What on Earth Am I Here For?

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Today, actually tonight, I started a 40-day journey.  I recently purchased a book by Pastor Rick Warren entitled What on Earth Am I Here For?.  Many of you will know this book by a different title.  What on Earth Am I Here For? is an expanded edition of a previously released book by Pastor Rick.  I think you MIGHT have heard of the other name for the book.  Its title was/is The Purpose Driven Life.  Have you heard of it?  I thought so.

I know some of you out there are not HUGE fans of Rick Warren.  To be honest, I have my reservations about him too.  I don't think that he and I would land on the same side of various theological issues.  I don't think that I would be comfortable with some of the things that Pastor Rick does at Saddleback Church.  I don't think I would practice some of them at Ada First.  However, I DO think that there is some value in the premise of this book. 

Let's be honest.  "What on earth am I here for?" is a valid question that we ALL have asked ourselves at some point in our lives.  "What on earth am I here for?" is a valid question that we ALL have asked God at some point in our lives.  At the age of 31 (almost 32), I am STILL pondering this question during certain seasons of my life.

During this 40-day journey, I am looking forward to discovering several things about my purpose on this earth.  Day #1, which I read this evening, reminded me of something that many individuals need to be reminded of.  Some need to discover the truth of Day #1 for the first time.  This is how the book begins:  "It's not about you."

Do I really believe this?  I live my life like "it's all about me."  The decisions I make, the places I go, the words that I speak, the actions I commit all SCREAM to others and to God that "it's all about me."  I believe that it is human nature to live this way.  I believe that it is human nature to live life on this earth like this life is ALL there is.  However, at the close of Day #1, Pastor Rick used a verse from the book of Colossians that scatters this mentality.  Listen to the words of the Apostle Paul:

 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--ALL THINGS WERE CREATED THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIM.--Colossians 1:16 (ESV, emphasis added)

This verse perfectly proves who it's all about.  It's not about us.  It's about Jesus Christ.  All things were created through Him and all things were created for Him.  Where do we come into the picture?  We are to live our lives and enjoy the things that God created for us.  We are to live our lives glorifying God through the use of the things that He created.  

It's not about me!  It's ALL about Christ!  If I can live my life in such away where this all important truth is the focus of my life, I will be WELL on my way to living a purpose driven life and answering the question, "What on earth am I here for?" Blessings!