Created For A Purpose

In The Year of Living Biblically A.J. Jacobs comments that when he thinks about the Earth being 6000 years old it makes him feel more significant than if it were 10 billion years old because he’s been alive for a much larger percentage of the Earth’s existence. And when he thinks about all humanity descending from two people then we are really, literally, one big family.

As much as he doesn’t believe in the whole Creationism ideology, he feels it does give humans a certain “pride” because if we are created by God then we are not inconsequential.

I especially like his quote from Mark Looy, the publicist for the Creation Museum in Petersburg, KY, who says, “Evolution says that we are the product of random processes. That we evolved via pond scum. When we say that, we’re not applying much value to humanity. If we say we’re a product of accidents and random processes, how much purpose and hope does that give to our youth?”

Whether we believe evolution is true or not (and I believe it is true in some respects, though not that we have evolved from pond scum or lower forms of life) I believe Mark is right to say that it devalues human life, which gives people less reason to live because it seems we are not here for any reason.

If we are here only by accident then we are of no more consequence than anything else on this planet. Life has no purpose, no meaning, no real value. And we see this devaluing of human life more and more in our society. Abortion. Euthanasia. Violent video games and movies that desensitize us to death.

Life has lost its sacredness.

Now, in one sense the Bible does state how inconsequential we are when it says, “You have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing in your sight. Surely everyone stands as a mere breath.” (Ps. 39:5, NRSV)

And in another Psalm, the Psalmist pens the inconsequential feelings we all feel when he writes, “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?” (Ps. 8: 3-4, NRSV)

Yet, the Psalmist also swells with pride in affirming that God has “made [mortals] a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor.” (Ps. 8:5, NRSV)

As Christians we believe that we are created by God. When we believe that, then we must also believe that we have been created for a purpose. All things are designed with a specific purpose in mind. Chairs are made to sit on. Watches are made to keep time. Cars are made to transport us places.

Everything is created for a reason. And that belief gives us hope that we, too, are here for a reason. God would not have created us if God didn’t think it was worthwhile. Life is not an accident. We have a purpose in life.  

What is my purpose? What is my reason for existence? Why am I here?

Finding those answers is often the challenge. God does not stamp our bellies with “Writer” or “Pastor” or “Athlete” or “Farmer” when we are born so that all the world can know what we are called to be and steer us in that direction. We must pay attention to the way God has created us, the unique combination of our gifts, interests, and personality. Some know from a very young age what God created them to be. For others, it takes much wisdom and discerning, sometimes over many years, before their specific calling is discovered.

In a broad sense, however, God calls everyone to love God and to love each other so we can make a difference in the world as we live out the sacred life God has given us.