Why Am I Here? / Guest Post by Dan Huntington

I’m writing this letter as a reminder to myself. Maybe there is something of value in this for you as well.

I just turned 62 a couple days ago. For many of us, “Why am I here?” is a question that takes on more and more importance with each passing year. I am an airline pilot and it’s a question I’ve asked perhaps hundreds of other pilots during those long hours flying across the oceans. The answers I’ve received are fascinating, although some have never considered the question at all. We should.

I wish I had diligently sought the answer to this question in my 20s or 30s. I was too busy chasing my career, and then chasing my kids. In my early 40s, my younger sister was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Lisa lived for 2 ½ more years. During that time, and continuing to today, that question became very, very important to me.

Our Western culture tries to provide an answer to this question. We hear its answer from Hollywood, from commercials, through social media, in our schools, and often even from our parents. The purpose of life, they tell us, is to be happy. Then they tell us that happiness comes from the things we possess, like our home, our car, our clothes, our jewelry, and the fun things we do, such as vacations, sports, parties, and other leisure activities.

But, is that really the answer? I imagine myself at age 85, and the doctors have told me that I only have a few days left to live. I think to myself, “I have the nicest home in the neighborhood and the nicest car. I went on the best vacations and threw the best parties. Is that going to be enough for me? Is that what God is looking for in my life?” And then I wonder, “Is there anything wrong with having nice things or fun vacations?” So many questions…

The Westminster Catechism is a document put together by some theologians almost 400 years ago. It attempts to provide a summary of biblical truths and Christian doctrine using a question and answer format. The very first question is “What is the chief end of man?”. In other words, “Why are we here?” It answers that question by stating “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” The writers base this answer on scripture, including 1 Corinthians 10:31, which states “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” In addition, Romans 11:36 says “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.” And finally, Psalms 73:25-26 declares “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

How then, should I live? First, I had to give my life to Christ. I had to acknowledge that He is King, that He died to pay the penalty for my sin and I had to give Jesus control over my life. Glorifying God and enjoying Him forever was impossible until I did that.

Is it wrong to pursue economic success and have a nice house or car or vacation? Absolutely not? Colossians 3:23 says “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” That meant for me to work at school with all my heart, work at my vocation with all my heart. Same goes with my marriage, my family, and my leisure activities. I have worked with all my heart at those things and God has blessed me. But, at every step, I should ask the Holy Spirit to check my motivation. Am I trying to glorify myself or God?

I heard this analogy once decades ago and it has stuck with me. Is God the sun in my solar system, such that the things in my life, my family, my work, and my interests are simply planets circling around Him? Or, am I the sun in my solar system, and God just one of the many planets circling around me? Father, by the power of your Holy Spirit, please make it the former, not the latter.