What is the purpose of life?

Mankind has been searching for an answer to this question for a very long time. Over time there have been many different answers and there are many different ways to approach this question, and in todays every changing world, this question again has become more and more relevant. Those that approach the purpose of life question from a scientific view point might simply say this:

“Existence is a cosmic lottery we’ve won”.

In this point of view we are told that really all this process of the beginning of live happened over time, by chance, and we are just really really lucky to be here. This is presented through mathematical theories like the Big Bang and others in an attempt to explain the origins of mater, energy and life through natural processes that over time somehow created life. All this is based on human logic and understanding on how we see and understand the universe at this point and time. (I must add that the new discoveries from the James Webb telescope have shaken some of those views and theories.)

Those that approach this question from a philosophical point of view might state:

There’s no single “correct” answer to life’s purpose.

So again, we are left with more questions than answers. If our life today is the result of pure chance and luck, what value and meaning does our life really have? If there is no “correct” answer to this question, then how are we to make sense of life and the things that we do? Does what we do every day really matter? These points of views have real moral and social consequences.

To have at least some sort of understanding and foundation for our lives others simply leave out the origin of life question and then state:

Life purpose is defined as having set goals and a direction for one’s life

Now this view point is very understandable as it simply brings to our view that even if we cannot find an answer to the beginnings of all we at least can structure the now and have goals that we want to achieve to give direction to our lives. This direction then can give us a sense of purpose.

I myself have looked at this question during my life. In my teenage years I set forth to study physics and graduated with a college degree. My plan was to move forward and explore everything about the universe and its beginning. I still remember my studies where my professor wrote long formulas on the blackboard and all of us students kept copying and writing for hours. Behind this desire to learn was the desire to find purpose for my life and show me how it all started. Maybe if I could understand that, life would make sense to me.
Things turned out very different. I am Pastor now that has served over 23 years in full-time ministry. In the Bible I found that which I was looking for: purpose

2 Timothy 1:9 (KJV)
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

When you start to read the Bible in Genesis you will find out right away that the creation story is a story of purpose. Everything was created with a purpose, even us, the human race. Here in the scripture from 2 Timothy we find out that we have been called with a holy calling. This calling does not depend on our works, but, it is solely based on the purpose and grace of God. It further states that this calling was given to us through Jesus Christ before the world began!
This establishes that our lives are not accidents, that we are not born through chance, but that each life is of great value and that a purpose exists for it. The moral and social implications of this are very important. Our lives have a divine purpose and it is up to us to find out about this purpose through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In a world that has largely become materialistic, having purpose defined but what can be obtained or what status one can achieve by simply having lots of money and material possessions, it is important to understand that life can never be defined or have purpose in material things. Another biblical truth rings true even today:

1 Timothy 6:7 (KJV)
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

Reading this we can understand that material possession cannot be our purpose for living. Purpose in a biblical context brings us to understand that we where brought into this world at a specific moment in time, in a specific place to fulfill the calling God has placed on our lives. Once we discover this personal call, our lives will never be the same.

I encourage you to seek out this divine call for your life and follow on that path, that purpose. Once you are on that path, no matter what is happening all around you, you will have peace in your heart, knowing that all, even your life, is in your heavenly fathers hands.

Pastor Andreas Fischer

PS: In my new book “The Illusion of Choice”’ you will find two entire chapters that teach you everything you need to know about God’s calling and purpose for your life.