Have you ever thought about it? Do you think about it?

I do a lot. But I realized recently that it’s not very common to think or even talk about it. I’ll attempt to lay down some hypothesis (note: not exhaustive!):

o Some people don’t like to think about it because:
+ it’s a seemingly hard topic with no concrete answers.
+ Thinking about life inevitable leads us to think about death. And death is another hard topic we don’t really want to think about
+ Etc.

o Some people reach conclusions such as:
+ It’s all about me and I’m just gonna live life with no regrets since life is short and unpredictable
+ I live to ensure that my family is provided for
+ Etc.

I think about life and death a lot. Starting from an early age, I wondered about these issues and more recently, on how to live a life that counts. But that inevitably leads to wondering “for whom” am I living this life?! My early thoughts revolved around:

- If it’s mainly for me alone, then I’d live life like there is no tomorrow, and with less regard for those around me. But this inward looking mindset somehow makes living kind of meaningless.

- If it’s mainly for people around me, there isn’t much meaning too since I’m sure that lives would go on even if I pass on tomorrow! I’m not as ‘important’ as I’d like to think I am, in fact, I am quite dispensable!

I guess that’s why I’ve always been fascinated with the Christian perspective – that life is not all about ME and that life does not end on earth. A paradigm shift happens when one realizes and believes that an individual is created by a loving God who has plans and purposes for the individual. At least this concept transformed me!

I came to view life as a lifelong pursuit of knowing my creator, and striving to live my life according to His masterplan. Surely, the “designer-of-me” would know what He made me for! Moreover, given that His faithfulness and love is consistently demonstrated through biblical accounts, I can be assured that His plans for me are loving, fool-proof and for my ultimate good.

The eternity dimension further urges one not to take life lightly. I believe our stint on earth is for character building to prepare us for the age to come. It pushes me to consider if I’m building up riches in heaven and thereby caution against frivolous living. I view this as a serious matter as I’ll be asked to account for the way I live someday by the one who made me.

It doesn’t matter whether you agree with me or not.

But surely, at some point in your life, you’ll wonder what you are living for. I pray that at that point, our Heavenly Father, the creator of all things, will answer your question and give you the peace, joy and strength to live a life that counts.