Why am I here?

Answer

Why am I here? This is a timeless question, inevitably connected to inquiries about purpose and personal value. It is crucial to pose this question, as the response one reaches influences how one perceives oneself and engages with the world.

Some individuals propose the concept that humans originated from impersonal, evolutionary processes and that life is merely a coincidence. If this is accurate, then there is no genuine explanation for our existence—life lacks a definitive purpose. Conversely, the Bible presents a different viewpoint. Genesis 1:1–27 narrates how an intelligent Creator intentionally crafted all things in six days, including the initial man and woman. God declared, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground” (verse 26). The Lord designed humanity to reflect His image and govern His creation, yet the first humans opted to defy God, introducing sin and death into the world (Genesis 3:12-19;Romans 5:12). Since then, humanity has been distanced from God (Isaiah 59:2;Romans 3:23). Without a foundational relationship with the Lord, we are left pondering our identity, purpose, and reason for being.

Why am I here? To glorify God. Ultimately, God fashioned us for His glory; our objective is to honor Him and, in this corrupted world, to reveal Him to others (Isaiah 43:7;Matthew 28:18-19). Human beings are not coincidences; we are not here by random chance. Numerous passages in the Bible emphasize that the purpose of humans is to offer God praise and glory, as He is our Creator who bestowed upon us life (Ecclesiastes 12:13; Revelation 4:11). Augustine of Hippo encapsulates our purpose and our profound longing in his Confessions: “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee” 1:1:1.

The overarching reason for our existence— to glorify God— applies uniquely to each of us. Psalm 139:16 reveals that God’s plan for us is as detailed as it is individual: “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” (NLT). According to this verse, God is in charge of three aspects that deeply involve each of us: 1) the commencement of each life, 2) the duration of each life, and 3) the specific purpose for each life.

Why am I here? To be reconciled to God, who “commands all people everywhere to repent” «And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: », (Acts 17:30). Jesus died in our place, bearing the penalty for our sins (Romans 5:6-8; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Through His resurrection, He overcame sin and death, enabling us to have a relationship with God and restoring the connection that was broken at the fall of humanity (2 Timothy 1:10; Romans 5:10). By repenting and believing in Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are liberated from sin. The Bible portrays God as “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” «The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. », (2 Peter 3:9).

Why am I here? To serve the Lord and obey Him. “When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man” «Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. », (Ecclesiastes 12:13, BSB). There is no higher purpose than being a servant of the King of the universe see Psalm 84:10.

Why am I here? To prepare for eternity. Those who are confused about why they are here may end up pursuing pleasure or wealth or fame as the goal of life, but all of those things are vanity, as the book of Ecclesiastes attests. Part of why we’re here is to ready ourselves for the inevitable journey we must take after death: “People are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment” «And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: », (Hebrews 9:27). Jesus promoted an eternal perspective, asking, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Mark 8:36-37).

In knowing, glorifying, and serving the Lord, we have the answer to why we are here. In all that we do, even in everyday tasks, we can glorify God «Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. », (1 Corinthians 10:31). Since the Lord uniquely made each one of us, we can glorify Him in ways unique to our personalities, talents, and gifts (see Psalm 139:13-14; 1 Peter 4:10-11).

10-11). Because God created us, loved us, and redeemed us in Christ, He is worthy of all praise and glory, and our lives should testify to His grace and goodness.