The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?

by Rick Warren

The Bible is clear that God considers 40 days a spiritually significant time period. Whenever God wanted to prepare someone for his purposes, he took 40 days: • Noah’s life was transformed by 40 days of rain. • Moses was transformed by 40 days on Mount Sinai. • The spies were transformed by 40 days in the Promised Land. • David was transformed by Goliath’s 40-day challenge. • Elijah was transformed when God gave him 40 days of strength from a single meal. • The entire city of Nineveh was transformed when God gave the people 40 days to change. • Jesus was empowered by 40 days in the wilderness. • The disciples were transformed by 40 days with Jesus after his resurrection.

It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny. Every other path leads to a dead end.

You could reach all your personal goals, becoming a raving success by the world’s standard, and still miss the purposes for which God created you.

“Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.”

For thousands of years, brilliant philosophers have discussed and speculated about the meaning of life. Philosophy is an important subject and has its uses, but when it comes to determining the purpose of life, even the wisest philosophers are just guessing.

You were made by God and for God — and until you understand that, life will never make sense.

The easiest way to discover the purpose of an invention is to ask the creator of it. The same is true for discovering your life’s purpose: Ask God.

God is not just the starting point of your life; he is the source of it. To discover your purpose in life you must turn to God’s Word, not the world’s wisdom. You must build your life on eternal truths, not pop psychology, success-motivation, or inspirational stories. The Bible says, “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” 6 This verse gives us three insights into your purpose.

Without God life makes no sense.

In spite of all the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself?

Your parents may not have planned you, but God did.

“You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.”

We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.

Fear is a self-imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends for you to be.

Possessions only provide temporary happiness. Because things do not change, we eventually become bored with them and then want newer, bigger, better versions.

Nothing matters more than knowing God’s purposes for your life, and nothing can compensate for not knowing them — not success, wealth, fame, or pleasure. Without a purpose, life is motion without meaning, activity without direction, and events without reason. Without a purpose, life is trivial, petty, and pointless.

The Bible says, “Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.”

If you want your life to have impact, focus it! Stop dabbling. Stop trying to do it all. Do less. Prune away even good activities and do only that which matters most. Never confuse activity with productivity. You can be busy without a purpose, but what’s the point? Paul said, “Let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us.” 15

Life on earth is just the dress rehearsal before the real production. You will spend far more time on the other side of death — in eternity — than you will here.

Bible calls your earthly body a “tent,” but refers to your future body as a “house.” The Bible says, “When this tent we live in — our body here on earth — is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever.” 2

When you fully comprehend that there is more to life than just here and now, and you realize that life is just preparation for eternity, you will begin to live differently. You will start living in light of eternity, and that will color how you handle every relationship, task, and circumstance. Suddenly many activities, goals, and even problems that seemed so important will appear trivial, petty, and unworthy of your attention. The closer you live to God, the smaller everything else appears.

When you live in light of eternity, your values change. You use your time and money more wisely. You place a higher premium on relationships and character instead of fame or wealth or achievements or even fun. Your priorities are reordered. Keeping up with trends, fashions, and popular values just doesn’t matter as much anymore.

“No mere man has ever seen, heard or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord.”

“This world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever.” 1 JOHN 2:17 (NLT)

THE WAY YOU SEE YOUR LIFE SHAPES YOUR LIFE.

“Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God.” 1 The Bible offers three metaphors that teach us God’s view of life: Life is a test, life is a trust, and life is a temporary assignment.

Life on earth is a Test. This life metaphor is seen in stories throughout the Bible. God continually tests people’s character, faith, obedience, love, integrity, and loyalty.

God tests my faith through problems, tests my hope by how I handle possessions, and tests my love through people.

A very important test is how you act when you can’t feel God’s presence in your life. Sometimes God intentionally draws back, and we don’t sense his closeness. A king named Hezekiah experienced this test. The Bible says, “God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart.” 2 Hezekiah had enjoyed a close fellowship with God, but at a crucial point in his life God left him alone to test his character, to reveal a weakness, and to prepare him for more responsibility.

“God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.” 3

“Blessed are those who endure when they are tested. When they pass the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

“The world and all that is in it belong to the LORD; the earth and all who live on it are his.”

“What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?”

“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.” 10

At the end of your life on earth you will be evaluated and rewarded according to how well you handled what God entrusted to you. That means everything you do, even simple daily chores, has eternal implications.