Genesis 1:26, Jeremiah 1:5, 2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Peter 2:9, Psalm 139:13-16, Jeremiah 29:13

Gideon Opaluwa considers how we can find the answer to the question of why we're here.

Gideon Opaluwa

Everyone's looking for something to belong to, a cause, a community; some sort of identity. They are looking for something that validates them. In the search for this many people have fallen into wrong things; wrong friendships and relationships that leave them scarred or abused; addictions that ruin their future and limits the fulfilment of their God-given identity.

It has been said that the two most important days in your life are; the day you were born and the day you discover WHY. Your fulfilment lies in the answer to the 'WHY'. Until each of us answers that question we will be running our lives in the wrong direction, and it's well-known that speed is irrelevant when you are facing the wrong direction.

My Pastor once said, "If you do not know who you are, everyone or circumstances in life will attempt to define you." The knowledge of who you are as a person determines your focus and aspiration. We are created by God in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26), so there is no better place to discover yourself or who you are than in God's word. This is simply by creating time to read the Bible and pray every day. One of the reasons many people suffer from low self-esteem is because they have not understood what God says about them or have not known the plan of God for their lives, or have not fully accepted their identity in Christ.

So the key questions are who am I? What am I on earth for? Why do I even exist?

You don't need to look far to know. God told Jeremiah in the book of Jeremiah 1:5, that 'Before I (God) formed you, I knew you and ordained you a prophet.' That scripture simply means God is the manufacturer who knows the purpose for which the product is made. To guide the user of the product the manufacturer will usually insert a manual. The Bible is our manual for living on earth (2 Timothy 3:16).

As a general rule, 1 Peter 2:9 defines us as Christians. It says, 'But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people who are God's own possession. You have become this people so that you may speak of the wonderful acts of the one who called you out of darkness into his amazing light.' This is our purpose, to tell people about the God who has taken us from darkness into His light.

One of my favourite scriptures is Psalm 139:13-16. Part of it says, 'You are the one who created my innermost parts; you knit me together while I was still in my mother's womb. Your eyes saw my embryo, and on your scroll every day was written that was being formed for me, before any one of them had yet happened.' Now that's just awesome!!! All I need to do is to find what was written about me. Welcome folks to the journey of discovery!

This is a generation where we need to rise up and seek God again. When we seek God in sincerity, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). A lot of times we stay away not because we don't know that we are to draw close to God, but because we feel we don't deserve His presence. No doubt God hates sin, however, He still loves the sinner.

Here's a remarkable story in Luke 18:9-14. If we humble ourselves and pray and turn away from our sins, wow what a joy it will be, because our fellowship with Him will be restored and the journey of discovery begins!

Folks we live for Him, our lives should daily reflect this! God bless you!