Why Am I Here?

The second of the three great philosophical questions is: "Why am I here?" or "What is my purpose in life? The first, "Who am I?" has already been considered. The third, "Where am I going?" will be answered in the next posting.

"Why am I here?" is a question most of us ask at least once. There are many ways to respond to the question. The answer hinges on first answering "Who Am I?" Once we recognize that we are created beings we also recognize that we have a responsibility to the Creator. If we are the product of chance mutations, we have no responsibility to any one higher than ourselves, for there are none; we also have no soul-satisfying reason for being here.

"Why am I here?" The Westminster divines answered that question by saying, "The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever." The Apostle Paul said, "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31)." Again, in Romans 11:36, he says, "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever."

"Why am I here?"

"You are here to glorify God."

"How do I glorify God?"

To glorify God is to do those things that he requires. Things like loving God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and body as well as loving your neighbor. Things like refraining from intentionally damaging your body by abstaining from tobacco products, overindulging in alcoholic beverages, eating too much, using non-medicinal drugs and using medicinal drugs for non-medicinal purposes. Things like providing for your family and not wasting your money on lottery tickets and other forms of gambling. Things like helping the poor and downtrodden and not laying on them burdens greater than they can bear.

Other ways we may glorify God are through artistic creativity, singing his praises, worshiping God both individually and gathered with others, using our minds to design and improve technology for the benefit of mankind, and recognizing that all that we are is a result of God's blessing on our individual lives.

The best and most meaningful way we can glorify God is to believe in the one whom he has sent, even Jesus Christ. That means we accept God's verdict on who Jesus is and believe the Biblical account of the Son of God. When you place your trust in and commit yourself and your future to Jesus Christ, you will not only be glorifying God but you also will be able to enjoy him forever.