Why does man exist?

J.M. Boice told an amusing story about Yogi Berra, the well-known catcher
for the New York Yankees in the 1950's. During a game, Hank Aaron came up to
the plate to bat. Yogi Berra began his usual chattering and tried to
distract Aaron. Yogi said to him, "Henry, you're holding the bat wrong.
You're supposed to hold it so you can read the trademark."

Aaron didn't say anything in return. When the next pitch came, he smashed it
into the left-field bleachers. After rounding the bases and stepping back on
home plate, Aaron looked at Yogi Berra and said, "I didn't come up here to
READ!" *

Why are YOU here? What is your purpose in life? What is the reason for your
existence?

Some have made prosperity their purpose in life. These will "spend" their
lives making money to "spend" upon material possessions. Big bank accounts,
the finest of houses and cars, and luxurious vacations are the top
priorities in their lives. Jesus warned, "Take heed and beware of
covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things
he possesses" (Luke 12:15).

For others, the pursuit of knowledge is their quest in life. To seek to grow
in knowledge is worthwhile, but we must be sure to seek the right kind of
knowledge. It is possible to know a lot, yet not know those things that are
most important. The lives of many today are characterized in the Scriptures
as those who are "always learning, but never able to come to the knowledge
of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7).

Some pursue worldly pleasure as the sole reason for their existence. Some
continue to live by the Epicurean philosophy of old: "Eat, drink, and be
merry, for tomorrow we die." This philosophy fails to recognize the fact
that we have been created accountable beings which one day will give account
of how we have lived (Romans 14:12). Again the scriptures warn of many who
are "lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" (2 Timothy 3:4).

Others seek position, power, popularity, and the list goes on and on.

What is YOUR reason for existence?

The Scriptures teach us that we were created by our Creator to worship and
serve Him. To glorify God is our reason for existence (see 1 Corinthians
10:31). This means that we have been created to magnify and exalt the Lord
our God as we humble ourselves and submit to His authority. Our reason for
existence is found in doing God's will, NOT our own.

When we choose "OUR WAY" over God's way, we SIN, and this is the wrong way
that leads to disillusionment and destruction (cf. Matthew 7:13-14).

But God loves us so much that He gave His Son to die on the cross for our
sins so that we might be forgiven of our sins, understand the real reason
for our existence, and live with Him for eternity.

Blessed are those who choose GOD'S way: those who place their faith in Jesus
(Acts 16:31), repent of their sins (Acts 17:30), confess Jesus before men
(Romans 10:9-10), are baptized into Christ for the remission of sins (Acts
2:38), and live their lives to the glory of God -- for they have recognized
their true purpose.

Won't YOU realize your true purpose in life by trusting and obeying God?

David A. Sargent