The Need For A Purpose. What is your purpose in life? What are you here for? What do you hope to accomplish in life before, in the words of William Cullen Bryant, you “wrap the draperies of your couch about you and lie down to pleasant dreams?”
We need a purpose.....a reason for being. Knowing our purpose gives meaning to life. Without purpose, we spend our days in confusion and frustration. In a Rose Bowl game in Pasadena, California, back in 1929, California lineman, Roy Riegels, got the ball on a fumble, and in confusion ran the wrong direction. He was tackled by a teammate just one yard short of the wrong goal. He was in for a lot of criticism by the sports writers of the day, but Will Rogers came to his defense when he said: “Why heap such criticism on the poor fellow? Is it not a fact that the vast majority of us are headed in the wrong direction and running at top speed toward the wrong goal?” Didn’t Will have it right?
Every Life Has A Purpose. The Apostle Paul had much to say about God’s purpose in life: “called according to his purpose” (Rom 8:28), “the purpose of God according to election” (Rom 9:11), “predestinated according to the purpose of him” (Eph 1:11), “saved us and called us...according to his own purpose and grace” (2 Tim 1:9).
God doesn’t do anything without purpose. None of us came into this world when we chose, and none of us came where we chose. Why did God choose to give us life in this particular century and in this particular country? Perhaps our greatest purpose in life is to discover God‘s purpose in giving us life.
Some Examples. Abraham was a grown man and married before he learned that God’s purpose for his life was to become the father of a great nation, and that through his seed all families of the earth would be blessed (Gen 12:2-3). Joseph was grown, married, and governor of Egypt before he discovered that his purpose was to preserve God’s people (Gen 5:5-8). Moses was eighty years old when he learned that he was to lead God’s people out of bondage (Exo 3:10). Esther was a grown woman and married when she discovered that her purpose in life was to preserve God’s people from annihilation (Est 4:8, 14). God’s purpose for both John the Baptist and Jesus was declared even before they were born (Luke 1:15-17, 31-33). Paul was on his way to Damascus when he discovered that his purpose in life was to promote Christianity, not destroy it (Acts 9:15-16, 26:15-18).
Some Observations. Our purpose in life may very well have been determined before birth. We are not told when God decided to use Abraham, Joseph, or Esther, but He had plans for both Jesus and John before they were born. Our purpose does not exclude us from trials. Moses had to endure Pharoah’s rebellion and Israel’s murmuring even while fulfilling his purpose. Both Jesus and Paul suffered many trials and tribulations while fulfilling their purpose.
Our purpose is somehow related to God’s people. Abraham became father of a great nation (God’s people). Moses led God’s people out of bondage. Joseph and Esther both preserved God’s people from destruction. John turned Israel (God’s people) back to God. Jesus came to save His people from their sins.
Our purpose involves ministering (serving). All the examples we have considered were servants. Christians are admonished: “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God (1 Peter 4:10).
To fulfill our purpose in life, we must cooperate with God. Abraham didn’t have to leave Ur of the Chaldees. Moses wasn’t forced to return to Egypt, though God used some pretty strong persuasion. Esther didn’t have to go before the king to plead for her people. All were willing to cooperate with God.
Walk With A Purpose. We are admonished to “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” (Eph 4:1). May we all have the attitude of Paul who asked: “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do” with the rest of my life?
| Gene H MillerE-Mail: gnpmillshock@rtol.net |
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Phone: 304 462-0384. |