Have you ever wondered about your “why?” You know, Why am I here? What is my reason for existence? What is my purpose?
Of course. Who hasn’t, right?
Each of us has probably asked this question of ourselves at least once in our lifetime. Most of us ask it many times over the course of our days.
As we seek to answer that nagging question, we study various subjects, learn new skills, further our formal education, change employers, change professions, and reinvent ourselves–all in an attempt to find our purpose.
And, what is that purpose?
Some say it is finding our passion. I believe that is correct because our passion is what drives what we do. Passion motivates action. Passion defines our why. We spend much of the time in our culture seeking to fulfill our greatest passion. We search our hearts for the thing that sets the wind in our sails. All the while, our hope is fixed on that moment we identify that great passion just knowing from there we will gently float on the crest of the waves through the rest of our lives. But, is that the reality of passion?
Maybe we should start with defining passion. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary online gives five definitions: beginning with all that Jesus Christ suffered just prior to his death on the cross, then running the gamut of suffering to unbridled anger to ardent devotion describing that as “an object of desire or deep interest.”
Passion motivates action. Passion defines our why.
Knowing this, how do we find our passion?
We can begin by identifying the object of our desire and deepest interest. You see, our passion is the thing for which we will willingly suffer. Our passion will arouse our ire. Our passion is that to which we offer homage and admiration. So to identify it, we must ask ourselves these questions:
- For what would I willingly suffer? Endure hardship? Withstand ridicule or humiliation?
- What is that thing that when attacked raises my hackles? Readies me to courageously defend? Inspires me to right the wrong?
- To what do I offer my greatest admiration, honor and devotion?
The answer to all these questions will identify our life’s passion.
The one thing about which we have the most passion is the object of our worship.
OUCH! That statement hurts a little. What do I worship? My job? My family? My own sense of pride? As Christians we know God desires to be the ONLY object of our worship. We are taught in the Old Testament, by the prophet Isaiah, that we are created for God’s glory.
everyone called by My name
and created for My glory.
I have formed him; indeed, I have made him. Isaiah 43:7
God created us for His pleasure and glory. We bring pleasure to Him by worshiping Him.
Then the apostle John revealed to us through the revelation that the Lord is worthy of all honor and glory.
Our Lord and God;
You are worthy to receive
glory and honor and power,
because You have created all things,
and because of Your will
they exist and were created. Revelation 4:11
By this and many other Bible Scriptures, we know our purpose is to bring glory and honor to the Lord God, Almighty. This leads us back to the original question: Why am I here? And, Who is the object of my worship?
I will close this post with the challenge for us all to search our hearts to ensure our greatest passion is to follow and serve our Lord with every fiber of our being and to do as the psalmist said and
Sing the glory of His Name and
MAKE HIS PRAISE GLORIOUS!
Psalm 66:2
