October 20, 2004
Why are we here? Or, what is the purpose of life?
This is an intriguing question because it tries to understand the complex motives of God (which really can’t be understood by mere man). But I think it points to some very interesting ends at this point in the year.
The easy answer to this question is, “To love and serve God.” But that doesn’t answer “Why” God made us in the first place. And I think there is only one answer to that question that starts with the nature of God. We know that God is outside of time, even though we are bound to it. God didn’t simply get bored (a human emotion) and decide to create some playthings in men. God made a decision to form man and woman for some reason, but what was it.
I believe the only clear answer lies in the value of Life. Life is always a gift from God. As a loving god, God seeks to give of Himself to others in Love, which is the perfect reflection of who God is: God is Love. God created us so that we might receive the Love He offers, that we might participate in the divine life of love through our very natures. God made us in order to share with us the glories of Himself, in an odd way.
When man was originally made, we were perfect in many ways. We had complete control over our decisions. We had freedom, a prerequisite for the ability to Love, which we also had. Adam and Eve choose to use that freedom in a negative way that destroyed one of their greatest gifts: an intimate relationship with God. But, through the fault of Adam God gave us an even more exquisite relationship that He invites us to participate in on a daily, even hourly basis.
So what is our purpose on earth? To love and serve the Lord. By doing so, we develop this intimate relationship with all three members of the Trinity that enable us to enjoy Heaven when we arrive there. There’s an old saying that Hell has a door locked from the inside; in other words, those in Hell would be as miserable in Heaven, since they have never learned to love and serve God. After all, as Milton points out, the mind can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven. So our job on earth: prepare our souls for heaven. Why are we here? Because a loving God has given us the ultimate gift of Life (in several ways) and the opportunity to choose a life with Him or without Him for eternity. What did you do today to prepare your soul for Heaven?
God bless,
Jay
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