“The turtle beside the railroad tracks sees the express train on its way from the Atlantic to the Pacific. That turtle, if intelligent, might conceivably measure the speed of the train, and calculate by the days of its journey, that journey’s distance. But no turtle could understand the engineer, or the steam expanding in the locomotive, driving the wheels, or the nature of the city from which the train has started or that for which it is bound. And just as little do we know of the universe — its plans, its purposes, its commencement.”

These words by Professor E.O. James of the University of London in his book Creation and Cosmology bring us squarely to our focus for the next six Sundays. For in Ephesians 1, Paul tells us the very things which Professor James says we cannot know — the purpose of the universe — its plans, its purposes, its commencement.”

The great question with which most thinking people wrestle in their most intense, most deeply personal moments is whether or not there is any purpose in life. Is human life, with its blend of happiness, tragedy, misery, heartache, elation and joy — flatness and boredom — moving toward a goal? Or is life as Shakespear’s Macbeth described it: “A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”

Today we’re going to look at life’s three greatest questions: The question of existence – why am I alive?; the question of significance – does my life matter? and the question of intention – what is my purpose?

Now this first question, the “Why am I alive?” is not exactly a new question. In chapter 20 of his book, Jeremiah asks: “Why was I born? Was it only to have trouble and sorrow, to end my life in disgrace?” Now there have probably been times in your life when you felt that way, too. Was I born just to have a bunch of problems? Was I put on this planet just to have heartache, grief and stress?”

And if you conclude that pain is your whole purpose, that’s hard to deal with. The life without purpose isn’t a life worth living. It is no coincidence that the suicide rate in our society has gone up. It’s now the No. 2 killer of teenage students.

You see, if you take God out of the equation, you don’t really have very many alternatives. Bertrand Russell, a great Englishman, was possibly that greatest, atheist philosopher of the last century. He was intellectually honest enough to admit, “Unless you assume the existence of God, the question of life’s meaning and purpose is irrelevant.” You see, if there is no God, if you’re just a freak chance of nature, you’re just complex pond scum – then guess what? – your life doesn’t matter. If somebody wants to take it, they could. Because there’s no real reason, meaning or purpose.

Yes, you can try the Mystical approach. The mystical approach says “look within and find your purpose within.” You know if that really worked, all of us would know our purpose. I’m sure you’ve tried that. I have and I bet everyone else has, too. And I didn’t find it there. It takes more than looking within.

Oprah Winfrey did a show a while back. She said she was going to do a session on discovering your purpose on life. At every single break during that hour show, she would say “Now, come back because we’re going to tell you your purpose.” Did they tell us? – No. They didn’t even come close. They didn’t even attempt it. In fact, as the credits were rolling at the end of that Oprah Winfrey show, she kind of looks at the credits and says, “And remember, you’ve got to figure it out by yourself.” That was a wasted hour. Looking within is not the answer.

Or you can try the Philosophical approach – the survivalist says, “The purpose of life is just to stay alive.” In other words, live as long as you can. The Naturalist says, “The purpose of life is just to perpetuate itself.” In other words, you’re just here for biological reasons. Rap artist, Ice T, wrote, “The only reason we’re here is to reproduce. Just chill out and reproduce. Keep the species alive.” Doesn’t that just motivate you to want to jump out of bed in the morning? (It may motivate you to jump in to bed, I don’t know.) The Hedonist writes, “The purpose of life is pleasure – have fun.” The Materialist says, “Life is all about the acquisition of things. Your life is measured by the things you own.” You know the problem with that is that the one who dies with the most toys, still dies. And so, these are not really satisfying answers.

Or you can try the Self-Help approach. You can go into any bookstore and find hundreds of books, that talk about discovering your life purpose. They say the same thing; “You’ve got to invent your purpose.” You’ve got to create your own purpose in life. These books cost about $20.00 so I’ll save you that money and tell you that they all give the same basic approach – discover your dreams, go after your goals, have some ambitions, dream big dreams, aim high, believe you can achieve, have faith, figure out what you’re good at, never give up, involve other people. You can put the $20.00 I just saved you into the offering this morning.

Those are all good advice and they may, if you do those things, make you a success in life. But being a success and knowing your purpose in life are not the same thing. You see, the purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment. It’s far greater than your own happiness. You were made by God and you were made for God and you were put here for His purposes. And until you understand that, life isn’t going to make sense.

Okay, why does God want us here? Why are we alive? Why are we on this planet? Is there a reason? The truth is God has five purposes for your life. In the next 40 days we’re going to look in detail at each of those five purposes. .

Today, though, I just want us to see God’s motive. Paul writes in Ephesians 1:4 “Long before He laid down the earth’s foundation, God had us in His mind and settled on us as the focus of His love to be made whole and holy by His love.”

Note the phrase, “the focus of His love”. God says, “I made you, to love you.”

You were created to be loved by God. God didn’t need you. He wasn’t lonely. But He made you in order to love you. He doesn’t need you. He wants you. And before we can talk about anything else, you have to understand this is what on earth you’re here for – to be loved by God.

The second key question of life is the “Question of Significance: Does my life matter?”

Now you’re going to go through life living at one of three levels: The first and lowest level is the survival level. The survival level is really where many people live today. They’re just in survival mode. They are just barely getting by. They’re just existing. They’re not living. They are controlled by their circumstances. They put in their time and live for the weekend. They’re just in survival mode.

