Most people live their entire lives without ever knowing why they exist. Year after year they wonder why they exist or What is the meaning of life?
Everyone wants to be happy. People try many ways. . .
- Acquiring possessions
- Experiencing excitement or pleasure
- Gaining prestige and power
But real happiness comes from understanding ones purpose.
Why Am I Here?
- God made me to love me. God says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love." (Jeremiah 31:3)
- We were created to enjoy a personal relationship with God and to manage all of the rest of God's creation. Jesus says, "I have come in order that you might have life . . . life in all its fullness." (John 10:10)
- When we know and love God, and live in harmony with His purpose for our lives, it produces tremendous benefits in our lives:
- Clear Conscience (Romans 8.1)
- Help with weakness (Romans 8:26)
- Purpose (Romans 8:28-29)
- Confidence (Romans 8:31)
- Security (Romans 8:39)
This is the kind of lifestyle God intends for us to live. Why then aren't more people really happy?
What's The Problem?
Man has a natural desire to be the boss and to ignore God's principles for living.
~ Look out for #1.
~ No one tells me what to do.
~ If it makes me feel good, then I'll do it, regardless of what God says about it.
The Bible calls this attitude sin. Sin breaks our close relationship with God. It causes us to fear God and try to live our lives outside of His will. When our relationship to God is not right, it causes problems in every area of our lives marriage, career, relationships, finances, etc.
Man's Way of coping. Even when we know that our deepest need is God, we often try wrong ways of getting to know Him. "There are ways that seem right to man, but they only end in death". (Proverbs 16:25)
Some ways are. . .
- Be religious and go to church
- Work real hard for God
- Give up bad habits
- "It does not matter what you believe, just be sincere."
What's The Solution?
Jesus Christ said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me!" (John 14:6)
God Himself came to earth as a human being to bring us back to Himself. If any other way would have worked, Jesus would not have had to come. The Way is the Person!
Jesus has already taken care of your sin problem! "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
God did this for us because He loves us and wants us to know Him. "God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still separated from God by sin, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
God has already done His part to restore our relationship to Him. He took the initiative. Now He waits for us to individually accept what He has done for us.
What Does God Want Me To Do?
- Admit that God has not been first place in your life. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
- Believe that Jesus died to pay your sins and that He rose again, and is alive today.
- Turn from rejecting Jesus as Lord and submit to His authority and Lordship. This is called repentance in the Bible. "God has overlooked the times when people did not know Him, but now He commands all of them everywhere to turn from their evil ways." (Acts 17:30)
- Pray and invite Jesus into your life to take control through the Holy Spirit.
- Confess what you believe before people. "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven." (Matthew 10:32)