Purposeful Life

PURPOSEFUL LIFE: 

Introduction:

The definition of the purpose of life by every human being is a necessity for a worthy and content life in the world. Everyone who had born on earth whether it is a prince or a pauper, has to face a natural destiny. When a person doesn’t believe in God, the person could define his purpose of life just with the mortal perspective and not eternal perspective, just for gratifying the feelings, thoughts and or physicality to get happiness and fails to do it as there is no measure for all those without distinguishing it in God. A person’s belief in God plays a vital role in defining the purpose of life. Only the believers in the right God could define the purpose of life aright. 

God- a source of everything:

All the things are from God the Father and we exist for Him. All the things are through the Lord Jesus Christ and we exist through Him (1Cor 8: 6).

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth from nothing and through his Word. God made light, darkness, expanse, land, seas, plants, sun, moon, stars, birds, sea creatures, beasts, man/ woman (Gen 1: 1- 27). God created everything for a purpose and He had an eternal plan behind it.

Everything God created was good

God saw that everything He had created is good (Gen 1: 1-30).

For Everything God created is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the Word of God and Prayer (1Timothy 4:4, 5).

Man- the special creation of God:

God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created him (Gen 1: 27).

The LORD God formed the man, of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living creature (Gen 2:7). 

The LORD God had brought the creatures to man and whatever the man called every living creature that was its name. The Lord God made a woman out of man’s rib (Gen 2: 18- 24). 

The Psalmist exclaims that man is nothing when looked at the majestic creation but God made Him little lower than heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor, given him dominion over the works of His hands, and put all sheep, oxen, beasts of the field, birds of the heavens, and creatures of the sea (Psalms 8: 3- 8). 

God’s purpose for Man:

God blessed man and told them to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth(Gen 1: 28).

The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it (Gen 2: 15). 

God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1Tim 2: 4). Believers ought to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in them to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose (Philippians 2: 12, 13).

Deviation and Collapse of the entire world:

LORD said in his heart that the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth (Gen 8: 20, 21).

The deviation of Man collapsed the goodness of the creation of God, though the essence of it is embedded, as God had to give consequences for man’s choices.   

God gave the first commandment for man to follow that he can do and should not do something (Gen 2: 16, 17). But man did what he is not supposed to do, and as a consequence of disobedience, he couldn’t face God, but God himself encountered with them and sealed their mistake (Gen 3Ch).

Paul writes to Romans, “People know God's righteous decree that those who practice evil things deserve to die. They not only do them but give approval to those who practice them” (Romans 1: 18- 32). 

Man’s search and failures:

“For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?” (Ecc 6: 12)

Man had tried to show himself powerful by crushing the weak, high by trying to reach the heaven, creative by making gods for himself, rich by multiplying wealth and livestock, gratified the self by following the unnatural/ illegitimate desires, etc. But in all of it, there was a failure only as there are no Godly values. Even if the person does good but without God in life, the person will not be content and find it meaningful at the end. 

A person who is a king and who had enjoyed all the pleasures, positions, properties, and prudence writes that “All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” (Ecc 1:2, 3).

Christ- the pathway for everything:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3: 16).

Man’s search and failures provided him no hope and see life in its worth because of his sinful nature and deviation from the greater purpose for which God created. But Christ was been proclaimed from ages as a hope of deliverance and make the crooked paths straight. 

Love of God is perfected by keeping the words of Jesus and walking in the same way in which he walked (1 John 2: 4-6). 

The life of Jesus gave us the life free from the guilt that is much valuable and worthy. And every believer ought to reflect the life of Jesus by even giving up the life for brothers, which is the ultimate purpose on this earth (1 John 3: 16).

Designing our Life in God:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8: 28).

The greatest commandment given by Jesus is “Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like, unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40).

The best standards for different situations of life can only be sought and got through the Word of God, the creator.

As the manual from manufacturer alone could define the function and purpose of a machine to the maximum, the Word of God i.e. Bible alone could define the purpose for human beings.

We face the consequences for everything we accept or deny, first at present which can be visualized in this earthly life and later in the future which will be revealed.

A man (Mostly King Solomon) who enjoyed all the treasures, pleasures, and disclosures says, “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Paul writes to Romans, “We need not be anxious about anything and we shall rejoice as the Lord is at hand. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. We shall think about things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable, in which there are excellence and praiseworthiness” (Romans 4: 4- 9). 

Transformation of Self and Impacting the World:

“Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. (John 12:24)”

Walking in the light helps us to be truthful, have fellowship with each other, and be cleansed from sins. Confession of sins helps to receive forgiveness of our sins and be cleansed from all unrighteousness (1 John 1: 6- 10). 

A person who is in Christ is a new creation and the old things were passed away (2Corin 5: 17). A person who wants to follow Jesus has to deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matt 16: 24).

Believers ought to offer the bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God by the mercy of God, which is spiritual worship. Also, we should not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing we may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12: 1, 2)

Each of us know ourselves next to God, better than others. We have accepted Christ as our savior, we may go to church, and we may attend fellowships. But if our lifestyle, our behavior, our actions have no value before our friend’s life, it would not produce any gain. It is very true that everyone is watching us very closely even the way how we look at them.  We need not always try to share the Gospel in words as our actions speak much louder.

 “Greater love has no one than this that someone lay down his life for his friends. – John 15:13”

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Believers- salt and light of the World:

Jesus told that the believers are the salt which gives taste and light which shows path. The light of the believers should shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to the Father who is in heaven (Matt 5: 13- 16).

All the people of the world need right God for right values and virtues of their lives.  If we could analyze even our lives, it’s not just because of the Grace of God we are saved which undeniably plays a vital part, but we had accepted God with all our heart and mind. So, it may not be possible for us to make a person believe in God unless he makes efforts to do it but we can always be a light and salt to them to help them to realize the importance of being saved and the beauty of the life of transformation in God.

Conclusion:

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Col 3: 16, 17).

God alone had created something out of nothing and God is the source of everything. Whatever God had created is good and man is the special creation of God as he was made in God’s own image. God had a greater purpose for man to rule over the world but disobedience caused a great gap in the relationship with God. Though God sealed the mistake, man’s evilness had great limits that he was guilty. The man searched for happiness through all means but couldn’t find a permanent solution. Christ came for all the human beings to live an exemplary life and as a sacrifice for the sins of all, to take away their guilt. We ought to live for God and be an example to others by renewing the self, day by day in words and actions. 

Self-Reflection:

1.       My part in the deviation and collapse of the entire World?

2.       My failures and lessons learnt in search of happiness without God in life?

3.       My design or Refinement of life in God?

4.       My efforts towards transformation of self and impacting the world?

5.       My purpose of life in the world until the day of destiny?