What is the purpose of life? Oprah Winfrey said, “There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It’s why you were born. And how you become most truly alive.” Mark Twain said, “The two most important days in life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.” Who are you and what are you doing here? What is the purpose of your life?
Peter wrote to the Christians on the outskirts of the Roman Empire. In his first letter, he told them they were part of a chosen race. He said they were born again according to His great mercy. They had a purpose to fulfill. Do you?
He told them they were living stones and being built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood. They were the temple, the building of Christ, and He was the cornerstone. Their purpose, as the holy priesthood, was to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. They were a people who believed in Him and they received honor, unlike the non-believers. Those people reject the cornerstone, Christ, and stumble over Him, disobeying Him. They are offended by Him. Which group do you belong to?
He also called them a royal priesthood and a holy nation, a people who belong to God. Who you are determines what you will do; what was their purpose in the strange and foreign land of the Roman Empire? What is your purpose as a Christian in this strange world? We proclaim how excellent He is! We fight for our holiness and show unbelievers how glorious God is.
What is your purpose in life? To answer that, consider: what is your identity in Christ? “ Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” How do you live that out day to day? God sees you, His child, as a living stone, the temple of God, a holy and royal priest. You have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. You continue to grow up and mature in Him as you follow Him, worship Him, and declare Him among the unbelievers. This is His purpose for you.