"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. ¹⁴For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." --Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

Millions of people wander through life wondering what in the world our purpose is. Not only does God reveal to us our purpose in life, but He explains why! Our entire reason for existence is to fear God and keep His commandments (v.13). You say, "But, that's so restrictive!" Actually, it frees us from so many heartaches we put ourselves through by not doing what He says. Think about the consequences for sin for just a moment, and then think about how amazing your life would be without them. That is God's plan for you! Even if it was restriction instead of protection, shouldn't the One Who made you AND paid for you have say how you live? Romans 12 tells us that it is our reasonable service.

Beyond telling us for our purpose for existing, God tells us why: He is one day going to reward us for what we do well and punish us for what we do wrong. Now, as long as we have accepted Christ, we will still go to heaven; the Bible is beyond clear on that. However, we may only enter by the skin of our teeth, having nothing to show for it (the Bible calls it "saved, yet so as by fire" in 1 Corinthians 3). However, if we serve Christ with our lives, the rewards of our actions will be purified and handed to us so that we can offer something to the One Who gave His life for us--Jesus Christ. The main question here is: do you want to appear before the Savior Who gave you life and eternal life without anything to show for Him, or do you want to be able to lay down a small token of gratitude?