A step up from that, a better way to live, rather than the survival level is the success level. Honestly, this is where most of you are. By the world’s standards, you’ve got it made. You’ve got a comfortable living, compared to the rest of the world; you’re extremely wealthy, compared to the rest of the world. So you have possessions, you have freedom, you have good health and you may have prestige and you may be quite successful. But today there are a lot of books coming out that say things like, “If I’m so successful, how come I don’t feel fulfilled?” The reason is, it takes more than success and it takes more than status to satisfy.

You need to go to the third level of living, which is the significance level. Not a survival, not a success but step up to the level of significance. How do you live at the Significance level? Well, you get there through three things: You know the meaning of life - that gives significance. You know how much you matter to God - that gives you significance. You know God’s purposes for your life and you’re living them out in a cause greater than yourself and that gives you significance.

Does your life matter? Well God has extremely long-range plans for you. Psalm 33:11 says “God’s plans endure forever; His purposes last eternally.”

Notice 2 Corinthians 5:1, “When this tent we live in – our body here on earth – is torn down. God will have a house in Heaven for us to live in. A home He himself has made, which will last forever.” You want to know how much you matter to God. Well, I’ll tell you – you matter so much to God; He wants to keep you with Him for the rest of eternity.

So the purposes we’re going to talk about in the next 40 days are not just for the rest of your life on earth, they're for the rest of your life forever. Because God’s purposes are eternal.

When we talk about the five things God put you on earth for, He just wants you to practice here, what you’re going to do forever and ever in eternity. This is the warm-up act, this is the kindergarten, this is the preschool, this is where you do the dress rehearsal. God says, “I have plans and purposes for your life, but they don’t end at death.”

So the question of existence – why am I alive? God answers it by saying, “I made you to love you, that’s why you’re alive.” In the question of Significance – does my life matter? God says, “Oh yeah you matter. You matter so much that I intend on keeping you alive for the rest of eternity. You’re going to be around for a long, long time.

So then comes the third question, the “Question of Intention: What is my purpose?”

How many of you have ever used a pair of pliers as a hammer? How many of you have used a knife as a screwdriver. I discovered that that works better one you snap off the tip.

If you don’t honor something’s purpose, it is likely to be abused. You want to know why there are so many abused people today? Because we don’t know our purpose. When you don’t know the purpose of something, it is likely to be misused, or abused. That’s the first point. Now here’s the second point: the only way you’re going to know what some things are is either a) you talk to the creator, or the inventor of it, or b) you read the owner’s manual. The only way you’re going to ever know your purpose in life – it’s not by listening to the philosophers, because even the best ones are just guessing. It’s not looking within, because you’re not going to find it there. It’s not looking in self-help books, because they’re just saying create a purpose. You’ve got to talk to the Creator and look in the owner’s manual. It’s the only way you will ever know your purpose in life.

If you’re going to get to know God’s purpose for your life, you have to get to know God. It’s just that simple.

Right in front of you, there’s a 40 Days of Purpose card. Would you take this out? I want everybody to get one of these. Now this is a different card, because you’re not going to turn this card in, but I want everybody to get one. I want you to sign this card and take it home and put it on your refrigerator. So everybody get one.

The next 40 days are going to transform your life. I’m confident of that. I want you to look at this card. Believing that God created me for His purposes and that the best use of my life is to fulfill those purposes, I commit the next 40 days to better understanding of God’s five purposes for me.

I will participate in a 40 days of Purpose small group. We have about 20 of these going on. If you’re not in one, it’s not too late. You can go out on to the patio and talk to Karen at the small group table. It’s not too late.

I will read each day’s chapter from the Purpose Driven Life book. Everybody who in a group hopefully has a copy of that book. I want to suggest that you schedule a daily appointment to sit down and read it. Either in the morning, at lunch. I don’t care when you do it. Schedule it and do it every day for the next 40 days. It will take you about 15 minutes a day. I would also suggest that you get a partner that you can call on the phone and discuss what you’ve read. Don’t go through this journey alone. Get yourself a spiritual partner.

I will do my best to hear all 6 messages in this series, The Purpose Driven Life. The fact that you are here today is a good sign. You are already one for one. What Janet and I are going to be saying, and our pastors are going to be saying on Sunday will set up what you’re going to be studying during the week. So what we’re talking about today, you’re going to be studying in a little bit more detail this week.

If you added up what time it would take you to do all those things – I took the time to add it all up and I was real generous. It would still be less than 48 hours total for six weeks. So here’s my question – is the rest of your life and is all of the rest of your eternity worth 48 hours of your time, now? I would think so.

I want to ask you to sign this card and I want you to take it home, and I want you to put it up on your refrigerator to remind you. Some of you have the dumbest stuff on your refrigerator. I’ve seen them. So put something significant up there.

I realize that all of us here this morning are at different stages in our spiritual journey. That doesn’t matter. We’re all going to go through this journey together. Some of you are seekers, and you’re saying, “I’m not even sure I buy this, but I’m intellectually honest enough to check it out.” Congratulations, great – we’re glad to have you on the journey. Some of you are brand new believers. I am excited for you because you’re going to get to start off right, like many of us did not. Some of you are what I call “stumblers.” You say, “I call myself a Christian, but I’m not really very close to God. And I’ve been really, honestly, living for my plans and not God’s.” Well this 40 days is the time to come home. Some of you are strong believers, and you’re going to go deeper with God than you’ve ever gone before and you’re going to bring others along, too. Regardless of where you are in your spiritual journey, It’s not too late to be who you might have been.