Purpose

If you were to ask someone what is their favorite Bible verse they might quote Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love Him, to those who have been called according to His purpose.”

For most, when they have had an almost death experience, it causes them to take a new look at life. It sometimes causes a person to ask, “What is the meaning and purpose of life?” “What is the purpose of my life?” For thousands of years philosophers have searched for the meaning and purpose of life. If a philosopher does not connect the meaning and purpose of life with the Creator of life then he/she is speculating and/or making a wild guess. The Bible says, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created by Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16) So, the purpose of your life fits into a much larger purpose that God has designed. The apostle Paul said, “For it is in Him (Christ Jesus) that we live and move and have our being . . .” God is the source of life itself.

To discover your purpose in life you must turn to God’ Word, the Bible, and not to the world’s wisdom. The Bible will lead you to discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with Christ Jesus. The Bible says about the prophet Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you . . .” (Jeremiah 1:5) God was thinking about you and what He wanted for you long before you were born.

Dr Rick Warren in his book, The Purpose Driven Life, relates the story of a Russian man, Andrei Bitov, who grew up under an atheistic Communist regime. He recalls, “In my twenty-seventh year, while riding the metro in Leningrad, I was overcome with despair so great that life seemed to stop at once, preempting the future entirely, let alone any meaning. Suddenly, all by itself, a phrase appeared: Without God life makes no sense.” As a result he trusted Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Realizing that life on earth is temporary, should cause you to focus on eternal values. C. S. Lewis related, “All that is not eternal is eternally useless.”

God wants to use you for His purpose. The apostle Paul said, “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” If you are not certain what purpose God has for you, ask Him, He will let you know. The Bible says, “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” (II Chronicles 16:9 NLT)

Prayer: Lord, as I read and study Your Word, guide me that I might be useful to You.