At one time or another, most people ask themselves the same questions humans have debated for centuries – “Why are we here?” and “What is our purpose?”
Those with a secular background may answer with sayings like “We’re here to have fun and live our best life now!” or “We’re here to find the secret to life.”
Other well-meaning people claim we are here to love one another and do good in the world by just “being a nice person.”
But as Christians, we don’t have to wonder what our purpose is, or question why we’re here because God has already told us.
And through His word, He’s outlined the narrow path we need to take, complete with a list of instructions on how to achieve the ultimate goal.
So, just what is our purpose?
To put it simply, we are here to worship God.
John Piper rightly said “Missions exist, because worship doesn’t.”
Piper stated:
“Missions is our way of saying: the joy of knowing Christ is not a private, or tribal, or national or ethnic privilege. It is for all. And that’s why we go. Because we have tasted the joy of worshiping Jesus, and we want all the families of the earth included.
“All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. (Psalm 22:27)
“Seeking the worship of the nations is fueled by the joy of our own worship. You can’t commend what you don’t cherish. You can’t proclaim what you don’t prize. Worship is the fuel and the goal of missions.”
Piper’s point is, if we aren’t in awe of God and worshiping Him, we won’t be able to effectively make His name known to the nations.
After all, how can we defend or speak of what we don’t know? If we are not in awe and on our knees thanking God for saving us from death, and praising Him for the unique creator He is, and worshiping Him in spirit and truth, our witness will fall flat.
When God saved us from a life of darkness and adopted us into His Holy Kingdom, it isn’t so that we would shrink back and live hidden lives, knowing that we are going to heaven. Sure, those who trust in Jesus as Lord are in fact going to heaven.
But what about the millions of people who have never heard the name of Jesus? The goal of world evangelization isn’t just salvation, it is so that we can spread the Gospel so when others get saved they too can come and worship God.
Our life, our purpose, and our existence are all about worshiping God, and giving Him the glory.
So while this life has trials and pain, tears and heartbreak, gut-wrenching grief and suffering, we can take comfort in knowing that this world is truly not our home. And because our Savior suffered, we can turn to Him and cry out in despair, knowing He will hear the voices of His people.
Often times this world can be a distraction. We get caught up in the latest political scandal, following the chain of events and overcome with despair. Or, we invest all our treasure in this life, buying the biggest house, newest car, and filling our homes with stuff.
But God tells us to invest our treasures in heaven, where thieves cannot steal them, and they won’t rot or be destroyed.
John Piper continues:
“It is fitting for us to have a wartime mindset in the use of our resources as long as peoples are without the gospel, and we have resources to send it. In peace time, the Queen Mary was a luxury liner, but in the Second World War she became a troop carrier. Instead of bunks three high, they were stacked seven high. Instead of eighteen piece place settings, there were rations with fork and knife. You allocate your resources differently if its wartime. And it is wartime. The battles are more constant than any in our world wars, and the losses are eternal.”
We are in battle, and while God has mercy and has given people time to repent, the end will come, and those who do not know Him will perish.
So put on the full armor of God and fight! But remember as Christians we don’t just fight for victory, we fight from victory knowing Christ has conquered sin and death and He’s already won the battle.
The real challenge for us all is to make our lives count for Him. All honor, glory and praise are for Him.
And remember as you pray to also praise Him for who He is. The Great I Am. The Alpha and the Omega. The Sovereign King. The Creator of Heaven and Earth.
What are some of your favorite ways to worship God?
Do you agree with John Piper’s quote “Missions exist because worship doesn’t?”
Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!