You know you are not an accident. You know from the marvels of nature that something must be in control. The beauty of creation is a testimony of a creator. Earth and everything in it is too complex and detailed. Something must be in control.

You know there is a deeper meaning to your existence, not only from what you see, but also what you feel. Your conscience gives you an understanding of right and wrong. You know there are consequences to your actions. You have your secrets. Secrets that you hope no one ever discovers. Unfortunately your secrets are known.

From nature you know there is a creator. From your conscience you know there is a judge. Beyond that God is a mystery. Many religions tell us the rules and laws we are to obey and do, and people from the beginning of time have tried to please God. Still in this aimless quest of pleasing God, your conscience at best will only provide you a false sense of comfort.

Christianity is different. We know we aren’t good enough for God. We know that our goodness doesn’t meet his high expectations. Despite our failings God gives us a message of hope. “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” Your goodness cannot get you to heaven, but the goodness of Jesus gives you this confidence: Your sins are great, but God’s love is greater. You are not an accident, but a blood-bought child of God. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection you see your life has real purpose and real hope.

What is the purpose of life?

What is the purpose of life? What should I do with the life I have? Many people will answer this question in many ways. Some people do what they can to get rich and live in luxury. Some see their purpose in trying to fulfill bucket lists and seeing as much of the world as they can. Others see their purpose in life in helping others. Others don’t know what they should do.

It’s easy to be confused about our purpose here on earth. We see so much joy and happiness; we see so much pain and suffering. Some live lavish lives; some struggle to put food on the table. This world seems to be full of contradictions. It seems like in this great big world it’s hard to be sure of anything, especially our purpose.

We first realize the purpose our existence when we start to think about death. Time has a way of changing things. A child is born. The child becomes an adult. The adult finds a spouse. The couple has children. Their children become adults. They age. Throughout life they do experience joy, but without God they lack purpose. They live, like everything else they will one day die. Our earthly lives are temporary. Heaven lasts forever.

Death is the result of sin. You can be sure that everyone is a sinner, because everyone will eventually die. Death is scary for many because they do not know what will happen when they die. While death can be scary, Christians know death is nothing more than the door to heaven. The Bible tells us, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.” The gift of God is what gives us our purpose. Our purpose is to hear the good news of eternal life. Our sins are not held against us. Jesus died on the cross to win our lives from sin. As Jesus rose, we know we too will rise and live with him forever.

Where will I go when I die?

Are you uncertain about death? If so, you’re not alone. How can we be sure what death will be like? How can we be sure what will happen after death? If only we could talk to someone who knew firsthand what death was like!

Well, it may surprise you that there is someone who once died and lived. No, not in sense of someone whose heart stopped beating and was resuscitated back to life. Not someone who has had a near death experience. No, He was someone who died, and remained dead for days.

He came back to life. His death cancelled everything you have done wrong. His death took away the sins of the world. His empty grave assures you that one day your grave will too be empty. Those without faith will not go heaven. They will not remain in the grave. They will go to hell.

But not you, your sins are forgiven. Heaven is your home. Death does not lead to uncertainty for God’s people, but certain hope.

Have I lived a good enough life to please God?

“I try to be a good person.” There is no doubt you try to be a good person and good things. How many people though strive to be bad people? How many people hope they can hurt others’ feelings by their words and actions? Not many. Most people try to live a good life.

Despite your good intentions you know you have not always lived up to them. Do you regret a hurtful word you said to a loved one? Do you regret a mistake you made, a mistake you know hurt someone’s feelings? You haven’t always lived a good enough life to please those around you. Have you lived a good enough life to please God?

God has high expectations. Perhaps you imagine God holding a scale and weighing your good against your bad. You know you have done nice things for people. You know you have your regrets. Have you done enough good to balance out your mistakes? Can you do enough good to balance out your mistakes?

The Apostle Paul once said, “The good I want to do, I fail to do. The evil I do not want to do I keep on doing.” Paul knew he couldn’t find hope in the good he had done. Can you relate?

Christians do not worry about whether or not they are good enough for God. They have this comfort: My goodness is not as important as God’s goodness. Jesus did everything right, without a mistake or a single regret. He was perfect. He lived his perfect life to take away your bad, to cancel out your mistakes, and to give you his goodness. Have you lived a good enough life for God? If you’re honest, you know you haven’t. Isn’t it amazing that Jesus has lived a good enough life for you!

Why go to church?

It’s 9:30 AM, Sunday morning. Church starts in one hour and the alarm goes off. You’ve had a stressful week and this seems to be your one chance to relax. The alarm goes off and that snooze button has never looked better. What do you do?

“I’m really tired. Church is the same thing every week anyway, it doesn’t matter if I’m not there. I can praise God from home just as well as I can praise him in church. I’m going to back to bed.”

Sound familiar? If so, part of the problem might be a misunderstanding on why church is so important. The worship service includes the word “service” for a reason. Church is about service. It might surprise you though that we don’t go to church primarily to praise God and serve him. In church, God serves us.

You know your faith is important. Church is important because God feeds and strengthens our faith in the worship service. Sometimes we don’t notice it. Sometimes it doesn’t seem as though are faith is growing. We know that God does strengthen our faith through the gospel. As we receive the forgiveness of sins God also strengthens our faith.

The Bible is proclaimed and explained in church. When we hear those words explained and applied to our lives our faith will grow. If we neglect God’s Word, our faith will starve and eventually die.