WHY AM I HERE? WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?

EPHESIANS 2:8-10: “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift, not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” CSB

OBSERVATION: Why am I here? What is the meaning of life? What is my purpose in life? What should I do next? What should I do right now? These are all important questions. However, these are also questions that can keep us from doing anything. They can become so overwhelming that we get stuck and end up doing nothing!

We all go through life and hit milestones along the way. We face Kindergarten only to be thrust into Grade School. From Grade School to Middle School. From Middle School to High School. Then we face our first big “What” questions in life. What do I do now? What do I want to be? What is my next step?

Life continues, and we face continual changes and milestones where we meet our friend “What” along the way. This is also true in our lives as Christ followers. What is my purpose as a child of God? What are my spiritual gifts? What is my ministry? What does God want me to do now, next, and in the future? These questions can either propel us or paralyze us.

WHAT is the answer?

May I offer a bit of pastoral advice? We need to focus on the journey and not the answer. The answer to the “What” in life is discovered in the journey. Yet, so many of us never begin the journey because we are waiting for the clouds to part, the voice of God to speak, and a light to shine upon our path. What we miss is that the clouds have already parted, God has already spoken, and the light is already shining!

As Paul defends the Gospel of grace through faith, he also reveals the pathway of answering the “What” of life. So many are looking for a detailed and difficult road map to life. They do the same with their salvation. There is something intrinsically in our spiritual DNA that makes us want to work our way to God. We fall into the trap of doing works to please God and forget the power of His grace. Paul reminds us of the power of God’s grace as he writes,

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift, not from works, so that no one can boast.”

Yet, this truth makes discovering the “What” in life all the more difficult. We don’t want to miss the grace of God through our works, so we are afraid to do anything. Yet, this misunderstanding of grace is the very thing that keeps us from discovering the “What” of life. While we are not saved through the good that we do, our works, we are saved nonetheless for a defined purpose. This purpose seems antithetical, but it is our divine calling and purpose.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”

God created us, died for us, rose again from the dead for us, sent His Holy Spirit to live in us, for a purpose. This purpose is so simple that we do not need the clouds to part to get started. This purpose is the exhale of our life in Christ. It should be as natural as blinking our eyes. As simple as taking a breath. What is this purpose?

It is to do good works, the good works that God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

Jesus defined it as loving our neighbor. What am I supposed to do in life? Love my neighbor? What is my calling in life? Do something good for someone else. What is my attitude in life? Put others’ needs before my own. I don’t need to hear the audible voice of God to get started. I only need to open my eyes and see the needs and opportunities that God has already placed in front of me.

Imagine what would happen in our lives, our families, our churches, our communities, and our world if we all just started doing what we have already been called to do – the good works that God has prepared ahead of time for us to do. It is a simple as helping that elderly person load their groceries into their car. Helping someone who is lost find their way. Showing love and compassion to someone who is in need or grieving. Helping a neighbor in distress.

We encounter these “What” opportunities every day in life.

WHAT is keeping us from taking the first step?

In business, ministry, and life, I have used a phrase that I think applies. It is easier to steer an 18-wheeler when it is moving than when it is parked! That means I need to get moving! The answers to my life, my purpose, my giftings, my ministry, and my destiny are found in the journey. As I begin to live in the love of Christ for others, the Holy Spirit begins to direct my path, and I naturally come to the destinations He has already purposed for my life.

So, what am I waiting for?

Lord, help me to do the good works that You have already prepared for me today! Grant me the grace to take the first step and help others. Let me have the mind of Christ and look to the needs of others rather than to my own. Help me to fulfill the call you have given me – Promote Jesus and Help Others!

In Jesus’ Name!