With the pain and hurting that we humans go through from time to time, we often pause and wonder, "why do I even exist?" I mean what is the reason for me to fight to stay alive if all that life brings me is pain and hurting? Most likely every person who has ever lived has had this question bother him or her.

Therefore, I believe it is important that we try and understand at least one purpose of life, even if we may not exhaust all: A reason sufficient to spur on whomever is almost calling it quit.

Our human experience of slavery sometimes make us misunderstand the phrase serve Elohim or worship. We tend to understand that worship is singing to Elohim, or praying to Elohim or doing something that compliments some lack in Hashem. It's as though our relationship with Elohim is complementary. That is, if humans need Elohim to give something then humans must do something to Elohim. You know something like if you need salary, work for the company otherwise where will the employer get money to pay you from?

A misunderstanding of this intended purpose of our creation will make us see Elohim as some deity who whiles somewhere depending on our services without which he would be a lesser god. This will make us conclude that Elohim created us to serve him as slaves. It will mislead us to misunderstand the word serve/worship. We may end up thinking that Elohim is a god who terribly suffers from inferiority complex or superiority complex and fears that if we don't incessantly pledge our allegiance, and sing him praises, his godly status will crumble. 

Job 35:6-8 explains it is not so and states, "....If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?  If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man..." It clearly shows that we were not created to do or add anything to Elohim. 

Actually, the word serve is from the Hebrew word "abad" written as ABD. A is aleph, B is beyt/bet and the third letter is Daleth.

The concrete meaning of the first letter aleph in this word is aluph. Aluph in Hebrew is the guide ox that draws the plough or cart: it symbolises a strong leader who is in the frontline to excute a task so that others may learn from him. Actually letter aleph represents HaShem himself. HaShem is the most high El/God. El written as aleph and letter lamed means the Strong One. 

The concrete meaning of letter bet is house. In this case, it is the house of Elohim (Numbers 12:7). This house is actually the kingdom of Hashem.

And the concrete meaning of letter dalet is door.

When combined the word abad/servant means he who is a strong one like Elohim who has the privilege of guarding the door to the house of Elohim to ensure that the house of Elohim remains secure and stable for ever and ever. And to worship is exactly to carry out that privilige that drives HaSatan crazy with envy.

To understand more, let us revisit our origin. 

Genesis 1:26 explains as follows, "...And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." 

It is important to explain a few words here in the Torah: Image and likeness. They are from Hebrew words Tselem and demut respectively. 

The word demut/likeness is from the Hebrew word damah. Damah means to be like or to resemble. From the same verse, we understand that we resemble Elohim in that we are of Godly royalty since we rule or bring under our dominion all other creations on earth. It is important to understand that this dominion/subjugation actually means guardingagainst evil. From Romans 8:19-22, we understand that "...the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now..."

This explains  why we were created in the demut/likeness of Elohim. Like Elohim, we were meant to have dominion and subjugate other creation into glory and liberty from corruption that was lurking in the shadows of evil embodied as HaSatan. So we were created as keeepers: to guard or protect creation from vanity and corruption. This is the first reason why we were created.

But you may ask me why? Couldn't Elohim do it himself? The reason was not Elohim, the reason lay in HaSatan. HaSatan was a Cherub, created differently from us and other creation that clearly came from most basic elements of the earth/dust (Genesis 1). We were best placed because we are made of the same substance as other creation. We rising from dust and growing to be like Elohim (KeElohim or gods) would be a perfect premises of a case that HaSatan cannot overcome. I mean, if Adam/dust could grow into a god, what excuse would HaSatan front for failure? His argument for failure would be baseless. So second reason why  we were created is to judge HaSatan/Evil.

To understand the third reason why we exist, let us examine the other word: image/Tselem. The root of tselem is a word that may mean a shadow. Just as a shadow or an image implies that there is a concrete object somewhere, our presence implies the presence of Elohim. As long as we exist then Elohim is there also. I believe this was meant to be a source of hope in times when evil seems overwhelming. Elohim would, through us, give hope to those about to call it quit. That is the third reason why we were created: to  represent Elohim and give those in need what Elohim would have given them. Of course you cannot give what u do not have. We must work on our character and be no less than Elohim himself.

But you may ask me why Elohim would need to hide and reach those in need through a human  agent when we feel we need him in person. Actually, it is not Elohim who need to hide, but it is we who need Elohim to hide. You see, we were created to represent Elohim and give creation what Elohim gives it. We are privileged thus to be servants/abadim and play the role of Elohim. Now, we cannot play that role if we don't have the likeness/demut/nature/character of HaShem. That is why we are given that privilige: to enable us develop that character of Elohim through what we go through in our day to day life (Romans 5:3; James 1:2-4). Elohim places his character that we lost in Eden when we believe through his Holy Spirit in Yahshua. So you have what it takes. Just work out that salvation (character of Elohim) for it is Elohim who "....which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure..." (Philippians 2:13)

So my brother and my sister, always appreciate the privilige that you have of being like Elohim (KeElohim or gods) and know that gods do not quit. Do not wait for anyone to help for who helps Elohim? He explains as follows in Isaiah 63:3-5, "....of the people there was none with me: And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me...."

By Bro. Boninface Muthii