What's the biggest question you've ever asked yourself?
Not "What's for dinner?" Not "Should I go left or right?"
The big question.
"Why was I born?"
That question has haunted humanity since the beginning. And here's what's terrifying: most people never find the answer. They spend their whole life looking in the wrong places and finding more questions instead.
The Dead Ends You've Already Tried
Let me show you what I mean.
Some people look for the answer in drugs.
They think: "If I just get the right high, the right escape, I'll find meaning." So they use. And then they use more. And then they're dependent. And then they realize they haven't found meaning—they've just found addiction.
Some people look for the answer in money and possessions.
They think: "If I just have enough stuff, I'll be happy. That will be my answer." So they buy the car. Then they need to update it. Then they need to replace it. Then they need something bigger. Then something better. And it never ends. Because stuff doesn't answer the question. It just creates more questions.
Some people look for the answer in work and achievement.
They think: "If I just work hard enough, climb high enough, achieve enough, I'll find purpose." So they climb. And they achieve. And they're still empty.
We deceive ourselves into thinking that man—human effort, human achievement—will work out all of our problems.
"Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity."
— Ecclesiastes 12:8
Vanity. The Hebrew word is hevel—literally "vapor" or "breath." Everything he chased disappeared like breath on a mirror.
And you know what the common denominator is?
Young people and old people. Rich and poor. Successful and struggling. They're all disillusioned. Nobody's really happy.
God Wants You to Know the Why
But here's what changes everything:
God the Creator wants you to know the "why of life."
Not just to survive. Not just to exist. Not just to chase dead ends. To actually know why you're here.
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
— John 10:10
"More abundantly." The Greek word is perisson—it means overflowing, excessive, abundant to the point of overflow. Jesus didn't come so you could survive. He came so you could thrive.
And the way you thrive is by understanding the four gifts He gives. The four answers to your biggest question. Today we're looking at the first two: Purpose and Peace.
Gift One: Purpose
Here's the first truth:
Everything has a purpose.
Think about it. Your phone has a purpose—communication. Your car has a purpose—transportation. Your refrigerator has a purpose—preservation.
Every tool, every object, every creation—has a specific purpose.
And God didn't create randomly. He didn't create you and then shrug and say, "Well, I guess figure it out." No. God created you with a purpose.
"God created man with a purpose for us. When we are fulfilling God's purpose, things go well. But when we are outside that purpose, things do not go well."
That's it. That's the formula.
When you're living in your purpose—the reason God created you—things work. Life flows. You feel aligned. You feel like you're exactly where you're supposed to be. But when you're outside your purpose—when you're chasing someone else's dream, or society's expectations, or your own confused ideas—things fall apart.
The Greek word for purpose is skopos—which is where we get "scope." It literally means your target, your aim, what you're aiming at.
So what's your target? What are you aiming at?
If you're aiming at money, you'll never have enough.
If you're aiming at people's approval, you'll never have enough.
If you're aiming at achievement, there's always another peak to climb.
But if you're aiming at God's purpose for your life—if you understand why God created you specifically—then you have an aim that actually means something.
And here's the thing: Jesus came to show you that purpose. He lived a life of perfect purpose. Every decision aligned with the Father's will. Every action pointed to redemption. Every moment mattered because it served a greater purpose. And He's asking you: What's your purpose? What did God create you for?
Gift Two: Peace
Now here's where it gets interesting.
Most people think that if they find purpose, everything will be easy. No problems. No struggles. Just smooth sailing.
But that's not what Jesus promises.
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
— John 14:27
Jesus said: "Peace I leave with you." Not "I give you a problem-free life." Not "Everything will be easy." He gives you peace.
And here's the crucial part: The Christian will still have problems.
But the difference—the revolutionary difference—is that the Christian has someone to help them through it.
The Greek word for peace is eirene—it doesn't mean the absence of conflict. It means wholeness, completeness, harmony even in the middle of conflict. It's like a ship in a storm. The storm is still raging. The waves are still crashing. But there's a captain who knows how to navigate. There's a crew that knows what to do. There's a destination that's still true even though the journey is rough. That's peace. Not the absence of problems. The presence of someone who can help you through them.
"Jesus said, 'Peace I leave with you.' That doesn't mean Christians won't have problems. The difference is that the Christian has someone who will help him with his problems."
So you can have both. Purpose and peace. Not purpose without struggle. Not peace without challenges. But purpose that guides you and peace that sustains you through the difficulty.
Purpose and Peace Together
Here's what happens when you have both:
You know why you're here. You have a target, an aim, a reason for existing that's bigger than yourself.
And you're not alone in pursuing it. You have a peace that surpasses understanding. You have the presence of God helping you through every obstacle.
That's the life Jesus came to give you.
Not the life of endless searching in dead ends. Not the life of chasing drugs or money or achievement and finding emptiness. But a life where you know why you're here and you have peace as you pursue it.
That's the beginning of abundant life. And there are two more gifts coming—gifts that will complete the answer to your biggest question.
Reflection Questions
1. What "why" have you been searching for?
Where have you been looking?
2. Do you know God's purpose for your life?
Or are you still trying to figure it out on your own?
3. What problems are you facing right now that you're trying to solve alone?
What would change if you invited Jesus to help?
4. If you found real purpose and real peace, how would your life be different?
Prayer
Father, I'm tired of searching in the wrong places. I'm tired of chasing things that don't satisfy. I'm tired of feeling empty.
Show me why You created me. Help me understand my purpose. Give me clarity about why I'm here and what You want me to do with this one life.
And give me peace. Not the absence of problems, but Your presence in the middle of them. Help me trust that You're with me, guiding me, helping me navigate whatever comes.
I want the abundant life Jesus promised. I want to know my purpose and live it with peace. Help me take the first step.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
If this message helped you see purpose and peace in a new way, share it with someone who's still searching for answers.