural Worldview, cites Dr. James Sire, "The Universe Next Door" as listing 4 and then 7  questions that every religion/thought system seeks to answer, and most of them have different answers to those questions. If you believe the Bible, it has the answers to the 4 and the 7.

The 4 questions

Who are we?

Bible says... Human beings are embodied spirits bearing the image of God, in a body created by God.

What most people today (secular world view) believe - Life is an evolutionary accident, and we are descended from monkeys.

Where are we?

Bible says - We are on earth, an utterly unique planet in a finely tuned universe created to fantastically precise specifications to sustain intelligent life and maintained moment to moment by an omnipotent, sovereign God.

Secular view - we are on earth, a mediocre, almost insignificant planet that is one among many that supports intelligent life.

What is wrong?

Bible says - A powerful serpentine being called the nachash (a Hebrew word meaning serpentine being) lured the first humans into Sin. Sin broke our relationship with our Creator and humankind is perplexed, incomplete and dissatisfied. We need our relationship with God to be restored to feel whole. Although most people are oblivious, mankind is in a state of war with the nachash and his ilk.

Secular view - There is a lack of education and resources. Once everyone is educated, all the worlds problems can be solved.

What is the answer?

Bible says - The answer is the gospel, the good news. Jesus Christ, Gods unique, eternal Son, came into the world in human form and gave his life as a sacrifice for our sins. God endows us with the grace to believe, and we believe God raised Jesus from the dead, we accept His sacrifice, and we make Him Lord of our life. By paying our debt, His perfect character is credited to those who believe and follow Him through faith alone.

Secular view - We need to be more educated and have resources equally distributed by a benevolent world government.

The Seven Questions

1. What is really real? - This question deals with the nature of reality and by inference, the existence or non-existence of the supernatural.

2. What is the nature of external reality? - or What does the world we see consist of? Is it an illusion (or hologram)...

3. What is a human being? Are we an evolutionary accident, designed by aliens, Gods?

4. What happens to a person after death?

5. Why is it possible to know anything at all? What is consciousness and reason?

6. How do we know what is right and wrong?

7. What is the meaning of human history?

Thinking about these 7 metaphysical questions is enough to give you a headache... I strongly recommend you read Cris Putnam's, and James Sire's books! However, the Bible answers all of them!

1. This world is real - it was created by God. There is another dimension that is inhabited by Spiritual beings, that also exists.

2. The world we see is not an illusion.

3. We answered the human being question earlier.

4. After death, a person is goes to be with God in a place called paradise, or is trapped in a place called Sheol, waiting for the day He/She is to be judged. There is no reincarnation (It is appointed to man once to die, and then the judgement)

5. The universe was created in accordance with God's laws, and these laws are discoverable by man. We can know things, because we live in a logical universe.

6. God's laws are written in our heart and conscience. Beyond that, He has also given us the Bible as our moral guide.

7. To glorify God and to create out of man, the Sons of God, and the Bride and Body of Christ.