The Ultimate Why

It is perhaps the ultimate philosophical question in human history. At some point in every person’s life, each individual can’t help but eventually ask, “Why am I here?” Men and women have pondered, meditated on, studied, and evaluated countless philosophies from around the world in an attempt to find an answer. While trying to balance avoiding cliché while still being all-encompassing, those many people have come up with equally as many reasons for why men and women go through the routines in their lives – from prayer and Bible reading to careers, hobbies and everything in between. Even on the campus of a Christian university, I witnessed a nearly unanimous, sometimes subconscious cry in the students for meaning, purpose, and direction. In my humble opinion, the best source for the answer to the ultimate question is the ultimate authority – the Creator. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus states in a prayer to the Father: “Your kingdom come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.”(Matthew 6:10) Being of one mind with God the Father, Jesus gives his followers a glimpse into the collective goal of the Godhead; God wills that Earth gradually reflect Heaven more and more as time goes on. While examination of all the implications of Jesus’ statement is still needed, one truth is immediately evident. The purpose of human kind and the reason that we walk this planet is to advance the Kingdom of Heaven among humanity as a whole, in the church, and in the individual’s life. The first place in which we must examine the furthering of the kingdom of heaven is the big picture – the world as a whole – in particular, those who are not yet citizens of the Kingdom of God. Some of Jesus’ last spoken words on earth were instructions to make the whole world His disciples (Matthew 28:19). God’s will is that every last person become one of His adopted children and an heir of the kingdom. This goal is accomplished by, among other things, verbal and demonstrative evangelism, generosity and service to the unbelieving world, praying for those who have not yet encountered God to be saved, and the creation of Christian community to which unbelievers might be attracted. As culture continues to evolve and the church continues to grow and change with it, new specific methods and venues are being tried all the time, but the actual goal itself remains the same. Narrowing the focus somewhat, the second place in which the kingdom of heaven is to be advanced is the lives of existing believers. Those who have professed faith in Christ are to mature in their relationship with the Almighty and to eventually take over leadership roles. This is done through discipleship and mentorship, especially as laid out in the biblical book of Titus, wherein leaders in certain walks of life and service are instructed to train up those who follow them (Titus 2:1-8). This directive also comes from the Great Commission in Matthew 28. Disciples are not instantaneously created; it is an ongoing process. Teaching and learning biblical Truth, practicing servanthood, and ongoing inspiration from music and corporate messages all contribute to a community of disciples who are on a journey together to represent the kingdom of heaven in a tangible, visible way. Finally, the place in which each person is able to take the most active role in advancing the kingdom of heaven is in his or her individual life. In the fifth chapter of his first epistle, the apostle John writes, “I write these things to you…so that you may know that you have eternal life.” Many sermons, articles, and debates have been conducted around the phrase “eternal life,” but I think that many of them miss the most important point by focusing on the wrong word. The fact that the life is eternal is not what makes it from God. What makes it divine, what makes it of the Kingdom is the fact that it is Life. Since we are in God’s image, we are inherently eternal beings. Jesus has some famous words that illustrate this point: “I have come that [you] might have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) He does not simply wish for our state of being to continue on indefinitely; his aim is that we experience Life. Pastor Erwin McManus of Mosaic Church in Los Angeles, CA, puts it this way: “In the same way that Jesus describes ‘death’ as ‘sleeping,’ he would describe what we think of ‘life’ as ‘existence.’” Jesus intends for us to live in a way that transcends the ordinary human experience. As a Christian, my life is meant to be characterized by passion, peace, joy, genuine and healthy relationships, consistency, and loving responsibility for everything in my care. My life as a Christian reflects the kingdom of heaven by my participation in and creation of Christian community, practice of hard work, intimate conversation with God through prayer, continual intellectual stimulation and learning, taking care of my body through exercise, and even spending time on hobbies and fun. As is almost always the case with God, his plan begins on the inside – with me. The kingdom is furthered in my life, and it’s contagious. Before long, the Church and the rest of the world are inexorably drawn unto and into the eternity of Life that is the kingdom of heaven. Our daily lives, when viewed with the correct perspective, are able to transcend our temporal experiences and routines, becoming something greater than even what we can perceive. Even suffering does not deter us because our purpose is for something greater than our own comfort. We do not look forward to our death as the beginning of eternity with God; we are able to adopt Paul’s attitude that “to live is Christ and to die is gain” because heaven does not begin when we die (Philippians 1:21). Heaven is ongoing wherever followers of Jesus – the salt and light – exist. Death pales to insignificance in the light of eternal Life in God’s kingdom. The kingdom of God glorifies the name of God because it exemplifies the characteristics of God. Humanity is not needed to simply sing His praises; the Bible states that mere rocks can do that (Luke 19:40). What men and women on Earth are able to do that nothing else in Creation is capable of is to personify, expand, and advance the kingdom of heaven.