Our Purpose

Dear Diary,

Just completed watching the breath-taking movie “The Matrix Reloaded” on free-to-air television. It was my second time watching it. It was indeed a mind-blowing graphic extravaganza. The movie was littered with “Christian” words like Trinity, Zion, Prophecy, Logos, Predestination… and a whole load more. Incredibly, in one of the highlights of the movie, Neo asked the Architect of the Matrix, “Why am I here?”

Have we ever asked ourselves that? What are we here on Earth? What is our purpose here? I believe that we have many purposes in life… but only one is the main purpose with eternal value and consequence. What is the very purpose of our existence? So that we can do a PhD? So that we can be a good citizen? A good husband? A good son?

If your purpose is to have fun, be merry or make your mark in this world… then the next question follows… Why is that your goal? Will it make any difference after 50 or a even 100 years later? If you ever consider questions like those, you must have an opinion about whether God exists. If there is no God, it simply doesn't matter. You can or cannot please yourself. You can be one of the many people who pursue what they think will make them happy, only to find that it's like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. When they get where they wanted to be, what they wanted isn't there any longer.

If there is a God, however, it might make a great deal of difference. It might be that you, and everyone you know, have an eternal life. Therefore it is a very important decision to decide if you think God exists at all. He is not silent. If you are sincerely willing to believe, you will be rewarded with increasing confidence in knowing His existence…. And the fact that He existed in Christ Jesus 2000 years ago to die for our sins. All we have to do is to believe and trust in Him. It may sound incredible that we need not do any good works to merit our salvation. In our modern world, a free gift is associated with being “cheap”. Step into a departmental store and you probably find promotions going “Buy 2, get 1 free”. Chances are that the free gift is usually of a lower value than the one you purchase. However, as much as many of us do not understand… free does not mean cheap.

Our salvation is free of charge but it is not cheap because it was paid for when God had to let His Son die on the cross for us. It may be free for us but not cheap for God. I am particularly encouraged and inspired by the Holy Baptism service in church today. Two former Muslim ladies shared their testimonies. One was a Muslim Chinese while the other was a Muslim Indonesian. The latter is a maid and she told us how God touched her life and she overcame stern opposition to profess the Christian faith. In fact, she was visibly sad because her family and her village community back in Indonesia disowned her and her sister. Her sister converted to Christianity while working in Hong Kong. However, she was absolutely sure of the faith and the God who manifested as Jesus Christ as a gesture of love and reconciliation to the fallen world.

Sometimes, we took for granted the privilege we have. In Singapore, we are fortunate to be able to be a Christian and not face persecution… unlike so many others around the world who really sacrifice a lot (family, friends and even their lives) just to say that they believe in Jesus Christ. Maybe it is all so “routine” for us Christians too. Sometimes, I can’t help feeling that I get so embroiled in the world… especially in the form of my job. Sigh… I recalled an incident that happened yesterday. As I was going for lunch, a secondary school girl with colourful teeth braces approached me to ask me to buy a Red Cross donation coupon. I was a little hesitant but gave in quite easily eventually because I felt she was standing in the blazing sun and I should do my part to get her into the shade earlier. As I passed my money to her and wrote my particulars on her coupon booklet, I told her that everyone in this town are very charitable indeed. She curiously asked me why… and I said, “Well, every Saturday, we just put our 'donations' into the nearest flag tin can and get that 'immunity' sticker so that other donation-solicitors will not bother us anymore. I sure hope I can give from the depths of my heart again.” She chuckled a little. I saw her again ½ hour later as I returned to my pharmacy and she smiled and waved at me. I smiled back.

Maybe it is really time for me to do things with a conscious appreciation, gratitude and with love. I am a Christian and I am just going through the motion in my daily work. I need to find that love, compassion and kindness, and make them radiate readily through my actions so that they can bear a good testimony for God and the faith I stand for. If that is the predicament you face also, I urge you to join me in doing our best for our purpose in life. Oh yes, my answer to that question "What is my purpose in life?".....

What do I want to do with my life, is a natural outcome of those beliefs. My purpose is to serve God, to glorify him, and to please him. I didn't make myself. I owe everything I have, everything I am, to God. I owe him my service. It's joy to serve him. He can use my service to bring about everlasting good. What about you?

Nothing is too late. I no longer am aiming to run the upcoming half-marathon because of lack of time to run regularly. Ironically, just this afternoon… I bought a new sports singlet and two pairs of running shorts! I am going to start running regularly and make it a healthy lifestyle for myself. Maybe… maybe I will give the marathon a shot next year. Who knows? ;-)

God Bless,

Andrew