What is the purpose of life?
Don’t gloss over it. Pause and decide what you believe.

Here are common answers people give:

• To find happiness
  
• To spread as much love as possible
  
• To make the world a better place
  
• To live life to the fullest
  
• To become the best version of myself
  

This question cuts to the core of who you are. Your answer becomes the lens you use to make decisions and the foundation your life rests on.

If you value happiness, you’ll chase opportunities that make you happy. If you value growth, you’ll look for chances to grow. You see where I’m going?

But what if your answer does more than set your priorities? What if it reveals whether you’re spiritually dead or alive? 

“Dead or alive? How could I be reading this if I were dead?”

Hold that thought. I’m going to ask ChatGPT to explain it in a way we can all grasp.

You’re probably past toys, but you get the point. 

Physical death happens when the heart stops, the lungs stop, and the brain ceases activity.

Spiritual death, though, is different — it means our connection with God is cut off.

But here’s the good news: Jesus came to fix that broken connection. He came to bring us hope, joy, peace, love, meaning, and purpose that last far beyond this short, fragile world. By carrying the weight of our sin and enduring the wrath of God in our place, he covered our sins completely. And because he rose from the dead, he now offers us brand new life in him.

So here’s the question we need to ask: If Jesus is real, and he truly offers complete forgiveness and everlasting life in his kingdom of love and peace, then why do we so often live only for this temporary life?

The truth is, the spiritually dead are often comfortably miserable living apart from God’s presence. They don’t realize Jesus came to break the curse. Instead, they look for purpose in relationships, careers, or pleasures that won’t last. They think of life as nothing more than an 80-year experience. I mean, look at the list of answers from earlier. None of them even pause to consider God or eternity.

That doesn’t mean they’re devoid of morals — I know plenty of people who are kinder and more selfless than me. But without the truth of Jesus, they miss out on the freedom and hope that stretch beyond the grave. They don’t realize there’s a God who loves them deeply, constantly reaching out for their attention. They believe that being a “good person” is enough, when in reality, the key to true life is having a relationship with their Creator.

So then, what is the purpose of life, if it’s not any of the answers we’ve already listed? Let me tell you—before God himself—what it truly is, assuming this: God is real, and Jesus is the true revelation of who he is.

The purpose of life is to be reconnected to our Creator through Jesus. It’s to know his grace, mercy, truth, justice, and kindness—and then to make him known in the world, using whatever influence he’s given you.

That might be a tough pill to swallow—maybe even impossible right now. It’s not my place to force anything on you. You may leave with more questions than answers, and that’s okay. Your journey isn’t mine; I can only plead with you to walk in the way of Jesus. I can’t push you down the path, but I can point to the One who walked it for you. So please, don’t stop seeking; the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and this world is passing away.