What on Earth Am I Here For?
4/25/04
Given by Russell Q. Adams

April 25, 2004

What on Earth Am I Here For?

Jeremiah 17:5-8

Theme = Life without purpose is pointless.

Introduction

During the Second World War, Germany had a prison camp near the Hungarian border. Prisoners were forced to work in a factory to aid the Nazi cause, until the factory was bombed. The Germans wanted to keep the prisoners busy so they gave them mindless tasks. The prisoners were forced to move a pile of rocks from one field to another. The next day the same prisoners were forced to carry the same rocks back to the original field. This went on for months. It was mindless work but it did keep the prisoners busy. Do you know what happened? In time the prisoners became victims of various forms of mental illnesses. Some even tried to commit suicide. They would throw themselves in front of guards, hoping to be shot! The reason for their outrageous behavior was obvious. Psychologists tell us that mere activity is not enough. Our lives need to have meaning and purpose.

How you ever asked the question: WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR? That question has filled the hearts of many in our world. It is not isolated to any particular age group or economic class. It not isolated to a particular race or educational level. It is a question for both the inner city and the suburbs. Everyone seems to understand that we are in this world for a reason but people have a problem identifying that reason. WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR? It is not a new question. People have been trying to answer that question for a long time. Do you need a Biblical example? Look at Jeremiah.

He lived one of the most dramatic lives in the Bible. He was hand picked by God to speak for Him. He told the people of Judah that they needed revival. The days of half-hearted religion were over. Judah’s only hope of survival against the Babylonians was God! It was Jeremiah’s job to deliver that message but he didn’t like it. The prophet should have been excited but the prophet was reluctant, insecure and unhappy. In time he asked God, "WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR?" Look at chapter twenty, verse seven with me. Jeremiah says, "O Lord, you deceived me; you overpowered me and prevailed. I was ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me." Jeremiah is having a bad day. He is wondering if he has misread God’s purpose for his life. Including today’s message, the next six messages are designed to help you find God’s purpose for your life.

Body

Let me begin our quest of purpose by asking you another question: AT WHAT LEVEL OF LIFE DO YOU WANT TO LIVE? Everyone has to ask themselves what level they would like to live? What are your life’s goals? Generally, there are three. Everyone fits into one of three levels. The first level is the survival level. The survival level is when you are happy with food and shelter. The second level is the success level. You want to be a success in life. You measure your success by the amount of your possessions. The third level is the significance level. It is at this level that you strive to find God’s purpose for your life. Let us look at each one individually.

The Survival Level If you are living at the survival level then you are just living to exist. If you are living at the survival level then you are being controlled by circumstances. The vast majority of our world is forced to live at the survival level. However, a certain per cent of Americans have chosen to live at the survival level.

If you have ever traveled outside of the country and traveled beyond the tourist then you know of what I speak. In 1993 I traveled to the Philippines and I was confronted for the first time by people who are forced to live at the survival level. They were forced to live on the streets in tin shacks. They had no running water. They had no mailing address. They ate whatever they could find. They are not bad people. They did not make poor decisions with their lives. They lived at the survival level because they have no other choice.

I have been to the former Soviet Union three times. I have slept in the orphanages and played with the children. At eighteen years old they will be released from the orphanage and expected to survive. Their future is not bright. They will be forced to live at the survival level, looking for the basics of life. They will be controlled by their circumstances.

However, you can find survival mentality people right here in America. Sometimes the reason is economic. Sometimes the reason is choice. During the years I was in seminary Christmas fell on a Sunday. I remember that year because I preached on Christmas morning and drove back home to northeast Ohio after worship. I could drive from central Kentucky to northeastern Ohio in one shot, but I had to stop once for gas. Just north of Akron I stopped at a BP station to fill up. The station was being managed by a young man, who simply sat behind the counter and collected the money. I felt sorry for him working on Christmas, so I said, "It kind of stinks working on Christmas!" He said, "I don’t care as long as I am off on New Years Eve! PARTY!" That young man was level at the survival level. If you are only putting in time until your next vacation then you are at the survival level. There is the survival level.

The Success Level I would guess that many people here are living at the success level. You strive to have certain things in your life. You own your own home. You are planning on retiring someday or sending your children to college. You drive a respectable car and eat out on the weekend. You take an occasional vacation. Economically we are successful in America. The truth is on a world scale the poorest person in Mahoning County has life easy. America is a great country. The problem is economic success does not satisfy. People who are successful ask the same question that we all ask, "WHY ON EARTH AM I HERE?"

When I was in the Cleveland area I had a parishioner who was the picture of success. He wanted to be seen as a success. He was the president and owner of a small computer distributing company. He drove a BMW with the top down. He always wore a new suit and lived in a brand new home. He had a pretty wife and good children. I spent a lot of time with Gary. He told me he owed land in Hawaii. He would take me out to lunch. He would have me over to the house. He gave me tickets to Indians games and we went to Browns game together. From my perspective he had it all, but it wasn’t enough. I asked him once why he spent so much time with me. He told me, "There is something in my life that is missing. I hope you can help me find it." I believe Gary wanted to live at the third level. The second level is success.

The Significance Level People who live at the third level understand that economic success has very little to do with the level of significance. People who live at the third level understand there is a meaning to life that goes beyond money. People who live at the third level are true disciples of Jesus! They know there is a meaning to their lives because they matter to God. They know that God has a purpose for their lives. If you want to find God’s purpose for your life then you have to start with God.

Let us go back to Jeremiah. He asked that same question: WHAT ON EARTH AM I HERE FOR? He was having a bad day but this is what God tells him in the scripture lesson.

Verse five says, Cursed is the man who trusts in men,

Verse seven says, But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

Whose confidence is in him.

In the next few weeks we are going to trust in God and discover that God does have a purpose for your life. We are going to discover that God has five purposes for your life. First, you were created for God’s pleasure. That is why worship should be exciting! Second, you were formed for God’s family. There is no such thing as an orphaned disciple. You are part of a fellowship! Third, you were created to become like Jesus.

Discipleship can not be eliminated. Forth, you were formed to serve God. That is true ministry. Fifth, you were made for a mission. In other words, you were made for

evangelism.

Conclusion

Our friends in the German prison camp had nothing to do. Their lives had no meaning or purpose. They were kept busy doing mindless tasks. The end result was hopelessness and depression. I hope that is not your story! I want life to have meaning and purpose. I hope you know why God has put you in the world. If not, I hope you are with us in the next few weeks so you can discover God’s purpose for your life!