“Why Am I Here?” by Mark McGee
One of the big questions in life is ‘why am I here’? As people who believe God’s Word, we know He created the human race for Himself. Until we understand that and search out its meaning for our life, we will miss out on the abundant life Jesus came to give us.
Say this to yourself: I am here for God. Say it again: I am here for God. Are you comfortable with that statement? If we are ‘here for God,’ then everything we do and say is for God. If we are ‘here for God,’ then we think about Him, listen to Him, talk to Him, plan our lives around Him, and talk about Him with other people. If we are ‘here for God,’ then living every day for Him is a natural occurrence. Living every day for God is not out of the ordinary if we are ‘here for God.’ So, what does that mean to you? What does it mean to live your life for your Creator?
Two other questions: Are you ready to meet God today? – and – Do you want to meet God today? We may not see each other again at church or work or at the market or in the neighborhood this week because some or even all of us may be in Heaven before then. We belong to God and are here for His purpose, so He may decide to bring us home to be with Him at any time.
People who don’t know God would say that’s crazy talk, but it’s natural for believers. We know God made us for eternity. Going to Heaven is not a surprise for us because it’s our eternal home. In Hebrews 11 we read that by faith Abraham “waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” The author also wrote that Abraham and other Old Testament believers desired a “heavenly country” and that God had “prepared a city for them.”
This is the promise Jesus made His disciples. He has prepared a place for us and one day will bring us home to be with Him. We know that our life on earth is just the beginning of knowing and enjoying the Everlasting God. Our physical death on earth is not an end to life; it’s the door that opens up the fullness of life forever.
The other point is wanting to be with God as soon as possible. We want to be with the people we love the most. I understand how Paul felt when he said he was torn between going to Heaven to be with God and staying on earth to help believers. Going to be with God was better for him – staying on earth was better for them. It’s also the feeling we have when a brother or sister in Christ goes to be with God. We are sad for their family and for ourself because we’ll miss them, but overjoyed for the one who goes to Heaven because we know how wonderful that is for them. And it’s also wonderful for God! He brings His children home to be with Him at just the right time. The death of a saint is precious to God – not because they died, but because they now stand in His Presence, fully alive, knowing God face to face, in all His Glory.
Yet, at the same time, we know that this life we have on earth is our one chance to serve God while living in a mortal, sin-scarred body. That may sound a little crazy, but I think it’s important to realize that God has given us the great privilege of demonstrating to Him just how much we love Him – how much we appreciate what He’s done for us – by choosing to love Him and abandon the desires of sin while still living in a sinful world.
The choices we make in Heaven will be far different than the choices we make here on earth. Corruptible puts on incorruption and mortal puts on immortality when we meet God in Heaven. The choices we make now for God are made in bodies that are tempted and tested daily. Living for God in Heaven will be extremely easy because we will leave sin behind. “Death will be swallowed up in victory” – “God will give us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” Choosing to love God and serve Him now while living in sinful flesh is hard, but it is possible because of His Word and His Spirit living in us. I think there’s something very special about a Christian choosing to give God everything they are and everything they have while on earth. This is our “proving” ground.
I’m reminded what God told the Israelites before they entered the promised land –
“And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not … Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who led you through that great and terrible wilderness, in which were fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty land where there was no water; who brought water for you out of the flinty rock; who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end— then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ Deuteronomy 8:2, 11-17 NKJV
Was God punishing the children of Israel by testing them in the wilderness? Not at all! He was preparing them to live the best possible life in the promised land. He was preparing them to understand that their wealth came from God and not from themselves. That was a vital lesson for them and is for us as well.
Paul wrote this in his first letter to the Christians at Corinth –
“Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.” 1 Corinthians 3:12-14
When we are tested in our life today, do you think God is punishing or preparing us? Step back for a moment, take a deep breath, look at God’s Word carefully and I believe you’ll see that what God is doing is preparing us to live the best possible life on earth before He brings us home to our reward.
If we agree with what God says in His Word about life, then we will live every day as if it could be our last day on earth. We agree with God that life is fragile and not in our control. We agree that it is a mist that appears for just a moment, then vanishes away. Our life on earth is temporary. Our life with God is forever.
Jesus told His disciples not to focus on tomorrow or next week or next year. He told them to focus on today because that’s what we have – we have today. The promise God makes us about tomorrow is that we will be with Him forever. What a blessing!
Written by Mark McGee
Mark McGee is a career journalist and former atheist. He worked on the
news staff of several radio and television stations (including Huntsville’s
WAAY-TV from 1984-1996) and two large metropolitan newspapers. Mark
was a reporter, correspondent, anchor, managing editor, executive
producer and news director during a four-decade career in news. Since
retiring in 2009, Mark has worked as a communications director and
consultant.
Mark has written three published books and more than 160 Ebooks. He
also writes regularly for several Christian blogs. Mark also serves as
Alabama Regional Director for Ratio Christi Campus Apologetics Alliance
and works with students at the University of Alabama Huntsville.
Mark has been active in martial arts and self-defense training since 1961
and has been teaching from a Christian perspective since 1971. He
continues to teach privately in the Huntsville area.
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