Remember the old show “Mission Impossible”? Jim Phelps, IMF (Impossible Missions Force – so funny!) agent listens to a tape describing his mission. The recorded voice states “Your mission Jim is [X] …..should you decide to accept it.” Then the tape self-destructs in a cloud of smoke. Jim always accepts his mission… otherwise, no show, right? Wouldn’t it be great if we received a tape telling us what we were here to do? We would no longer have to ask “What am I here for?” This is one of the most asked questions on the web with thousands of ideas for how to answer it. Yet it’s one that you need to answer for yourself; it’s about you after all. Be sure to answer it – life is much more vibrant and exciting when you know what you are here to do, just as it was for agent Phelps!

Before trying to answer it, there are a couple of other questions to answer first (prerequisites you might say) because your answer will emanate from deeply held beliefs.

“Fools base their thoughts on foolish assumptions, so their conclusions will be wicked madness;”
Ecclesiastes 10:13 (NLT)

The wise writer of Ecclesiastes points out that deeply held, but mistaken premises can lead us to crazy, even harmful answers. Recall the time in history when people believed the world was flat? Imagine how the fear of falling off the edge might have affected their decisions. We have to be solid in our underlying beliefs to reach a good answer for “What am I here for?” This is serious stuff.

Question 1: What do I believe about eternity?

Most people seem to look ahead toward eternity future, neglecting the significance of eternity past. God is eternal, no beginning or end – a timeline pointing to infinity both back and forward. On the other hand, we are created so we have a beginning point. Our end point? We tend to think within the confines of our physical bodies which clearly have an endpoint. The attention we give to living long and healthy lives, and our fear of death says it all. We may casually speak of living out eternity beyond our death, but usually it’s viewed as an entirely separate life.  If we answer “What am I here for?” simply in the context of our physical lives we’re likely to miss the mark; focusing on things that benefit us as we strive to find personal fulfillment. Even things we consider “good” may fall short.

From the vantage point of eternity things look quite different. Eternally important things rise to the surface and most of the things that seem important to us now fade into the dust. Jesus said:

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be……” 

.…So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ ³² These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. ³³ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Jesus Christ in Matthew 6:19-33 (NLT)

Jesus makes it clear we are to take an eternal view. Align the desires of your heart with him and he will reward you for this and take care of you along the way.

Question 2: Where do I fit along the timeline of eternity?

There are a couple of significant milestones along the timeline of eternity. Following the creation of the heavens and the earth came the first – the fall of man. When Adam broke trust with God, he essentially handed Satan the keys to the Earth (now broken).

The second milestone is still to come.  Sometime in the future we know Jesus is to return, reclaiming what is his and, sadly, discharging all that have rejected him. Our lives are being lived out at some point between these two milestones – in a world under enemy rule. Adding a significant twist, Christ followers have received citizenship in God’s kingdom, under the rule of Jesus.

”But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.
The Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:20 (NLT) 

”Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
The Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 2:11 (NLT)

You are a foreigner here. You were born behind enemy lines. This really ups the ante!  Now answering “What am I here for?” carries great significance and danger. Think of SEAL Team 6 that had the mission to take out Osama Bin Laden. The team received a specific assignment from a source they were loyal to, and their mission took place behind enemy lines, at great risk. This is the nature of your Life Mission: A kingdom assignment from God himself, to take place behind enemy lines, at great risk. Not to be confused with your Purpose (the reason you exist), your Life Mission is your assignment while here on Earth. Once in Heaven, your Life Mission will be over – mission accomplished. Your purpose will continue throughout eternity.

Now, having answered these prerequisite questions, you can approach the original question, “What am I here for?” confidently. You are here to accomplish your Life Mission. Go to God and ask. I like to set it up this way: Imagine you are high above the Earth, side by side with God looking from an eternal, kingdom viewpoint. As you gaze at all that is happening across the Earth, you ask God, “Given all of my experiences, pains/hurts, passions, and abilities, what would you have me do?” God will gladly tell you and it likely will seem way beyond you. Most often your Life Mission will be connected with your pain. Think about it…you can relate to others experiencing similar pain. It’s been said, “Don’t waste your pain”.

Jim Phelps was assigned formidable challenges… the show was called “Mission Impossible” after all. Your assignment will be formidable too. Like Phelps, you have the option, “should you choose to accept it.” Say “Yes!” and your world will change for good. What makes it good?

“Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. ⁶ He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.”
King David in Psalm 37:5-6

You have a significant advantage over agent Phelps. If you accept your assignment, God changes it to “Mission Possible”. Your cause will shine like the noonday sun and your life will open up, full of adventure.

Is it time to figure out your Life Mission? Let’s talk.

Go to www.bobblackcoaching.com to schedule a free consultation.