Does Your Life Have Purpose?

*Kurt Cobain died in 1994. I remember the day I picked up the newspaper and read about it. He was the founder and lead singer of the rock group "Nirvana." His death was a suicide. He took a shotgun, pointed it to his head, and killed himself. The newspaper was filled with the words of fans and commentators in disbelief saying "Why? It makes no sense." "He had it all . . . a great career, a huge following, plenty of money, a wife and a 19 month old daughter . . . Why?" To most people it made no sense. But I remember sitting at my desk thinking. "Yes it does. It makes sense. Kurt Cobain was living out his beliefs to their logical extreme." You see, Kurt Cobain was a self professed humanist and nihilist. In other words, he believed there was no God and that there was no meaning or purpose to life. His music (poetry) could not be clearer on this matter.

Kurt Cobain’s music was grunge rock. He pioneered this type of music. The alternative rock style of today has evolved from grunge rock. Kurt had a disdain for anything mainstream or acceptable to society. He was a child of divorce. At the age of eight he began to be shifted from home to home, sometimes even being homeless. He was very vocal about his bitterness from that experience. He developed his belief that life was basically rotten and meaningless.

His music often spoke of his anger and disillusionment. One of his most famous songs was called "Nevermind." Its recurring line was "Oh well, whatever, nevermind." Another song he wrote never got released. It was too objectionable to the label company, but Kurt liked it. It was called, "I Hate Myself, And I Want To Die." In another song called "Smells Like Teen Spirit," a well known line says, "I feel stupid and contagious, here we are, now entertain us." The video of that song was voted best video of the decade of the 90’s.

Friends of Cobain say he lived up to his music. He often acted without reason. He was constantly on an emotional roller coaster. But his dips into despair got deeper and deeper. Once, a member of his road crew asked him why he was moping around so much. Cobain replied, "I’m awake, aren’t I?" Kurt Cobain was a young man fueled by nihilism. He had passion, but for nothing. He had a void in his heart that nothing he pursued could fill, and he believed that nothing could or ever would. He had no purpose, no meaning, and he simply lived out his belief in his worldview to its logical conclusion.

Some of us wake up every morning feeling like our lives have no purpose, passion or meaning. Could this be you, too? It is certainly understandable that due to the pressures and stresses of life a person could certainly feel like they are caught in a spiraling downward tailspin with no chance of pulling out. On the other hand, how about the person who has it all: the money, fame and success, yet still feels as empty as a bank building on Sunday morning? Could this be you, too?

King Solomon (son of David) also had it all. (1 Kings 9:26-28, 10:11-12, 2 Chronicles 8:17-18, 9:21) God had even chosen him to build the original temple of God; an honor that not even his own father David was given! Even so, toward the end of his life he became corrupted, perverted and eventually lost everything. He had all of the things that the world had to offer, but wrote of the despair that they brought him. Curiously, the happiest and most prosperous times of his life were when he listened to and obeyed God. It was when he strayed from this that he ran into problems. Think about it. He had all the wisdom in the world, but was not wise enough to figure out that true purpose and meaning were found in the living God. Could this be you, too?

As many people sadly discover, it is not about the things or stuff that we accumulate. Matthew 6:19 reminds us: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” Is that your plan? To acquire as much as you can and hope that it brings you true happiness and peace only to perhaps lose it all in the end? Have you somehow lost sight of your true purpose? Matthew 6:20.

Maybe it’s time to rediscover your relationship with God? It doesn’t matter if it’s been a while. God is very patient. Each one of us is instilled with His purpose; it’s just that some of us are too busy trying to find it in something, or somewhere else. Isn’t that a funny sort of thing? I mean, to spend hours, days, and years looking for something that will truly fulfill you and bring meaning to your life, and here you've had the answer with you all along! Matthew 6:21

Let's pray:

Father, I know You made me on Purpose. This I AM certain. I AM here on Purpose for You, to do Your Will. My desire is to please You, to follow You and do whatever it is that You Purposed for me.
My mind is open, my heart is willing and my body is able. Ever Loving Father, I ask you to fill my spirit with Your Holy Spirit so that I may hear and see; do and speak what is pleasing to You.
Through Jesus Christ.
Amen~

*Kurt Cobain story courtesy of Pastor Scott Weber

~Eve