Many people in the world have more conveniences and appliances than previous generations, yet many people have never felt a greater sense of alienation, loneliness, and emptiness in their lives.
Executive Coach Richard Leider asks people this question: "Why do you get up in the morning?"
The biggest problem with this question is its man-centered premise. We do not define or create our lives. On our own, in our own efforts, we receive nothing but emptiness and frustration.
Jesus scandalized many of His followers when He preached that it was grace which called them, not their intellect or standing:
"And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." (John 6:65)
We are lost, not God -- which puts a lie to the boastful claims of many who claim that they found the Lord. He has always been waiting for us to call Him. He was never lost.
Consider the parable of the Lost Sheep:
"And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
"And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
"And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
"I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." (Luke 15: 3-7)
God rejoices over us to the extent that we allow Him to find us, rescue us, and restore us to Himself.
This parable is followed by the parable of the Prodigal Son, a young man who dismissed his father by demanding his inheritance early, only to waste it on riotous living, suffer intense privation, and then return to his father. Expecting a remonstrance and demotion from his Father, the Son was restored not just to his original standing before the Father, but was promoted to carrying the family ring and wearing fine garments. The Father even slaughtered the fatted calf to celebrate the return of his son.
Why do I get up in the morning? Because Christ is my Life, He is my Way, and He is my Truth (cf John 14:6)! He has placed in me works from the beginning, that He wants me to walk in(cf Ephesians 2:10).
If we are trying to find a way in this world for ourselves, we will be sadly mistaken and disappointed. No one can come to the Father except through Jesus Christ, in whom there is no condemnation. Apart from Him, we can do nothing, all our efforts are filthy rags, dead works.
We do not go out in search of purpose. He is our Life, He is our glory, and He is our strength who both works within us both to will and to do for His good pleasure! (cf Philippians 2: 12-13)
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