Why
Are We Here?
Art Nelson
Introduction
Throughout the ages
mankind has been plagued by the question of “Why are we here?” Thinking people
have tried to answer this question through various avenues of philosophy,
psychology, science and religion. All of their answers have been woefully
inadequate because the question cannot be answered without God.
The Psalmist asked
the same question”
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your
fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; What is man that You
take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?
(Psalms 8:3-4 NASB)
When the psalmist
looked at the majesty of creation revealing the glory and attributes of the
Creator, Himself [Romans 1:20], he could only consider how insignificant
man is. So, he asked the questions of who man is and why does the creator take
any thought for him. Then the psalmist describes some of the thought that has
been taken for the son of man.
For You have made
him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and
honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have
put all things
under his feet,
(Psalms 8:5-6 NKJV)
This is
prophetically speaking of the Last Adam [I Corinthians 15:45-49], Christ
Jesus, who emptied Himself and took on the form of a man [Philippians 2:6-11];
but, God has crowned Him with glory and honor and given Him dominion, rulership,
until all enemies have been put under His feet [I Corinthians 15:25-28].
The First Adam was
given dominion in the Garden but lost that authority when he disobeyed, which is
why the ground is cursed and man can only bring forth from it by the sweat of
his brow. Now dominion has been given to the Last Adam in whom resides all
authority in Heaven and earth [Matthew 28:18]. It is obvious then that
the First Adam was created and placed by God for a purpose. It is also obvious
that the First Adam failed to accomplish God's purpose and was disqualified by
disobedience. Now, the Good News is that the Last Adam, by His obedience, has
made a Way through Himself that man can fulfill God's plan and accomplish His
purpose, which brings us back to our first question, “Why are we here?”.
There is some
contemporary thought that man was created because God was “lonely” and wanted
someone with which to “fellowship”. This is a ridiculous statement to anyone who
reads the Bible. We get glimpses into the Throne Room of God in the book of
Revelation where we see myriads of different creatures involved in the events
depicted. There is not even a hint of “loneliness” presented.
The Scriptures
reveal that God had a plan and purpose that was hidden in Himself before the
foundation of the world but is now unfolding in time as the close of the ages
approaches.
All these things
Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a
parable. This was to fulfill what was spoken
through the prophet: "I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES; I WILL UTTER THINGS
HIDDEN SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD." (Matthew
13:34-35 NASB)
This verse reveals
that there are things that are hidden and that have been hidden before the world
was created. It also reveals that these hidden things are only brought forth
through Jesus. These hidden things involve the reason for man and God's plan for
him.
There are some who
preach that Jesus came to die for our sins so that man can go to heaven as if
this is the end all plan of God. However, we know that this is not the case
because the scriptures tell us that God knew beforehand that Adam would be
disobedient and had already prepared for his disobedience.
For He was foreknown before the foundation of
the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you
(1 Peter 1:20 NASB)
. . . the Lamb
slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8
NKJV)
. . . but now, once
at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of
Himself. (Hebrews 9:26 NKJV)
. . . the works
were finished from the foundation of the world. (Hebrews
4:3 NKJV)
. . . inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the
foundation of the world: (Matthew 25:34 NKJV)
As can be seen from
these verses, everything that has happened since the Garden of Eden has been
anticipated by God and nothing has caught Him by surprise. He had everything
planned before the foundation of the world. So how does man fit into His plan.
God had a problem
before Adam fell to temptation in the Garden. God's problem involved a created
angelic being who was lifted up in pride and rebellion to seek a place and
function that was not within the will of God. This is the one that we call
Satan, the Devil, who left his first estate and function in the economy of God
and sought after a different position. How was God going to deal with this?
God, being God,
could have done anything He desired to solve His problem. However, for the sake
of the other created beings, He desired to resolve the issue in a manner that
would testify to all of the righteous and just character of God. [Note that
God could have demonstrated His power by obliterating the problem; but, this
would not have resolved the issue. It would have only shown that God was all
powerful, which was a given since all created beings know that God has the power
to do whatever He wants to do.]
So, God made a
lesser being (one a little lower than the angels) who would, through obedience,
fulfill God's purpose. Although the first Adam failed, the Last Adam was highly
successful by humbling Himself on the cross and becoming obedient even to death.
This new race, those born of the Spirit of God, with Jesus as the first born of
the dead, will achieve the fulfillment of God's plan and purpose.
Resolving this
involves several aspects of the plan and purpose of God.
. . .The Son of
God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
(1 John 3:8 NASB)
But we do see Him
who was made for a little while lower than the angels,
namely, Jesus, because of the
suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God
He might taste death for everyone.
(Hebrews 2:9 NASB)
For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all
things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory,
to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.
(Hebrews 2:10 NASB)
Therefore, since
the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the
same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of
death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were
subject to slavery all their lives. (Hebrews 2:14-15
NASB)
in order that in
Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we
would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
(Galatians 3:14 NASB)
in whom the whole
building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the
Spirit. (Ephesians 2:21-22 NASB)
These things are
all part of God's plan and their fulfillment has been predestined by God. Man
was created to be an integral part of the final disposition of God's purpose.
God needed a being who was fully obedient to bring judgment to those who had
been disobedient.
We have answered
the question of “why we are here” but this leads us to a more personal question:
Why am I here? Naturally,
the answer to this question has to fit within the framework of the first
question. Man is here to fulfill the plan and purpose of God. Each individual is
here to accomplish his or her part of the overall plan. God has predetermined
our work [Ephesians 2:10],
but it is up to us to do it.
As it is with any
job in the natural, there is a training requirement and a skill set to be
developed. Both of these involve a time element. We are not trained instantly
nor do we receive instant skills.
There are two
primary aspects to our training.
-
That we learn
obedience
Although He was a Son, He learned
obedience from the things which He suffered.
(Hebrews
5:8 NASB)
"Not
everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but
he
who does the will of My Father
who is in heaven
will
enter.
(Matthew 7:21 NASB)
-
That we learn to walk in the Spirit and
be led by the Spirit
But I say, walk by
the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
(Galatians
5:16 NASB)
But if you
are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
(Galatians
5:18 NASB)
For all who
are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
(Romans
8:14 NASB)
Until we make
progress in these two areas we are not capable of fulfilling God's purpose for
us. The Holy Spirit works in us to train us and to conform us to the image of
Christ.
There is also a
skill set that must be developed in us for us to be able to accomplish the goals
that the Lord has set for us. This skill set is quite a bit different from those
that we find in the natural.
-
Faithfulness
Moreover it is
required in stewards that one be found faithful.
(1
Corinthians 4:2 NKJV)
And the
Lord said,
"Who then
is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge
of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time?
(Luke 12:42 NASB)
-
Diligence
Be diligent to
present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be
ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
(2 Timothy
2:15 NASB)
Therefore let us be
diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through
following
the same example of disobedience.
(Hebrews 4:11 NASB)
Therefore, brethren, be all the more
diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long
as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
(2 Peter
1:10 NASB)
Therefore,
beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him
in peace, spotless and blameless,
(2 Peter
3:14 NASB)
There are a number
of things that could be added to this skill set but these two are the primary
ones. You can see how important it is that this skill set be utilized in our
training process.
Much of the
difficulty in our society and the ineffectiveness of believers in America today
is due to the lack of teaching and emphasis on God's plan and purpose for us
individually and the necessity for each of us to develop and mature in Christ.
©
2003-2012 by Art Nelson and
Lifestream Teaching
Ministries
Previous issues of Present Truth are on the website: www.Lifestreamteaching.com
For comments or questions contact Art Nelson at this address:
artnelson@lifestreamteaching.com
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