Why do you exist? This question is asked by every person at some point in their life. And more times than not, it’s a question that becomes a characteristic of entire lives being tossed and thrown about by endless pursuit for an answer. Goals, decisions, relationships, changes, expectations, are all defined by tiresome searching for purpose and meaning. Everyone wants to know why they are here on earth. Sadly, most people grapple and clamor and yet never find true reason for their existence. Even people who go to church.
A Christian knows the true answer is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. The Bible is clear about this (e.g., Psalm 86:9; Isaiah 60:21; Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Psalm 73:25-26; Psalm 16:11; 144:15; Isaiah 12:2; Philippians 4:4; and these are just a few verses of many). ‘To glorify God and enjoy him forever’ is a summary of every person’s created purpose.
‘To glorify God’ is to recognize and honor God for being above everything else. Your life becomes one that is lived with acknowledgement that all is done under the greatness and splendor of him who is truly awesome. He is the one who establishes the way in which you live—how you think, do, and say. Only Christians can do this. And Christians have received this truth as a gift. God freely opens the Christian’s eyes to who he is, and he gives them a new heart to prize his worth. He reveals to them that he is the end of all that a follower of Jesus is and does. In other words, since Jesus redeems Christians, revealing the truth about life, and gives access to God and relationship with him, he enables them to become true worshipers. Jesus thus defines the new life that glorifies God. The Christian sets their sights and aspirations upon Jesus and worships. Jesus becomes the Christian’s life. All that a believer is has Jesus in mind. Life is lived in him. It’s lived for him. Because it’s given by him.
No one can simply include Jesus in their life and decide to glorify God. Jesus is life. He gives reason, purpose, meaning, and understanding to life. He is not added to the weekend. He is not given lip-service. He is the Christian’s absolute desire for living. If he is not then you are not Christian, and your search for meaning will continue with no end. If he is then your new life is one that glorifies God.
‘Enjoy him forever’ describes the relationship given in this new life lived for, by, and in Christ. A Christian is not just a person who is forgiven of their sin, they are redeemed to a new life that has relationship with God. God extends grace and love that forever binds believers to him. Becoming Christian is not a one-and-done event. It’s a new life lived with God in delight of him. Enjoyment of God explains how this new life with God is then lived. It is to accept that all good things come from God through faith in Jesus, and these are the only good things that last. It is to live in the true knowledge that nothing and no one else satisfies—Jesus is the great pleasure of the Christian’s life.
No one can enjoy Jesus and have the world. To have all that the world offers is to lose the enjoyment that only Jesus gives. It is to live in search of happiness that never comes. The truth is if Jesus does not make you happy, then you are not a follower of Jesus. For the Christian, Jesus is the root and fruit of our happiness that continues for all eternity.
Do you know why you exist? Is Jesus your answer to this question? I pray that for you, Jesus is the anchor of your existence and he is the treasure of your life. For the one who sees him as worthy of glorifying and the source of joy is able to rest from searching and have eternal life.