“The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.” (1 Cor 3:8-9 NIV)

While we were waiting to take the boat from Reykjavik to Videy Island in Iceland, my family and I wandered around a boutique at the terminal near the docks. T-shirts can always come in handy! The sales lady was very helpful, telling us we could hand in our tax free shopping form to her so that we could be reimbursed immediately. Yes, you CAN shop tax-free in Iceland. It’s so cool!

As our boat was moments from departure, we told her we would be back with the form. And we were. Four hours later. The same sales lady looked at us with big, round eyes, and her first question was poignant: “Why are you here?”

“We are here because we promised to return with our tax free shopping form,” I replied with a smile.

“Oh!” She exclaimed. “But the cruise ship already left . . . I guess you weren’t on the cruise ship, were you!” She then went on to tell us that most of their clients were from the cruise ships, and ended up by saying, “It’s not usual for tourists who are staying in Reykjavic to bring these forms to us!”

In all, it made us smile. You see, the boat trip we took lasted 10 minutes each way, and we were doing good to fit 50 passengers on the tiny vessel. It would hardly quality for a cruise ship!

The sales lady was fascinated when she learned we were Canadians, venturing out on our own in her rugged country, and we had a very nice chat.

Her initial question continued to haunt me, however: “Why are you here?”

What is our true purpose on this planet? If we don’t know the answer to this question, we will never really be fulfilled.

Each of us has his/her own talents, and none are superior to another. Both preachers and garbage collectors have an important role to play in this, and all will be rewarded accordingly!

What is most important of all is to recognize our purpose and fulfill it, as serving God, not men. Only then will we be truly fulfilled.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Col 3:23-24 NIV)

“Why are you really here?”

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “Real Resurrection Life From the Book of 1st Corinthians” devotional series, please click here.)