Core Questions: Why Do I Exist?
The Biggest Question
Perhaps the most important question ever asked is also one of the most fundamental questions we can ask. I think this is the biggest question.
The secular worldview tells you that you came from nothing, are here by accident, and are going nowhere.
Is it any wonder suicide rates are skyrocketing? Is it any wonder millions feel hopeless, empty, depressed, and useless?
The good news is that you exist for the greatest, most infinitely worthy Being in the universe.
The Glory of God
As the Westminster Catechism (1647) states: we exist “to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” The Bible emphatically teaches that man did not arrive by accident nor by macroevolution with a countless number of random and unguided adaptations over a period of millions of years.
Nor are we created to fill a void in God’s heart or out of necessity (cf. Acts 17:24-25, ESV).
Instead, God created man for His glory. Colossians 1:16, ESV: “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through him and for him.“
God created us in His image (Genesis 1:26). And what are images for? For imaging!
God created billons and billions of living, breathing statues on the earth that exist to reflect His supreme worth and excellency. But as sinners, we exchange God’s glory and live for lesser things.
Christ and God’s Glory
This is why sin is so serious and abhorred by the holy, holy, holy God of the universe. Every sin is a strike and marring of His glory — and as His image bearers, we “fall short of the glory of God” in our sins and sinfulness (Romans 3:23, ESV).
This is why Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, the exact image of God (Colossians 1:15, 2:9) came to earth and became human. The suffering of Jesus Christ in the place of sinners who fall short of God’s glory was primarily to demonstrate and show the infinite beauty of God’s glory: “to show God’s righteousness” (Romans 3:25-26, ESV).
Jesus Christ died for the glory of God. God saves us for the praise of His glory as stated three times in Ephesians 1 (1:6, 1:12, 1:14).
God forgives our sins for His name’s sake (Isaiah 43:25) and Jesus answers our prayers for His Father’s glory (John 14:13). God’s glory is the best, most prized, and infinitely precious reality in the universe.
Do it All for the Glory of God
Therefore, when a sinner is reconciled to God by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, we are made spiritually alive to “proclaim the excellencies of him,” (1 Peter 2:9, ESV).
No part of your life is mundane. All of your life is precious in God’s sight as a means to demonstrate that you value and treasure God more than food, sex, pleasure, sports, family, friends, cars, money, etc.
Live in such a way that everyone would see that you value Christ more than money and more than friends.
Jesus said to do good works so others will see them and “give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16, ESV). Paul charges us that whatever we do, to “do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV).
There is no such thing as meaningless existence, small careers, or worthless roles. God sees your silent and patient obedience, and in Christ He is well pleased. Work heartily as for the Lord and not for man (Colossians 3:23).
You were made to see glory. And this glory is found in the face of Jesus Christ and enjoying Him both now and forever.
