“. . . so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Corinthians 5:4-5)
Why do we exist? Why do we occupy space and time? Why did God create us? Smarter men and women than me have wrestled with these questions since before there were iPhones. Maybe longer.
And here’s the answer right out in plain sight. If you’re even a little bit curious about why you are here, this verse should punch you square in the nose. “God . . . has made us for this very purpose.” You should ask, “What purpose? What? What’s the answer?”
In the verse before, Paul described his longing to be in heaven, to have all the death in him devoured by eternal life. Bottom line: God made us to be with him. Forever. That’s why we exist. It’s what we’re about. It’s when we’ll finally occupy the life we were built for. It’s when the fish meets the water, when the bird leaves the ground, when the child of God gets to go home.
Think: What is it worth to have the answer to the question of why we exist? Is it helpful to know that our reason for being is to be with God after this life is over? If we believe that, how will it change our lives now?
Pray: Thank God for revealing to you why he created you. Ask him to give you the courage to believe it.
Do: Make a quick list of other explanations you’ve heard for why we exist. How do those ideas compare to what Paul wrote in this verse?