WHY ARE WE HERE ON THIS EARTH?
Oct. 24, 2010
(Acts 17:24 NIV) "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. (Acts 17:25 NIV) And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. (Acts 17:26 NIV) From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. (Acts 17:27 NIV) God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
Why are we here on this earth? Another way to ask the question is “What is the meaning of life or does my life have a purpose?” The question is probably the most important question we can ask in this life. It is the most asked question from the beginning of history to the present. Philosophers, kings, presidents, scientists, politicians, religious authorities, artists and countless ordinary people have asked it. Some children may ask this question, but it is very likely as we get older that we ask this question. Many people wonder if there is a reason for living. In fact, many people think there is no reason or purpose for living. A professor at Northeastern Illinois University once wrote to 250 of the best-known philosophers, scientists, writers and intellectuals in the world, asking them what is the meaning of life? He published their responses in a book. Some only could give their best guesses. Some even said they just made up a purpose for life. Others said they had no idea what the meaning of life was? Still others wrote back to the professor and asked him if he knew the meaning of life?
Some people have decided that there is no meaning or purpose for our lives. That is what atheists believe. Life is meaningless. The following story illustrates what life is like with no meaning. A pilot told people traveling on an airplane that there is good news and bad news. The bad news was that the pilot could not determine where the plane was heading. The good news was that they were getting where they were going very quickly! Maybe the people on the airplane are enjoying the flight. Perhaps the food is very good. Maybe the in-flight movies are great. However, would the people really enjoy the flight? Some people may begin to worry about where they were going. Life is like that for most people in the world today. It is short and they do not know where they are going.
Naturally, many religions have tried to answer the question about the meaning of life. According to religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism we are part of a physical world. Life is an endless cycle of birth and death that can only be broken by entering a state of nothingness. Life becomes meaningless!
I have good news. Life has meaning. There is a purpose for our lives. We can know why we are on this earth! A book was published in Canada in 1989 called “Why Are We On This Earth.” We received three copies of the book from our home church in Canada a year or two after we became missionaries in Japan in 1989. One of the stories in the book was about a couple, Ernie and Shelia Hollands. They came to Japan with us in January 1987 with FGBMFI. Ernie Hollands, had been a bank robber and spent more than 25 years in prison. During his last time in prison he became a Christian and found the purpose for his life. The book is excellent. Unfortunately, the book was not printed in Japanese.
However, there is a book printed in Japanese that tells us what the meaning of life is. That book is the bible. It tells us that in the beginning God created everything. We are not here by chance or an accident. (Acts 17:24 NIV) "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. (Acts 17:25 NIV) And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. (Acts 17:26 NIV) From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. (Acts 17:27 NIV) God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
There is a God that created everything for his purpose. If there was no God, our lives would all be accidents, the result of chance. Life would have no purpose or meaning. However, we are not here by chance. God created all things, including humans. There is a purpose for our life. God has a plan for our lives. However, we cannot find the plan God has for our lives until we become a Christian. (John 3:16 NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. When we believe in Jesus Christ we have eternal life. We will spend eternity with God. We become children of God. (John 1:12 NIV) Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- (John 1:13 NIV) children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. After we become Christians God reveals his plan for our life. Then we can live for the purpose for which we were made. Our life has new meaning and is very fulfilling. God chose the purpose for your life before you were even born. God wants to be the center of your life. God wants you to fulfill the purpose he created you for.