Our reason for being

To fulfill the divine purpose for our existence, not only must we know the true God but we must also revere and serve Him and obey His commandments.

By BIENVENIDO A. SANTIAGO JR.

WITH THE COMPLEX PROBLEMS besetting people today, it is very easy to lose track of one’s purpose of existence. Many people are more preoccupied with their careers or with securing a job to relieve them of their financial stress during this time of deep economic hardship. In places where there are hostilities, armed conflicts, epidemics or plagues, and calamities, people are more concerned with their safety and day-to-day survival. Many are also distracted by the trappings of modern-day living.

In times like this, we should always find time to pause for a while and reflect if we are able to fulfill the purpose of our being. We should not allow the disturbances happening around us to make us lose sight of what matters most. Get back to basics, so to speak. Because if we don’t, we might be neglecting our life’s true purpose.

So, what is the reason of our existence? To know the answer to this profound question we must consult God because He can tell us the real purpose of our life. He is the One Who gave us our reason for being, for He created us (Gen. 1:27).

The Bible states God’s purpose in creating mankind:

“Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” (Ps. 100:2–4 New King James Version)

The Lord’s purpose in creating us is that we must know Him as God and serve Him. We should acknowledge Him as the only true God; besides Him there is no other. This is what we must firmly believe in.

Moreover, we must recognize that God is our Creator—it is He Who has made us. Thus, we belong to Him. In His hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10 nkjv). We live and move and have our being because of God (Acts 17:28 nkjv).

Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Psalms 100:3

NEW KING JAMES VERSION

Yet, it is not enough to merely affirm that we know God. We need to prove it by obeying His commandments. Apostle John said:

“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.” (I John 2:3 nkjv)

That is the whole duty of humanity to His Creator—to revere Him and obey His commandments. In so doing we are fulfilling God’s purpose in creating us:

“After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for.” (Eccles. 12:13 Good News Bible)

Those who truly revere God serve Him as well, as stated in Deuteronomy 6:13:

“You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.” (nkjv)

Therefore, to fulfill the divine purpose for our existence, not only must we know the true God but we must also revere and serve Him and obey His commandments no matter what situation we may be in. To fulfill it will mean salvation for our soul on Judgment Day (Rev. 14:12-13 nkjv), but to neglect it would mean eternal destruction for us (II Thess. 1:8-9 nkjv).

Hence, even if a person manages to keep his career, secure his family, or attain the things that mean everything to him, but does not revere God and obey His commands, such person will not only fail to fulfill the divine reason for his existence but will also lose his soul in the end (Mark 8:36 nkjv).

And even if that person serves and worships God, but uses as his basis the commandments of men, or sets up his own way in serving God, his reverence of and service to Him will still be in vain (Matt. 15:9; Rom. 10:2-3 nkjv). That person will still fail to accomplish the God-given purpose for his being.

That is why in order for people to fulfill the reason for their existence, they need to know first God’s words and teachings. Without knowing His commandments, it will be impossible for them to truly know the Lord God.

This is the reason the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ) continues to share with all people the teachings and commandments of God to help them find and fulfill the true reason for their existence.

This article was originally published in the Pasugo: God’s Message magazine.

For more articles, visit www.pasugo.com.ph