Do you know where the symbol referred to as the “question mark” comes from?
In olden Roman times, it was standard practice for a person writing out an interrogative sentence to write the Latin word “questio” after the string of words to show it was a question. To save space, the word “questio” was eventually shortened to the first and last letters of the word or “qo.” These two letters placed at the end of questions sometimes caused confusion because readers would think they were part of the last word. In order to avoid this confusion the letters “q” and “o” were stacked. The “q” was placed on top and the “o” on the bottom. Over time, minor changes occurred, and it became standard practice to shrink the “o” to a dot, which brings us to the shape of our modern question mark.
The ending punctuation for sentences of inquiry has evolved from “questio” to “qo” to “?”. But the most important inquiries the human race has ever made haven’t evolved. They have remained the same through the ages. Questions such as what is man’s final purpose? What caused him to exist? Is there life after death? Who gave him the capacity to think and feel? These ageless questions haven’t changed. They are questions which it is the duty of every man or woman to ask. Not to ask them is to shirk one’s duty as a human being. Not to ask them is to deny a fundamental part of who we are, for we are spiritual, as well as physical, beings.
“Ask and it shall be given you, seek and [you will] find, knock and [the door] will be opened to you,” the Lord Jesus Christ spoke in Matthew 7:77Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (Matthew 7:7). Asking these age-old questions has the potential for bringing great joy into a person’s life. That brings us to the origin of a second symbol used in punctuation.
Do you know where our symbol “!” comes from?
This symbol comes from the Latin word “io” which has the beautiful meaning of “exclamation of joy.” In order to save space, the “io” eventually became stacked and later it became customary to turn the “o” into a dot. This is how the exclamation point we use today developed.
How wonderful to think of these two punctuation marks together. Serious questions about the One who made us can lead us to God. God can fill us with exclamations of joy. I want my life to be punctuated by exclamations of joy. I am sure you share the same desire for yourself. But no one desires this as much as the One who made us.
However, the entire human race has become separated from Him because of sin. In their separation, they seek to find happiness in created things instead of in the Giver of all life. Before He can bless us according to the riches of His heart, the problem of sin must be dealt with.
To deliver men and women from the consequences of their sins, God sent His Son into this world. After living a perfect life before men, Jesus Christ was taken by cruel hands and crucified. It wasn’t the nails which held the Lord Jesus to the cross but His love for lost sinners. He knew that it could only be through His sacrificial death that sinners might have their sins put away. Sinners, who deserve to be separated out of God’s presence forever, can now have their sins forgiven and receive the gift of eternal life through faith in Christ. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)).
According to the promises of God, those who believe in Christ can look forward to spending eternity with Him in heaven. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-43Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (1 Peter 1:3‑4)). What will heaven be but one endless exclamation of joy! Joy that God loves us! Joy that He made us! Joy that our deepest longings find their complete fulfillment in Him! Joy that will never be interrupted! God sees fit to fill the lives of those who believe on His Son with precious exclamations of joy. They begin here on earth where the slightest whisper of His love makes the hearts of believers to rejoice, but what will heaven be when they see the One who loved them so much He gave His life for them. What joy it will be to be in His presence! To see His face! To hear His voice! To know Him even as He now knows us! Don’t let the love of other things beside God keep you at a distance from Him so that you miss the joy of heaven. Miss heaven and you gain hell, the place of utter misery.
God desires that every man and woman should repent and believe on the Lord Jesus so that they might enjoy His presence forever. He sent His Son to pay the supreme price on Calvary’s cross that He might put their sin away and bring them to Himself. “Now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:2626For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26)).
He wants everyone to ask all the age-old questions because the answers are found in Jesus Christ. And when looking for the answers, they find Christ. They will have found the door to eternal life! “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved. . . . I am come that they might have life, and they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:9-109I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:9‑10)).