PASTOR’S CORNER, Tyler Prater, Fellowship Baptist Church
Have you ever asked yourself, “Why am I here?” It’s one of the oldest and most profound questions a person can ask, and yet it comes to us in surprisingly ordinary moments. Sitting in traffic. Graduating from school. Walking out of a funeral. Waking up to the same routine and wondering, “Is this really all there is?” Whether we admit it out loud or not, this question lives deep within every human heart: What is my purpose?
The world offers plenty of answers. Some say your purpose is to chase happiness—do what makes you feel good, follow your dreams, and avoid whatever holds you back. Others suggest your purpose is success: climb the ladder, earn the degree, make a name for yourself. Still others claim purpose comes through personal expression—creating something, discovering who you are, leaving your mark. And yet, if we’re honest, many of these answers leave us strangely unfulfilled. Even when we hit our goals or get what we wanted, we often find ourselves asking the same question all over again: Now what?
The 20th-century philosopher Bertrand Russell once confessed, “Unless you assume a God, the question of life’s purpose is meaningless.” That’s a surprising statement from a man who was an atheist, but he was right about the logic. If life is purely an accident of nature—if we’re just molecules in motion—then there really is no higher purpose. Just survival, pleasure, and eventually death. But if we were created… everything changes.
The Bible offers a breathtaking answer to this question of purpose. It teaches that we were made by a personal God, in His image, and for His glory. In the opening chapters of Scripture, we find that humans are not the product of chaos or chance, but of divine design. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in His own image… male and female He created them.” This means that every person—no matter their background, ability, or stage of life—has dignity, value, and purpose. You were not mass-produced. You were handcrafted. You were created to know God, walk with Him, and reflect His goodness in the world.
One of the most liberating truths the Bible teaches is that your purpose is not ultimately about you. That may sound countercultural, but it’s actually freeing. When life becomes all about me—my success, my image, my goals—it eventually collapses under the weight of pressure and self-focus. But when you realize your life is about something bigger—something eternal—you find a purpose that suffering can’t steal and time can’t tarnish. The Westminster Catechism puts it this way: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” That’s not a cold religious rule—it’s an invitation to joy. Glorifying God simply means living in a way that reflects His character, points others to His goodness, and finds delight in His presence. Jesus captured it in a single sentence: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). When God is first, everything else falls into place.
What Does This Look Like in Real Life? Living with purpose doesn’t mean you have to move overseas or become a pastor. It means you see every part of your life—your work, your relationships, your gifts, your challenges—as part of a greater story. A teacher glorifies God by teaching with excellence and compassion. A parent glorifies God by raising children with love and grace. A small business owner glorifies God by working with integrity and generosity. A teenager glorifies God by honoring their parents, being a good friend, and standing for what’s right.
It also means that the hard parts of life – grief, loss, disappointment – can have meaning too. The Bible says that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). When you live with God at the center, even your suffering isn’t wasted.
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to guess at your purpose. You can know it. And that journey starts by knowing the One who made you. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Full life doesn’t come from success or self-discovery. It comes from relationship with God—through Jesus Christ. Jesus came to restore what sin and brokenness had lost. He lived the life we could never live, died the death we deserved, and rose again to offer forgiveness, hope, and purpose to all who trust in Him. Knowing Him isn’t just an add-on to life. It is life.
If you’re reading this and wondering where to start, let me encourage you: start by seeking God. Open a Bible. Begin reading the Gospel of John. Talk to a trusted Christian friend. Visit a gospel preaching church in your community. Ask your questions. Bring your doubts. God is not far off—He promises, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
You were made for more than just existing. You were made for God. And when you find your purpose in Him, you’ll discover what you were made for all along.
