What is My Purpose in Life?

The purpose of every person on earth is to believe in the One whom God has sent – his son Jesus. And that purpose is filled with this great news!

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life….He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16, 18).”

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).”

You can’t usually see spiritual battles. But there is a severe spiritual battle between God and Satan for your soul. Before you believe in Jesus, you are in Satan’s kingdom. He’s the god of this world. When you believe you’re transferred into Jesus’ Kingdom.

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13).”

The purpose of a believer is to make God known.
There is a world that doesn’t know God. The Christian’s goal is to reveal Christ to that world in their behavior and testimony, so they too may know God. Jesus ascended back into heaven, so the world can’t see Him. He left us here to testify of Him.

Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses…even to the remotest part of the earth (Acts 1:8).”

The Apostle Paul said, “Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved (1 Corinthians 10:33).””

The world best sees believers in this way, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35).”

How to Find Purpose in Life

The Apostle Paul was an unbeliever until he met Jesus. Jesus gave Paul his purpose:
“I am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me (Acts 26:17-18).”

God’s Promise to You

However, most people don’t receive such a clear revelation. But this is God’s promise to you:

“The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
 To see if there are any who understand, Who seek after God (Psalm 14:2).”

“I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgment (Ezekiel 34:16).”

Pride often keeps people separated from God. God looks for humility, weakness, the sick, and the broken–those deserted by others. He is against the rich (in attitude), the strong, and anyone self-reliant. God looks for those who seek God with humility.

Why Am I Here on Earth? 6 Great Reasons

God created us in His image, which includes ruling on earth:

“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish…the birds…the cattle and over all the earth (Genesis 1:26).”

God created us to multiply on the earth and subdue it:

“God blessed them (Adam and Eve); and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it (Genesis 1:28, see also Genesis 2:5, 15).”

God created us to have fellowship with each other, to complete each other as husband and wife:
“And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh;
 She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.”

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh (Genesis 2:23-24).”
 
God created us to have fellowship with Him:
“The Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you (Genesis 3:9)?”
 
God created us for His glory:
“Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth,
Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory,
Whom I have formed, even whom I have made (Isaiah 43:6-7).”

God created us because He wanted to:

 “You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created (Revelation 4:11).””

Why Does My Life Matter?

God gifts every person uniquely. Think how different your life would be if your favorite person wasn’t born. Your favored singer, actor, or family members have had influence in your life. They’ve made an impact on countless people. Even if some of that impact was destructive, you could learn from that. But the majority of people live unheralded lives.

God doesn’t gift everyone so visibly. But everyone’s talented, and some of the people who have done the most, or contributed the most, don’t get public notice. But there is One who does:

“And He (Jesus) …began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins….Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on (Mark 12:41-44).”

Is There Really Any Point?

Articles in psychology magazines, written from a worldly viewpoint, say there doesn’t have to be a point to life. In fact, that viewpoint frees people to make their own point in life.

King Solomon tried that theory out, and his conclusion should have put this issue to rest three millennia ago. He tried work, materialism, games, ruling people, and popularity to this end:

“The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).”

Every pursuit of meaning outside of seeking God and His purpose for your life fades like a vapor.

I Want My Life to Count for Something

Your life matters to God. He created you for a reason. And for eternity:

“He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end (Ecclesiastes 3:11).”

Any worldly thing a person pursues–anything apart from God–will disappear:

(A rich man grew richer, saying), “I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods…. Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God (Luke 12:18-20).”

Can I Make a Difference to Others?

You touch other peoples’ lives. God uses people looking to make a difference. Sometimes, He finds no one:

“I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one (Ezekiel 22:30).”

Queen Esther sought council for a decision. You can read her story in the book of Esther in the Bible. It is a wonderful true story. I encourage you to take the time to read it. Her decision was life or death. Should she appear before the King and appeal to him to save her fellow Jews? This verse tells us the law of the land and her risk:

“Any man or woman who comes to the king to the inner court who is not summoned, he has but one law, that he be put to death, unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live (Esther 4:11).”

Her counselor advised her:
“If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this (Esther 4:14)?”

She took her counselors advice, stood in the gap, and fulfilled her role in God’s plan. You don’t have to be at Queen level to fulfill your part in God’s plan. God may have you in mind for such a time as this.

God, What Should I Do with my Life?

You can ask Him yourself. Even if you haven’t believed in Jesus yet, God looks for those who seek Him. Pray and ask Him, like you would your mother or father.

God says you should have some understanding about Him by observing creation around you:
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse (Romans 1:20).

Another way to seek God is to read the Bible.
The best book for an unbeliever to read is the Gospel
of John. The Apostle John wrote it so you might believe:
“These have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31).”

Once you believe, you have a better connection through Jesus, who will be your High Priest:
“For we do not have a high priest (Jesus the Son of God) who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14-16).”

You can read more about mercy and grace by going to our Grace category on this site.

We are Here to Serve Others

Believers should prepare themselves for serving. God wants to use you, and usually, He will use you according to your spiritual gift(s).

Again, read the Bible and pray for God to reveal what role He wants you to have. Then step out in faith when opportunities present themselves. It doesn’t matter how menial it is or that you won’t get recognition for it.

God will see, and He knows:
“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full (Matthew 6:5).”