What on earth are you here for?

Mark Twain once said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why.” Jesus knew why He was born, why he lived, and why he died.

Jesus came to earth on a divine rescue mission. His people, the Jews, were under cruel Roman oppression. They were looking for a great leader – someone like a military hero, a conquering king, or a political powerhouse to show up and give the Romans what they had coming.

Instead, God knew their greatest need was not physical liberation but spiritual salvation. So their souls needed to be rescued from the oppression and slavery that sin brings. God knew this, so He gave them a servant – His only begotten Son.

Even when everyone else didn’t understand, Jesus stayed focused on His eternal purpose of serving others. He told his disciples: I didn’t come here to be an earthly king and have everyone serve me. I came to serve you and give my life so you can enjoy being with God forever. Of course, we aren’t Jesus. That’s why we need Him. That’s why He “gave His life as a ransom” for us. We need salvation, and we need to know our purpose.

The legendary orchestra conductor Leonard Bernstein was once asked, "What is the hardest instrument to play?" Without a moment's hesitation, he replied, "Second fiddle. I can always get plenty of first violinists. But to find one who plays second violin with as much enthusiasm, or second French horn, or second flute, now that's a problem! And yet if no one plays second, we have no harmony."

Jesus says greatness is a willingness to pick up the second fiddle and create harmony by working together to advance God’s kingdom. When we humble ourselves and serve, He promises to exalt us (James 4:10). C.T. Studd was a world-famous cricket player who dedicated his life to missions. He once said:

Only one life

will soon be past

Only what’s done

for Christ will last!”