Day 1: The Purpose of Life

Dear friend,

It’s my sincere desire for you that this Christmas season will be truly blessed and meaningful for you. If you truly taste the love of God at this time, then your blessings will not be limited to a few brief hours of carnal pleasure, but they will last on into the New Year that lies ahead and throughout the rest of your life – yes, and beyond that through an endless eternity.

On the other hand, if you go through life without truly knowing God and His love, then it will make no difference how much pleasure or success you may gain in other ways – ultimately you will have lived in vain.

Therefore, let us turn to some words that Jesus spoke in prayer to the Father:

“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.’” (John 17:1-3 NKJV)

That’s a tremendous phrase: "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." Here we find the purpose of life – the real, ultimate, eternal purpose of life stated in those simple words: knowing God.

I believe it’s going to take eternal life to know God. I don’t believe that it’s possible to know the eternal God fully and as He desires us to know Him, in the brief span of a human life. But God has made available to us eternal life through Jesus Christ that we may know Him, not merely as Creator, or Judge, but as Father. Only Jesus, the Son, can reveal the Father.

For reflection and prayer

‍What is your life’s purpose?