Why am I here?

Last month, a friend asked for my response to the question, "Why am I here?" This is a profound and deep question, which has persisted through the ages. So, here are my thoughts: My answer is I am here to glorify God where He has called me. And I think that is the ultimate purpose for anyone. However, most people do not follow Him. Throughout life, seasons change, and I think the call God has on our lives is always to glorify Him where He has called, but it may look different across seasons. And it will look different for each person.

Decades ago, I was called to be a student. And later, I progressed through different professions or positions within those professions. Those are more work vocations, but in all of them, I am called to do a good job, to represent Christ and to work as if working for the Lord as Colossians 3:23 calls us. I have also been called to be a son, a father and a husband. And how that looks changes over time. My mother is an octogenarian. My relationship is different with her than it was 30 years ago and differs even more than when I lived under her roof. I have been called to be a friend, to encourage, to exhort (those based on my spiritual gifts).

I am called to share Jesus. Yet, that even looks different from others who have different spiritual gifts. Someone gifted with evangelism might do it to the masses from a pulpit, perhaps. I might do it in writing or take a longer, slower process, often in one-to-one conversation, perhaps over a cup of coffee, and definitely with encouragement and exhortation. And that's how God has called me to share. I don't expect it to be the same for the next brother or sister in Christ (though we all should point others to Christ). The short-term mission trips I have gone on are to different places, of a different duration, and of a different nature than those of friends who have gone for months or years or as a full-time missionaries to places I've never been. We are called to different places doing different things, but it is all to point to Christ.

Micah 6:8 (NIV) says the following:

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
     And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
     and to walk humbly[a] with your God.

Matthew 5:16 (NIV) says, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Acting justly, loving mercy, walking with God, letting our light shine all involve glorifying God, which is outlined clearly at the end of Matthew 5:16. They also require depending on Him and the work of the Holy Spirit and with such dependency, we also glorify God as that is how we reflect Him.

So, my answer "To glorify God where He has called me" is a general one, which I think is true of all. However, it looks different per person, per spiritual gift, per season, etc., and I can only glorify God as a believer by the power of the Holy Spirit. After all, anything done apart from faith is sin (See Romans 14:23b) and even our good works are filthy rags (see Isaiah 64:6) apart from Him. If I get more specific with my answer, it will be specific to me and where I am, and I wouldn't demand what is specific to me for another. The general things of glorifying God where He has called, trusting in the perfect work of Jesus at the cross and in the resurrection on our behalf, trusting in His Word, etc., are non-negotiables for anyone who believes (and desire/hope for those who don't). However, the specifics vary. It's like One Body, Many Parts in scripture (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Also, God gave me the family he gave me that I grew up in and the family I have now. God gave me the personality I have and the experiences I have, redeeming and sanctifying through the good and the bad. God has me in a specific location and sphere of influence. God has gifted me in certain ways -- both spiritual gifts and talents. And those specifics are where things vary per individual but all point to the general non-negotiables, one of them being to glorify God where He has called you. I don't expect others to be of the same family, personality, experiences, location and influence. However, anyone in Christ, I would expect to follow the "non-negotiables" -- to believe in the Trinity, to trust in the perfect work of Jesus at the cross and in the resurrection on our behalf, trusting in His Word, etc., and desiring/seeking to glorify God where called.

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