Why do we exist? Do we have a purpose? If there is no God then the answer to those questions are pretty obvious, we exist only because of chance and our only purpose is to survive. If we were created by some sort of intelligent design then it would stand to reason there must be a reason for our creation.
Love is our clue to our existence and purpose. Love is not needed for procreation. There are plenty of examples of species continuing their existence due to instincts alone. Humans have a unique ability to love that goes beyond the basic nurturing needed to keep the species going.
According to scripture we are made in Gods image, which means we will have attributes of God. The Bible makes a point, many times, describing Gods greatest attribute - love. Anyone who has raised a child should be able to understand how meaningful it is to have their children love them. It gives us pleasure when we are loved.
Love has to be given freely to really mean anything. A coerced love means nothing. A coerced love is like parents telling their children - if you want food to eat and a roof over your head you must love us. Of course they will tell you how much they love you, but do they really? Meaningful love has to be given unconditionally, it has to be a matter of free will. This explains why free will is so important and why God seems hidden to us. He wants all of us to have a relationship with Him but only if we are willing to seek out this relationship. In other words we have to want God in our lives.
We were made to "worship" God. The worship He wants is so misunderstood. God is not some egotistical person that wants us to tell Him how great He is! He just wants us to love Him back. He wants us to know Him, and the only way we can do this is through praying and reading the Bible, and by knowing Him we will know how much He loves us, in spite of all our weaknesses and flaws. Once we understand His love and who He really is, then our "worship" becomes meaningful to God. Our existence also becomes purposeful to mankind. When we become "renewed" because of our relationship with God our focus changes from living to please ourselves to wanting life of value to others.
Scripture states Jesus came to give us an abundant life. Abundance not in the form of material possessions but a fulfilling life full of meaning and purpose.
Love is our clue to our existence and purpose. Love is not needed for procreation. There are plenty of examples of species continuing their existence due to instincts alone. Humans have a unique ability to love that goes beyond the basic nurturing needed to keep the species going.
According to scripture we are made in Gods image, which means we will have attributes of God. The Bible makes a point, many times, describing Gods greatest attribute - love. Anyone who has raised a child should be able to understand how meaningful it is to have their children love them. It gives us pleasure when we are loved.
Love has to be given freely to really mean anything. A coerced love means nothing. A coerced love is like parents telling their children - if you want food to eat and a roof over your head you must love us. Of course they will tell you how much they love you, but do they really? Meaningful love has to be given unconditionally, it has to be a matter of free will. This explains why free will is so important and why God seems hidden to us. He wants all of us to have a relationship with Him but only if we are willing to seek out this relationship. In other words we have to want God in our lives.
We were made to "worship" God. The worship He wants is so misunderstood. God is not some egotistical person that wants us to tell Him how great He is! He just wants us to love Him back. He wants us to know Him, and the only way we can do this is through praying and reading the Bible, and by knowing Him we will know how much He loves us, in spite of all our weaknesses and flaws. Once we understand His love and who He really is, then our "worship" becomes meaningful to God. Our existence also becomes purposeful to mankind. When we become "renewed" because of our relationship with God our focus changes from living to please ourselves to wanting life of value to others.
Scripture states Jesus came to give us an abundant life. Abundance not in the form of material possessions but a fulfilling life full of meaning and purpose.