Thus far we have answered the following questions…

Who are you? Made in the very image of God, you have been given life and told that you are salt and light, a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people, the temple of God.

What are you? A child and servant of God and everything that entails…your time, your efforts on His behalf, the entirety of every minute of every day of the life God gives you.

When are you? You are living in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation among whom we should shine as lights in the world.

Where are you? Spiritually in your everyday walk with God?

And now let’s examine… Why Are You?

Many people thru the years have asked me this question…Why am I here? What is my purpose? What is my life all about?

In effect… Why Am I?

Maybe you’ve never thought of it this way, but as you read God’s word, there’s a why behind almost every life we read about in the Bible:

Dorcas: Good works

Widow with the mite: Gave all

Saul of Tarsus: Bad to good

Judas: Betrayal

Adam and Eve: First

Nadab and Abihu: Strange fire

Daniel: Lions’ Den

Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego: Fiery furnace

And the list goes on and on.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

— Romans 15:4

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

— 1 Corinthians 10:11

Remember Solomon? Wisest man ever? He answered the question Why Are You:

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

— Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

First Solomon says fear God.

Do you fear him?

There are some people that I know of who are living in sin and being willfully disobedient to God’s word (in other words, they’re doing it on purpose with no regard for God), and I have told them that if I was in their place, I would be afraid to go to sleep at night until I had repented of my sins and gotten back into service with God.

Fear God?

Why should you be afraid of Him? Well, what do the scriptures (that God wrote) say?

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

— Hebrews 10:31

Have you even considered this verse and what it means? When you willfully sin, have you even considered that in the next second your life could be taken from you and you could meet your maker face to face?

That’s scarier than any monster movie that I could ever think of. It sends chills down my back. And if you’re sinning willfully it should make you very uncomfortable.

But many are like Pharaoh who was given instructions from God through Moses….

And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

— Exodus 5:2

Notice fear and how it relates to God in the following scripture…

Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.

— Deuteronomy 8:6

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

— Job 1:1

Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

— Psalm 2:11

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

— Psalm 19:7-11

Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy: to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name.

— Psalm 33:18-21

God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him.

— Psalm 89:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth forever.

— Psalm 111:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

— Proverbs 1:7

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.

— Matthew 10:28

You better fear God!

Remember what else Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 12:13?

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

Why are you?

Fear God!

Why are you?

Keep His commandments!

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and everyone that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

— 1 John 5:1-4

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

— John 3:16-17

Five questions to ponder.

Has someone ever been beaten for you?

Has someone ever been laughed at for you?

Has someone ever been spit on for you?

Has someone ever shed blood and suffered for you?

Has someone ever died for you?

Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person; see ye to it. Then answered all the people and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, the took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross. And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull, they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, THEY PARTED MY GARMENTS AMONG THEM, AND UPON MY VESTURE THEY DID CAST LOTS. And sitting down, they watched him there. And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him, for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? That is to say, MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the son of God.

— Matthew 27:22-54

Jesus Christ died for you!

He died for YOU!

Why Are You?

For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

— Hebrews 10:26-27

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance, seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

— Hebrews 6:4-6

The Hymn is titled “I’m the One.” It was written by Ray Overholt.

Let the compelling words from this song touch your heart….

I was not in the garden
when he knelt to God and prayed

I did not kiss him on the cheek
when Jesus was betrayed

I could not do a single thing
to hurt God’s only son

But every time I sin on earth,
I feel that I’m the One

I was not at the trial
when the crowd jeered at his name

I did not make him bear a cross
or walk a road of shame

I could not do a single thing
to hurt God’s only son

But every time I sin on earth,
I feel that I’m the one

I was not on the hillside
when he gave his life that day

I did not nail his precious hands
or take his robe away

I could not do a single thing
to hurt God’s only son

But every time I sin on earth,
I feel that I’m the one

I’m the one
who shouted “Crucify!”

I’m the one
who made his cross so high

I’m the one
who stood and watched him die….

What have I done?

I’m the one!

What shall I do with Jesus? Pilate asked the question. And we will all answer it. Some try to ignore him. Some deny him. Some put him in a box and take him out when they need him.

What shall I do with Jesus who died for me? Here are the scriptures that lead to eternity in Heaven:

You have to hear the word:

So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

— Romans 10:17

You have to believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God.

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

— John 8:24

You have to repent of your sins.

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

— Luke 13:3

You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Not an option. All will do it either on this side or the other side of eternity. Scripture confirms it.

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in Heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father.

— Philippians 2:10-11

You must be baptized for the remission of your sins. Not an option, according to Jesus Christ our perfect example, who said:

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

— Mark 16:15

Is that it?

Not quite.

God commands that we are faithful to him until we die.

If ye love me, keep my commandments.

— John 14:15

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

— John 14:21

We must study God’s word to be approved of Him.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

— 2 Timothy 2:15

We must teach others Gods word so they may be saved.

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

— 2 Timothy 4:2

We must be content in our lives that God gives us.

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE.

— Hebrews 13:5

Study to be quiet and tend to our business.

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.

— 1 Thessalonians 4:11

We are created unto good works and must do good to all men.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

— Ephesians 2:10

And as we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

—Galatians 6:10

And whatever we do, do it without murmuring or complaining.

Do all things without murmurings and disputings.

— Philippians 2:14

The scriptures are God’s blueprint to Heaven for all. Anything added to His word won’t get you there. Anything deleted from His word will not get you there. Make sure you are on the right path.

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you.

— Deuteronomy 4:2

Why are you?

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

— Ecclesiastes 12:13

Why Are You?

Fear God!

Why Are You?

Keep His commandments!

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

— 2 Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourselves!