The Purpose Of Life

Seems like everyone has something to say about LIFE.
The Dalai Lama said “the purpose of our lives is to be happy.”  Someone anonymously wrote:
“One day your life will flash before your eyes.  Make sure it’s worth watching.”  Even the great
philosopher Dr. Seuss quipped: “Step with care and great tact, and remember that life’s a great
balancing act.”

I don’t know about you, but I think about life quite often.  After all, I am a living, breathing being
and if not for the life within my body, I would not be able to share these thoughts with you.
Don’t we all at some level wonder about the meaning of life?  Why are we here?  What is the
purpose?  Is anything going to matter anyway when this life is over?

I love Charlie’s Brown’s honesty when he announced, “In the book of life, the answers aren’t in
the back.”  I agree, Charlie Brown!  So, where do we turn for answers?  What hope is there for
making sense of it all?

In Scripture, Jesus said that He came to give us life and to give it abundantly (John 10:10).
On most days, I’ll just take life itself. Seeing how much hurt and pain and lifelessness we all
tend to live with, I’m not sure I want any more of it. Doesn’t abundant life mean that I have
more of life? That life can be quantified? I’m not sure I want that…

I wonder if Jesus’ idea of abundant life means more than just the amount we’re given. Maybe it
means in the midst of this life that we live, those of us who have abundant life experience and
view things differently than those who don’t. As I’ve studied Jesus’ life over the years, I’ve
come to realize that even though He was human and certainly faced the same challenges and
temptations and discouragement that we all face, He had a perspective that kept His mind at
peace. He never became ruffled in a tight spot; He handled every encounter as if in complete
control. I love Him for that. I love that He could tell his disciples (and He tells us), “Do not let
your heart be troubled… I am the way, the truth and the LIFE” (John 14:1,6).

You see, Jesus viewed life differently because He not only had a close relationship with the
Father in times of trouble, but He was God himself, living among us. He came to this earth to
live as a man, to walk through this life and experience all the trials and struggles we experience.
He took on flesh and left the glories of heaven to prove His love for us. He came to this earth to
die so that you and I wouldn’t have to. He, the creator of all life, chose death so that we might
live.

If that doesn’t give you a different perspective and really hit home the reality that you are loved
and valued and your life is worth immeasurably more than you could ever imagine, I don’t know
what will.