Why do you exist?  What is your purpose?  Why go on living?

Joy is one important part of the answer.

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.  (Genesis 1:31)

As the artist-creator of all we know, God made us, paused, and reflected on the goodness of what he had made.  Everything he created has purpose, value, untapped potential, and beauty.  But mankind is special – God has put his own breath of life in us – his spirit.  And his spirit “contends” with us to do what’s right.  This is why we are not at peace when we think or do wrong.

When you hold a newborn baby, or your favorite pet, or get a long hug from someone that loves you, you experience some of the joy and contentment God intended to be part of life.  Jesus said,

I came that [you] may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)

Said another way, by rejecting Jesus, we will experience inhibited life, in comparison with what He wishes for us.  No one can experience the full joy of living while rejecting the one who made life!

One purpose of living, is to participate in the exchange of goods and services that create joy in others.  For example, I just made my wife a pot of coffee – I love the smell of it, and she enjoys the taste and needs the energy boost to start her day.  I am writing this article to encourage you to discover God’s plan for you, and remind myself that life has value and doesn’t have to be over-complicated.  Possessions, power, and money are not the “life” that Jesus is talking about – in fact, those are distractions from eternal life…

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:25)

Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
    be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously—
    take God seriously. – Micah 6:8

Why go on living?  When my father had one month left to live, he said he just wanted to live long enough to see me achieve one of my career ambitions.  Through his entire life,  he constantly set goals for things he wanted to accomplish.  Proverbs 29:18 says “Where there is no vision, the people perish”.  Dreams, goals, and accomplishments are an important element of life.

We’re made in God’s image – like him, we can do a good thing, step aside and admire it, smile, share it with others, take a rest, and move on to the next task another day.  Finally,…

I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it’s important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.  Romans 12:3