Have you ever looked up into the night sky and asked, “Why am I here?” If you have, you’re certainly not alone. Most people have had these thoughts. If you had to answer that question right now, would you say your purpose is to: “be a good parent” or “find a cure for a disease”? Maybe you would say, “because I’m a good athlete” or “to make others happy” or possibly “I don’t know.” Whatever your answer is, the fact that we ask “Why am I here?” reveals something very important about us. We sense that we have a purpose—that there is more to life than simply what we can see or touch or taste or hear. Think about this: have you ever seen an animal—a dog or cat, or even a chimpanzee—wondering about the meaning of life? Granted, you can’t tell what an animal is thinking, but have you ever seen an animal pray, construct a temple, make an idol, or kneel in worship? Of course not! On the other hand, every human culture involves the worship of something. Why is this? The reason is simply that all people possess a spirit. Our God-given spirit is what gives us the ability to connect with and worship the One who has created us and loves us. Our spirit is no less a part of us than our bodies and minds. Sadly, though, we become so good at drowning out our spirit that we seldom notice it at all. We flood our senses with music, movies, food, and drink; we flood our minds with school and work. Then, when our spirit reminds us “There is more to life,” we try to quench the emptiness with more of the same unfulfilling distractions. Sometimes we think, “If I had more money, then I would be happy.” But many wealthy and famous people have tried to find happiness and fulfillment through every luxury and pleasure money can buy, only to end up more unhappy and miserable than ever before. This is because until we address our spiritual needs, we cannot possibly be fulfilled. So what do we need? Well, if your car wasn’t running right, you would look in the owner’s manual or take it to a mechanic. You certainly wouldn’t take it to the grocery store or beauty salon for a tune-up! The same goes for us: we need to go straight to the source and see what God’s “owner’s manual” (the Bible) says about our purpose. There God clearly states that He made mankind to worship Him and glorify His name (Psalm 86:9). Naturally, we all live for our own glory. In order to live for the glory of God we need a new spiritual life, nature, and purpose from God. The “Manual” says the problem is our sin: “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). It also says, “The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts” (Proverbs 20:27). God uses the spirit He has put inside us to reveal the darkness of our sin and produce a sense of our need of salvation and a relationship with the One who created us. For this to happen, our sins must be removed. How can that happen? God loves us so much that He has made the way! He sent His Son, Jesus, to bear the punishment for our sins by dying in our place. When He rose from the grave, He proved that sin can be defeated. How can we receive the benefit of this? We need to turn to God (repent), and put our trust (faith) in who Jesus is and what He has done. The Bible says, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). Trust Jesus as your Savior, and all your sins will be washed away! Then you can begin a relationship with God that will result in living for His glory. By following God’s guidance through His Spirit and His Word, you will no longer wonder “Why am I here?” Instead, you can live a life full of meaning and purpose, with the joy and satisfaction that comes from knowing and fulfilling His plan for you.
