Do you remember the story of Pinocchio? I recalled enough of it to suspect a parallel between Pinocchio and us, so I picked the book up at the library. Sure enough, Geppetto lovingly fashioned Pinocchio for fellowship with him and poured his sacrificial love onto him. But, Pinocchio rebelled against his creator and authored a declaration of independence; he did things his way. He is aptly called a "dummy" and humans who think that living in rebellion against our Creator are as well. In the end Pinocchio was transformed and became his creator's precious son. We all have a lot in common with ‘ol Pinocchio. Ultimately he said, "How ridiculous I was when I was a puppet! And how glad I am that I have become a well-behaved [son]."

Have you ever pondered a question such as the title of this article, Why Do I Exist? We exist for the same reasons that Pinocchio was fashioned by his creator. God lovingly recreated you for His own pleasure and He is so proud of His handiwork. Now He wants you to bring honor ("glory" is the biblical term) to His name (His reputation). You can identify with that. How did you feel when you first saw your child that you helped bring into the world? Proud enough to take pictures and show them to your friends, I'll bet! How did you acquire that trait? You got it from your Father. God has a special feeling for His kids, and He has passed that trait along to you.

Can you imagine how proud He was as He recreated you in Christ (Eph. 2:10)? Imagine Him holding you when you were born into His forever-family and showing you to all the angels. I like to think of Him as a proud daddy (Rom. 8;15; Gal. 4:6), with a grin from ear to ear which say, "Look what I did!" You think this is a far-fetched idea? No way! If you, an earthly parent, experience such a self-sacrificing love for your kids, consider how much greater the Father's love is for you (Heb. 12:10). You have never given up your only son that you might give birth to another child (much less one who insists on squirming out of your lap so he might live in rebellious independence like Pinocchio).

How fathomless is His love for you; and oh, how wrong are those people who believe the Father harbors hostility towards His recreated children…that He will one day humiliate us publicly for our sins as if they were not under the blood. What a grotesque image Satan has sold to some of us about our relationship to our Father. Indeed, some Christians have such a wrong view of Him that they feel He scowls at the mention of their name. Many in Christ even fear the very thing Christ has conquered...death. They cling to planet earth as if they prefer it over being with Jesus. It would seem their attitude is I'm sure I enjoy a greater happiness here than I ever could with You, Jesus. I have so much to live for.

Look at that... Pinocchio still lives, gang!

God created you in His image, and since He is Spirit so are you. You are a spirit-critter who lives in an earthsuit that will age some seventy years (give or take a few years) and then it dies and the spirit-critter ejects. All dead spirit-critters will eject to exist in the realm of darkness forever; live spirit-critters will eject to live in heaven with Jesus. If you are in Christ, you will never die; only your body will die.

Both the lost and the saved have a human nature. Although the terms human nature and sin nature are eons apart, some believe they are synonyms! Ever heard a Christian say, "My human nature took over and I sinned"? That's wrong thinking. To have a human nature is not bad; it's good! Let's reason together about that...Jesus had a human nature (Phil. 2:7). Adam was created with a human nature. So it can't be bad to have one. Without a human nature you could never have been recreated in Christ. Think about it: gorillas do not have that privilege.

The word nature means the basic characteristics of something. Birds have a flying nature; hogs have a mud-wallowing nature. Let's examine a few of the characteristics of a human nature. Humans are comprised of spirit, soul (personality), and body; we have needs in each of these areas which motivate us toward realizing that Christ alone is the only trustworthy Source of our supply (Matt. 6:33). But look, the world has taught us "Pinocchio" philosophy: that we must be our own source.

Let's examine a few of your human needs. The Creator implanted in your spirit the basic need to know God. He created your mind with the need to have understanding and peace; you will need the freedom to choose; your emotions need to experience loving and being loved; your body needs gratification of its various appetites. Although this is not an exhaustive list, these needs are part of your human nature; all of them are godly and good. The rub is that the devil is trying to get you to satisfy them by rebelling against your Creator and "doing it your way," just like Pinocchio, which brings us back to the topic of the sin nature.

Only "un-recreated" humans have a sin nature. Your sin nature was crucified in Christ (Rom. 6:6). Although it's true that we all were originally born with a sin nature, new creations in Christ no longer have one. Satan creates much confusion about the meaning of the term sin nature. The sin nature's basic characteristics can be summed up by this attitude: Jesus, You are a party pooper and I refuse to let You control me. I run my life. I have needs which I want to fulfill my way; I have the right to go when I want to go and do what I want to do. I do things my way. You will readily see that new creatures in Christ no longer have this sin nature. Granted we sin, but we do not yearn to live like that.

Christians have a new nature; we are "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Pet. 1:4). We were reborn in Christ as new spirit-critters (2 Cor. 5:17). We are now spirit sons and daughters of the living God (Jn.1:12). Our spiritual characteristics have been radically changed. We died in one kingdom and were born into another. The indisputable evidence of your new nature is a deep yearning, an inner longing to obey Jesus Christ, to please Him, to hunger for an intimate, loving relationship with Him. Self-examination before the Lord will reveal this to be true for all new creations in Christ. This longing is a thirst which can only be slaked by the indwelling Spirit of Christ Himself.

Think about it. These things being true, you and I can now snuggle up to the God of the entire universe--without fear--as the loving Dad that He is to us. My Father delights in me since I am "without spot or blemish," forever in His presence and favor because of Christ's finished work. I am "the righteousness of God in Christ," a partaker of [His] divine nature." I am holy; my sins are forgiven, gone...my guilt has vanished. There is nothing that can prevent my spending the rest of my earthly life, as well as eternity, in intimate union with God (Col. 2:2-3 & 17). The coast is clear! The way has been paved! The glory of such truth! I am totally, unconditionally loved by my Creator! Think about it: "Pinocchio" has repented and now experiences life...life abundant. "...Through [His] death He [rendered] powerless him who had the power of death...the devil; and [delivered] those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives" (Heb. 2:14-15). Death? Fear death? Are you kidding? "Come on death; your teeth have been pulled. You don't scare me one whit. I am alive! It's impossible for me to die!"

So why do you exist? It can be summed up in three words...TO GLORIFY GOD (Matt. 5:16). Does your lifestyle demonstrate a pursuit of that worthy goal? If not, you are missing your purpose. You and I have been lovingly recreated and abundantly endowed with grace and favor at the cost of Jesus' life. By this we are now equipped (and indeed yearn) to spend our lives bringing honor to His blessed name (reputation).

Any Christian who walks in the truths described above simply has to talk about it. He would feel like he would pop if he couldn't praise the Lord or share his joy with others as the Holy Spirit leads. He's like "Old Faithful"; he has to erupt regularly to release the river of Living Water within. When he does, those with eyes to see will glorify God. Listen, folks don't travel to Old Faithful to give honor to a hole in the ground, but to see the fountain which pours forth from that hole. The Holy Spirit is a tour guide who brings travelers into contact with you so you can honor the Fountain Who is in you by letting Him live through you, Christian.

"Why You Do You Exist?" You exist to glorify God. Are you pursuing this... or are you playing Pinocchio?