Why We're Here

By Pastor Dan Hickling

“Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”—Isaiah 43:7 (NKJV)

“Why am I here?” No doubt we’ve all asked this at some point. It’s by God’s design and purposed will that we would wonder, ponder, and question as we pause and look at the world that surrounds us—the incalculable stars in the sky, the majestic mountains on the horizon, the ceaseless sea that rolls in and out. The undeniable order of creation gets us to ask if there’s a meaning for us in the midst of everything.

Some people chase this question as a dog chases its tail until their dying day. They never arrive at the reason for their own existence. But this doesn’t have to happen for any of us, because if we look to what God tells us in His Word, we can clearly see why we’re here. God, Himself, tells us here through the prophet Isaiah that we’ve been created by Him for His glory—to glorify the God who created us.

Our lives aren’t meaningless! Our purpose is to turn from ourselves and the self-centered impulses that can rule our thoughts and actions on a constant basis, and yield our entire beings to bring glory to God. In other words, it’s not about us, it’s about Him. As the moon reflects the brilliance of the sun, our lives are to reflect the radiance of who God is and what He has done.

From the moment we wake up, we’re to glorify God. On our commute in to work, we’re to glorify God. In the break room when the gossip mill starts to churn, we’re to glorify God. When it comes to our work ethic, we’re to glorify God. When we get recognized for going above and beyond in our job performance, we’re to glorify God. When we’re hit with an unexpected tragedy, we’re to glorify God. When we’re confused by what He’s allowing in our lives, we’re to glorify God. When our hands are lifted high in praise, we’re to glorify God. When we’re being irritated by another person, we’re to glorify God. When we’re betrayed by someone we trusted, we’re to glorify God. When we draw our final breath in this world, we’re to glorify God.

We’re here to glorify God . . . period! We do this by pointing others away from ourselves and towards His goodness, sharing what He has done (especially in sharing the gospel), trusting Him through our trials, walking in obedience to His will, and abiding in a soul-satisfying relationship with Him. And the opportunities for this are endless because He’s infinitely glorious in both who He is and what He does. Could there be any greater purpose for existing than the one God has given us?

“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will, they exist and were created.”—Revelation 4:11 (NKJV)

Pause: What does God’s Word reveal to us about the age-old question of why we’re here?

Practice: Consider how your daily decisions are impacted by your awareness of God’s purpose for your life and how can you increase this awareness.

Pray: Glorious God, may I see my purpose according to Your plan for my life. By Your Spirit, enable me to turn from myself so I can turn towards You and in so doing turn others towards You, as well. Amen.