Why are you here? Have you ever wondered? A popular movie theme song recently asked, “What was I made for?” Good question! Isaac Watts paraphrased Horace with this rhyme, “There are a Number of us creep / Into this World, to eat and sleep; / And know no Reason why they’re born, / But merely to consume the Corn, / Devour the Cattle, Fowl and Fish, / And leave behind an empty Dish.”
In the riot at Ephesus, sparked by the perceived loss of idol business, a crowd of people rushed into the theater. Luke explained, “Most of the people did not even know why they were there.” They were caught up in the mob without knowing why it was there. When Alexander, a Jew, tried to calm them down, they shouted in unison for a bout two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.” How dare these Christian “destroyers of the gods” disrupt the civil religion of Ephesus. They found their identity in a false goddess.
There must be more. We may account for our existence in terms of what we do well. An artist might say, “I am here to paint.” But to what end? One of our members, B-Boy Jeffro, competed in the Olympic event called “Breaking.” By his own testimony he uses his talent to glorify God. Paul explained our purpose by referring to Jesus, “All things have been created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16).
Not coincidentally, Paul knew exactly why he was in the world. God had sent him to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to announce the Kingdom of God. One reason these early believers were called The Way, is because they believed they had found the way to eternal life in Jesus Christ who is the Way. By the way, the Way of Jesus still works for those who will follow him. We know why we are here because we follow the One who knew his purpose completely. Jesus said I have come to seek and to save the Lost, and I have come to serve, not to be served. We are here to know Jesus and make him known. Let’s tell the ones who do not know why they are here.
