“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
“We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.” — Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
“You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.” — Woodrow Wilson
When you stop and think about it, many aspects of our lives have a cyclical nature to them – synonymous to a hamster on an exercise wheel. We’re constantly on the move but never really getting anywhere – starting each day and ending each day in habitual routines that make up the cycle of life as we have come to know it.
We wake up, we shower, we eat, we go to work or school, we come home, we nap or recreate, we eat, we relax, and we go to bed – starting the process all over again tomorrow.
Have you ever felt like the hamster – running, running, and running some more and never really feeling like you’re making any progress? Has your life become one big habitual routine that seems to have lost its meaning? Is your life consumed with goals, activities, and priorities that will have little to no meaning in the end?
Have you ever asked yourself the following questions:
“What is the meaning behind my life?”
“Is this all there really is to it?”
“What’s the purpose behind it all?”
“Why am I here?”
Contrary to what many people think, we are not here to fulfill all our wildest dreams and desires. We’re not here to get wealthy, to attain a certain title or job position, or to simply do our best to get by. We’re not here to live in a grand house, to drive the best, most expensive car, or to take vacations to exotic places. We’re not here to get an education and the best paying job that comes with it, nor are we here to slothfully and apathetically let others pay our way for us.
You may be thinking…..
“Aren’t we supposed to enjoy our lives – striving to attain the best it has to offer?”
“Doesn’t God want us to be happy and prosperous?”
“What’s wrong with pursuing the finer things in life?”
“Life is hard enough all on its own. Why make it harder than it has to be?”
“It’s my life and I’m going to live it up – getting the most out of it that I possibly can!”
If any of these questions or statements strike a chord with you, I’m challenging you today to take a harder, deeper, more meaningful look at why you are here. A great place to start this process is by learning to see yourself differently.
Your Spiritual Nature
Each of us has a physical body that functions and reacts in a similar way. Each of us has a mind, but everyone of us thinks differently. We each have a heart, but our personal passions and the things that ignite our compassions toward others are very unique and individual to each of us.
What makes me the person and individual I am and what makes you the kind of person you are is spiritual in nature – an intangible aspect of us that sets us apart from others. This spirit is eternal and is made in the image of God Himself. Our bodies and our appearances don’t define us. Who we truly are as individuals cannot be held, touched, or seen with the physical eye.
Do you see yourself as spirit first and foremost?
The purpose behind our creation, the basis of our life here on earth is spiritually centered. Our purpose has very little to do with what most people think or attempt to accomplish in their lives. It isn’t attained by doing our best to get by or by setting lofty career goals or by living in financial comfort and security. It isn’t about all those daily, habitual routines I mentioned earlier – those common, everyday tasks that can easily make us feel like life is nothing but a continual, monotonous rat race. Those “hamster on an exercise wheel” moments can actually cloud our ability to see our true created purpose.
In fact, many people will go through their entire lives and miss the whole point of why they are here. They will define their purpose for living in human terms and not see the spiritual significance connected to their earthly existence.
In order to answer the question “Why am I here?” you must start with the realization of who you are down deep, and who you are down deep is spiritual, eternal, and stretches far beyond this earthly life as we know it.
Becoming More Like Christ
“For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son.” – Romans 8:29 NIV
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” – Ephesians 2:10 NLT
The central purpose behind our earthly existence is for our spirit to learn, grow and become more like Christ. Christ was selfless – serving others before meeting His own needs. He loved unconditionally – frequently forgiving those who least deserved it. He gave people hope and showed them the importance of living life faithfully, joyfully and with a tremendous amount of peace no matter what their circumstances were in the moment.
Most people don’t see their lives centered in becoming more like Christ. Their goals, priorities, and activities are centered in meeting their own dreams, needs and desires. Being selfless, serving, and loving others who least deserve it sounds like becoming a door mat – letting others walk all over you. Isn’t it OUR LIFE and shouldn’t we be focused on how we can get the most out of it for ourselves?
Again, most people view their earthly, mortal life as finite – believing there is no more to the story once they’re gone. The Bible says a man who isn’t spiritually centered cannot accept the things that come from the Spirit of God for “they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
If we fail to see ourselves as spirit first and foremost, we struggle with the idea that our purpose here is to become more like Christ. It sounds foolish to us and it doesn’t make any sense at all. If you’ve ever felt this way, it’s a sure sign you have ignored your spiritual nature – letting the world cloud your vision and distract you from the essence of why you are here.
How do we become more like Christ when it’s obvious that we live in a world filled with earthly views and values – a world so opposite and greatly opposed to the ways of God?
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is.” – Romans 12:2 NLT
When we open our hearts to God, allowing Him into our lives, we begin to see this world differently. Focusing on our spiritual nature, our priorities change and we begin to live a life that replicates Christ’s views and values. As Paul mentions, it requires a change in our mindset – allowing God to transform us and show us the real reason behind why we are here.
How do we know we are being transformed? What evidence will we see that assures us we are fulfilling God’s purpose and will for us?
“But when the Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” – Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
You will begin to love those who least deserve it – seeing perfect love as a choice and non-conditional. You will live in peace, knowing God is in control of both blessings and hardships. You will begin to understand the value in patiently waiting for God to act within your circumstances – strengthening your ability to persevere. You will place a higher value on a gentle demeanor versus one that is prideful and arrogant. You will see how planting seeds of kindness and goodness in other people’s lives has a way of returning to you in your own life.
When you look at these fruits of the Spirit, you can see their eternal value – how they live far beyond your own life, creating a legacy that continues on and perpetuates itself.
The fancy job title ends when you end. The expensive car will rust and decay. All your money will end up in the hands of someone else when you’re gone. Doing just enough to get by will have wasted precious time and opportunities.
But love, peace, faithfulness….They live on!
So today, tape a note on the mirror in your bathroom or bedroom. Write in big, black letters the question: “Why am I here?” Look at it every morning and every evening – allowing it to trigger a change in your thinking – opening the door for God to transform your life.
When you feel like that hamster on an exercise wheel, when your life feels like it’s stuck in habitual routines and tasks, ask yourself:
“How am I becoming more patient at work or with my children today?”
“How have I treated my spouse today that shows I love them unconditionally?”
“How did I show kindness and gentleness today while shopping or interacting with friends?”
“In what aspects of my life today have I shown my faithfulness to God – trusting in Him when things don’t make sense or seem impossible to overcome?”
“Do my priorities, goals and dreams in life reflect my spiritual, eternal nature or are they worldly and temporary?”
“Where do I see evidence of self-discipline or self-control in my life?”
These are the things that make a difference. These are the things that last! This is why you are here 🙂
May God help each of us connect with our spiritual nature – helping us to become more Christ-like in our approach to living. May He open our eyes to see aspects of our life that are out of balance – filled with worldly goals and misguided priorities. Finally, may He transform our minds in a way that illuminates and sheds light on the real meaning of our life – helping us each day to accomplish the purpose He created us to fulfill.
